Janet Jackson, 59, looks half her age as she leads 2025 American Music Awards winners with Icon honor
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Janet Jackson showed age was nothing but a number when she accepted the honorary Icon Award at the 2025 American Music Awards ceremony on Monday.
The 59-year-old singer showed off a shockingly youthful visage when she took the stage to perform two of her 2001 hits Someone To Call My Lover and her chart topper All For You.
Janet admitted in her speech that — despite winning the award — she didn’t consider herself an icon.
‘My family, myself, our dream — it wasn’t ever to be famous. We weren’t raised like that,’ she admitted. ‘We always had a special love for music, dancing, and singing. Fame came with the result of hard work and dedication. My story, my family’s story, it’s truly an American story. This would have only happened in America.’
She received her honorary award after Jennifer Lopez kicked off the show by taking center stage to remind viewers of her prowess as a singer and dancer.
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Janet Jackson showed age was nothing but a number when she accepted the honorary Icon Award at the 2025 American Music Awards ceremony on Monday
The 59-year-old singer showed off a shockingly youthful visage when she took the stage to perform two of her 2001 hits Someone To Call My Lover and her chart topper All For You
She received her honorary award after Jennifer Lopez kicked off the show by taking center stage to remind viewers of her prowess as a singer and dancer.
The 55-year-old star opened the ceremony with an excerpt of her 2012 single Dance Again, before she turned up the heat with a dance segment soundtracked to some of this year’s biggest nominated songs.
One section of the performance got particularly steamy, as J.Lo paused for a passionate kiss with a male backup dancer, before turning her head to lock lips with one of her female dancers.
Later, the Hustlers star gushed that Janet Jackson was the ‘blueprint for how to be a strong female artist in this business,’ and she revealed that her AMAs performance marked the firs time she had performed on television in seven years.
SZA was the first big winner of the night when she took home the award for Favorite R&B Song for Saturn.
And it wasn’t long before the 35-year-old hitmaker was back at the microphone to accept the award for Favorite Female R&B Artist.
The first award of the night, for Favorite R&B Song, was announced by actress and comedian Tiffany Haddish, who joked that the ceremony should have been renamed the JMAs because of its superstar host.
After announcing SZA’s name, the singer was so overwhelmed that she admitted, ‘I feel like this might be my first time at this award show.’
Becky G looked shocked when she won the evening’s next award for Favorite Female Latin Artist.
Janet admitted in her speech that — despite winning the award — she didn’t consider herself an icon. ‘My family, myself, our dream — it wasn’t ever to be famous. We weren’t raised like that,’ she admitted
One section of the performance got particularly steamy, as J.Lo paused for a passionate kiss with a male backup dancer, before turning her head to lock lips with one of her female dancers
SZA was the first big winner of the night when she took home the award for Favorite R&B Song for Saturn. And it wasn’t long before the 35-year-old hitmaker was back at the microphone to accept the award for Favorite Female R&B Artist
She did a little dance by her seat before strutting up to the stage.
In a mix of English and Spanish, Becky dedicated her award to the Chicano community, and she saluted ‘those who came before us,’ as she share both their ‘struggles,’ as well as their wins.
After a humorous introduction by Nikki Glaser — who joked that she couldn’t wait to play J.Lo’s mother in a biopic — she announced Gracie Abrams as the winner of New Artist of the Year.
The singer–songwriter, who is the daughter of director J. J. Abrams, was on tour, so she had to accept the award via video.
‘I’m so sad to not be in the same room with all of you tonight,’ she said somberly, before thanking the fans who voted for her.
Eminem, the winner of the Favorite Male Hip-Hop Artist award, was also a no-show, but he appeared via video to thank his fans for voting.
‘I think it’s been 23 years since I won my first AMA. And I’m 24 years old,’ he joked.
Next up, the AMAs took a turn toward country music with the Favorite Country Duo or Group Award, which went to Dan + Shay.
Becky G looked shocked when she won the evening’s next award for Favorite Female Latin Artist. She dedicated her award to the Chicano community, and she saluted ‘those who came before us’
Gracie Abrams was the winner of New Artist of the Year. The singer–songwriter — who is the daughter of director J. J. Abrams — was on tour, so she had to accept the award via video; pictured at the Cannes Film Festival on May 21
One of the night’s most prestigious honors, Artist of the Year, was announced with little fanfare, as the winner, Billie Eilish, wasn’t there in person to accept due to her ongoing European tour.
However, she shared a brief message of thanks via video.
When it was time for Rod Stewart to be honored with his Lifetime Achievement Award, the 80-year-old English singer got a special introduction by ‘five of his proudest achievements, his children.’
Stewart said he was ‘absolutely flabbergasted’ because he had no idea that his children were going to be attending the ceremony, much less giving him a warm introduction.
‘I thought you had recorded it earlier!’ he said of their introduction.
‘I’ve got eight [kids] all together,’ Stewart said, before jokingly adding, ‘I didn’t have a television.’
He concluded his brief speech with a performance of his classic tune Forever Young.
It was an epic version of the song, featuring a middle section that highlighted his female backing musicians and tap dancers.
Janet Jackson received the Icon Award during the festivities
She proved that her famous dance moves haven’t gone anywhere as she performed a medley of Someone To Call My Lover and her chart-topping hit All For You, both from her 2001 album All For You
When it was time for Rod Stewart to be honored with his Lifetime Achievement Award, the 80-year-old English singer got a special introduction by ‘five of his proudest achievements, his children’
Stewart said he was ‘absolutely flabbergasted’ because he had no idea that his children were going to be attending the ceremony in person, as he thought they were doing a pre-recorded introduction
!['I've got eight [kids] all together,' Stewart said, before jokingly explaining how they came to be: 'I didn't have a television.' He wrapped up with a performance of his classic tune Forever Young](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/05/27/03/98775993-14751895-image-a-57_1748311872237.jpg)
‘I’ve got eight [kids] all together,’ Stewart said, before jokingly explaining how they came to be: ‘I didn’t have a television.’ He wrapped up with a performance of his classic tune Forever Young
It featured a dramatic segue into tap dancing and then a fiddle duet with marching bass drum accompaniment from his female dancers and musicians
Stewart concluded by reprising Forever Young for the dramatic finale of the AMAs
After a brief tap solo, his two fiddle players performed a duet with a marching bass drum accompaniment before reprising Forever Young for the dramatic finale of the AMAs.
The 51st American Music Awards were held at the Fontainebleau hotel located in the heart of Las Vegas on Memorial Day.
Jennifer is taking on hosting duties for this year’s ceremony a decade after she first hosted in 2015.
The On The Floor songstress is also set to take to the stage to perform, along with a bevy of other artists, including Benson Boone, Blake Shelton, Janet Jackson, Gloria Estefan, Lainey Wilson, Reneé Rapp and Rod Stewart.
Jennifer was out of breath after her opening dance number when she announced that Jackson would be receiving the Icon Award, while Stewart would be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
A number of A-listers are also set to present the big wins, including comedian Nikki Glaser, Tiffany Haddish, Wayne Brady, Cara Delevingne, Ciara, Kai Cenat, Megan Moroney and Shaboozey.
The 2025 AMAs are airing live on CBS, and fans can also stream the awards show on Paramount+ in the US.
This year marks the first time the AMAs ceremony will be shown on CBS, after being aired on ABC since 1974.
This year’s event is also the first time the show will air live since 2022, following a hiatus due to ABC’s Grammys contract expiring at the time.
Host Jennifer Lopez recently suffered a nasty injury to her nose during rehearsals for the ceremony, but she was able to quickly get help — in the form of stitches for the small gash — from celebrity plastic surgeon Dr. Jason Diamond.
During a recent interview with USA Today, the actress opened up about her hosting gig and admitted that she was ‘quite shy,’ unlike the confident persona she usually radiates.
Host Jennifer Lopez recently suffered a nasty injury to her nose during rehearsals for the ceremony
Luckily, she was able to quickly get help — in the form of stitches for the small gash — from celebrity plastic surgeon Dr. Jason Diamond
Kendrick Lamar garnered the most nomination this year and leads with a total of 10; the rapper is seen in February in New Orleans at the Super Bowl
J.Lo explained: ‘I’m a performer, so if I have a script or a song, I can do that and I love doing that. But hosting is a different thing, a different skill set. I wouldn’t say it’s my favorite thing to do.’
However, Lopez then revealed why she ultimately decided to host the American Music Awards this year.
‘I feel music is really exciting right now with Spanish music being so global. I love that Gloria [Estefan] is being honored as a pioneer crossover artist and I love all of the new artists because there isn’t a certain sound to them.’
Kendrick Lamar garnered the most nomination this year, and leads with a total of 10.
Post Malone sits right behind him with eight nominations, while Billie Eilish, Shaboozey and Chappell Roan each have seven.
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