The American Music Awards were once one of the most essential and anticipated music awards shows of the year, so when the first ceremony in three years was announced you would think it would’ve been a star-studded event. 

 

A few of today’s pop culture figures were there sure, but in terms of the actual musicians? It was the legacy acts who showed up, not the contemporary ones. When it comes to those current artists who were actually nominated for an award, for one reason or another, close to none of them showed up.

The icons that did show up however were real ones – including one of the greatest icons in American Music Awards history, Janet Jackson. 

 

Janet performed a 2000s-inspired set complete with baggy jeans, a baby tank top and oversized puffer jacket. Clearly she got the memo that Y2K fashion is back in style and I just know that Janet ran with that because our girl loves nothing more than to be comfortable on stage, her bedazzled sneakers from her recent tours are a testament to that. I would’ve loved to see her pull out one of those midriff baring tees from the All For You era, but this was a great look regardless. She also performed two of the biggest tracks from that same 2001 album, furthering the 2000s vibe of the entire performance: the mega-viral “Someone To Call My Lover” and pop classic “All For You”. 

 

And Janet’s humility was front and centre when she was accepting her award, saying she doesn’t think of herself as an icon and all I could think about was how much of a classic entertainer she was for even saying that. The last real member from the Jackson family that is able to carry a high-energy performance like this and have a whole awards segment dedicated to them is Janet, so watching her last night was nostalgic for all the right reasons. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for the rest of the awards ceremony which could’ve used some more of Janet’s magic. 

 

 

AMA veteran Gloria Estefan took the stage for a performance of multiple hits in what was her first American Music Awards performance in 30 years, but the only thing the internet seems to remember is JLo salsa dancing in the audience and of course her need to point out that Gloria wrote her own hit “Let’s Get Loud” (for which I will forever associate with the 2020 US presidential inauguration, if you know you know). 

 

On the topic of AMA veterans, my mother’s personal favourite artist Rod Stewart was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award and performed the classic “Forever Young”. I don’t believe for a second that a single influencer in that room knew who Rod Stewart was, but maybe the AMAs could at least serve as an education to these young minds that they want to be treating like real stars. 

 

 

Gwen Stefani also performed a pre-recorded medley of songs including a new track “Swallow My Tears” along with some of her classics. You can’t really go wrong when performing a song as legendary as “Hollaback Girl” but if we’re keeping it real, the entire performance was giving Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and the fact that it wasn’t even live at the ceremony was disappointing – they definitely did their best to hide it, but you couldn’t fool me folks! Shout out to TikTok users for exposing that I was in fact correct. I keep saying this, but I really do love that Gwen is in her Oklahoma housewife era and I want her to be happy, but I’m gonna need her to pull out some of that Orange County ska-punk rock chick that I know is still inside her if she’s going to be doing these performances. Otherwise, save it for the CMAs babes.

In terms of artists that were competing for an award, the guest list was way slim with SZA being the real standout attendee who is making real noise in today’s music scene and even her acceptance speech was an indication of just how much trouble the AMAs are in. SZA didn’t even really know where she was saying “I think this is my first time at this show? So that’s cool!”… yikes. 

 

At least she showed, but her showing up does beg the question as to why Kendrick Lamar (who was the top nominated artist of the night) didn’t, as the two are on the same world tour. It’s giving he just didn’t want to? Fair, I don’t know that I would make an effort to appear on a show where Benson Boone and Alex Warren were the biggest mainstream stars. (Who am I kidding – Janet is there, of course I’d show up lol, but you get the point.)

 

Maybe the most cringe moments of the show were the video recorded acceptance speeches… mostly because there were so many but also because of who the actual winners were. I recognize that the AMAs are being marketed as a “fan-voted” awards show but I find it very hard to believe that in 2025 Eminem is winning anything let alone an award over Kendrick Lamar, and don’t even get me started on Gracie Abrams winning a Best New Artist award over Chappell Roan? Give. Me. A. Break. I stand firm on my belief that they gave the award to the artist who was most likely going to record a video message. No, I don’t have proof but sometimes I just know my gut is right. 

There are many reasons as to why the show was missing so much star power. For one, the fact that the ceremony was gone for so many years. Plus, end of May is not an ideal time for an awards show as the majority of bigger artists are usually touring their projects as it is just at the start of summer. Up until 2004, the AMAs were held at the top of the year before moving to November where it remained for 20 years. If the AMAs are going to have a future, they will need to return to the original November or January time slots because I don’t know that my heart can handle another underwhelming awards ceremony. 

At least we got Janet.