Kendrick Lamar Leads the 2025 American Music Awards: A Night of Fan Power, Global Sounds, and Cultural Moments

The American Music Awards (AMAs) return on May 26, 2025, with one of the most competitive and diverse nomination lineups in recent memory with nationwide favorite Kendrick Lamar leading the charge. The "Not Like Us" rapper continues to dominate the music world, racking up an impressive ten nominations, more than any other artist this year.

Lamar is up for major honors including Artist of the Year and Favorite Hip-Hop Male Artist, where he’ll go head-to-head with longtime rival Drake. In the Favorite Hip-Hop Song category, Kendrick claims three of the five nominated tracks. Should he win in all eligible categories, he would tie legends Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston for the most AMAs won in a single year.

But Kendrick isn’t alone at the top. Post Malone follows closely with eight nominations, while Billie Eilish, and first-time nominees Chappell Roan and Shaboozey earned seven each. Roan’s appearance is especially historic because she's the only artist nominated in all three of the AMAs’ newly introduced categories: Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Social Song of the Year.

Artists like Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga, Morgan Wallen, Sabrina Carpenter, SZA, and Taylor Swift round out the top tier with six nominations apiece. Swift, already the most awarded artist in AMA history with 40 wins, could further extend her record and cement her legacy. Plus, eagle-eyed Swifties noticed a possible easter egg on her official website, noting the three featured categories on the homepage are ordered to spell "AMA." Could this mean she's finally announcing Reputation (Taylor's Version)? A girl can only dream.

The AMAs also celebrate emerging talent, with first-time nominees including Doechii, Gracie Abrams, Jelly Roll, Lola Young, and Benson Boone, a sign of how the awards serve as a launching pad for rising stars.

Other notable mentions include Beyoncé, who scored three nods for her genre-blending album Cowboy Carter, and Hozier, whose track “Too Sweet” and album Unreal Unearth landed him five nominations. Meanwhile, the Favorite Soundtrack category features the fan-favorite Wicked.

Unlike the Grammys or Billboard Awards, what makes the AMAs truly unique is their fan-driven voting process. Every winner is determined entirely by public vote, making the ceremony one of the most direct reflections of audience preferences in the music industry. This format makes victories not just industry achievements, but fan-validated triumphs.

Because of the fan-driven voting worldwide, the AMAs have grown to reflect the global nature of music today. With dedicated categories for K-pop, Latin, Afrobeats, and Global Artist, the show celebrates diversity in sound and culture. It’s not uncommon to see international stars like BTS, Bad Bunny, or Burna Boy take the stage or earn top honors.

Over the decades, the AMAs have become synonymous with unforgettable live performances. From Michael Jackson’s era-defining appearances to Pink’s high-flying acrobatics and Beyoncé’s genre-pushing numbers, the stage is often the site of music history. This year, Jennifer Lopez returns as both host and performer, promising the kind of spectacle only she can deliver.

Social media has become central to the AMAs both in voting and in influence. With categories like Social Song of the Year, the awards are increasingly shaped by platforms like TikTok and Instagram, which allow fans to directly support their favorite artists. It also means fanbases play a major role in the night’s outcomes (looking at you Swifties).

As the 2025 American Music Awards gear up for their live broadcast on CBS and Paramount+, anticipation is at a fever pitch. Will Kendrick Lamar make history? Will new stars like Chappell Roan step into the spotlight? Is Taylor Swift ready to bestow upon us her next re-recorded album? We can't know for sure, but one thing is certain: the AMAs are both a celebration of the artists and the audience. Keep reading for the list of this year's nominees:

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Ariana Grande

Billie Eilish

Chappell Roan

Kendrick Lamar

Morgan Wallen

Post Malone

Sabrina Carpenter

SZA

Taylor Swift

Zach Bryan

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Benson Boone

Chappell Roan

Gracie Abrams

Shaboozey

Teddy Swims

Tommy Richman

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Beyoncé COWBOY CARTER

Billie Eilish HIT ME HARD AND SOFT

Chappell Roan The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess

Charli xcx BRAT

Gracie Abrams The Secret of Us

Future & Metro Boomin WE DON’T TRUST YOU

Kendrick Lamar GNX

Post Malone F-1 Trillion

Sabrina Carpenter Short n’ Sweet

Taylor Swift The Tortured Poets Department

SONG OF THE YEAR

Benson Boone “Beautiful Things”

Billie Eilish “Birds of a Feather”

Chappell Roan “Good Luck, Babe!”

Hozier “Too Sweet”

Kendrick Lamar “Not Like Us”

Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars “Die With A Smile”

Post Malone Featuring Morgan Wallen “I Had Some Help”

Sabrina Carpenter “Espresso”

Shaboozey “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”

Teddy Swims “Lose Control”

COLLABORATION OF THE YEAR

Kendrick Lamar & SZA “Luther”

Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars “Die With A Smile”

Marshmello & Kane Brown “Miles on It”

Post Malone Featuring Morgan Wallen “I Had Some Help”

ROSÉ & Bruno Mars “APT.”

Taylor Swift Featuring Post Malone “Fortnight”

SOCIAL SONG OF THE YEAR

Chappell Roan “HOT TO GO!”

Djo “End of Beginning”

Doechii “Anxiety”

Lola Young “Messy”

Shaboozey “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”

Tommy Richman “Million Dollar Baby”

FAVORITE TOURING ARTIST

Billie Eilish

Luke Combs

Morgan Wallen

Taylor Swift

Zach Bryan

FAVORITE MUSIC VIDEO

Benson Boone “Beautiful Things”

KAROL G “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido”

Kendrick Lamar “Not Like Us”

Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars “Die With A Smile”

Shaboozey “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”

FAVORITE MALE POP ARTIST

Benson Boone

Bruno Mars

Hozier

Teddy Swims

The Weeknd

FAVORITE FEMALE POP ARTIST

Billie Eilish

Chappell Roan

Lady Gaga

Sabrina Carpenter

Taylor Swift

FAVORITE POP ALBUM

Billie Eilish HIT ME HARD AND SOFT

Chappell Roan The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess

Charli xcx BRAT

Sabrina Carpenter Short n’ Sweet

Taylor Swift The Tortured Poets Department

FAVORITE POP SONG

Benson Boone “Beautiful Things”

Billie Eilish “Birds of a Feather”

Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars “Die With A Smile”

Sabrina Carpenter “Espresso”

Teddy Swims “Lose Control”

FAVORITE MALE COUNTRY ARTIST

Jelly Roll

Luke Combs

Morgan Wallen

Post Malone

Shaboozey

FAVORITE FEMALE COUNTRY ARTIST

Beyoncé

Ella Langley

Kacey Musgraves

Lainey Wilson

Megan Moroney

FAVORITE COUNTRY DUO or GROUP

Dan + Shay

Old Dominion

Parmalee

The Red Clay Strays

Zac Brown Band

FAVORITE COUNTRY ALBUM

Beyoncé COWBOY CARTER

Jelly Roll BEAUTIFULLY BROKEN

Megan Moroney AM I OKAY?

Post Malone F-1 Trillion

Shaboozey Where I’ve Been, Isn’t Where I’m Going

FAVORITE COUNTRY SONG

Jelly Roll “I Am Not Okay”

Koe Wetzel & Jessie Murph “High Road”

Luke Combs “Ain’t No Love in Oklahoma”

Post Malone Featuring Morgan Wallen “I Had Some Help”

Shaboozey “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”

FAVORITE MALE HIP-HOP ARTIST

Drake

Eminem

Future

Kendrick Lamar

Tyler, The Creator

FAVORITE FEMALE HIP-HOP ARTIST

Doechii

GloRilla

Latto

Megan Thee Stallion

Sexyy Red

FAVORITE HIP-HOP ALBUM

Eminem The Death Of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce)

Future & Metro Boomin WE DON’T TRUST YOU

Gunna one of wun

Kendrick Lamar GNX

Tyler, The Creator CHROMAKOPIA

FAVORITE HIP-HOP SONG

Future, Metro Boomin & Kendrick Lamar “Like That”

GloRilla “TGIF”

GloRilla & Sexyy Red “WHATCHU KNO ABOUT ME”

Kendrick Lamar “Not Like Us”

Kendrick Lamar & SZA “Luther”

FAVORITE MALE R&B ARTIST

Bryson Tiller

Chris Brown

PARTYNEXTDOOR

The Weeknd

Usher

FAVORITE FEMALE R&B ARTIST

Kehlani

Muni Long

Summer Walker

SZA

Tyla

FAVORITE R&B ALBUM

Bryson Tiller Bryson Tiller

PARTYNEXTDOOR PARTYNEXTDOOR 4 (P4)

PARTYNEXTDOOR & Drake $ome $exy $ongs 4 U

SZA SOS Deluxe: LANA

The Weeknd Hurry Up Tomorrow

FAVORITE R&B SONG

Chris Brown “Residuals”

Muni Long “Made For Me”

SZA “Saturn”

The Weeknd & Playboi Carti “Timeless”

Tommy Richman “Million Dollar Baby”

FAVORITE MALE LATIN ARTIST

Bad Bunny

Feid

Peso Pluma

Rauw Alejandro

Tito Double P

FAVORITE FEMALE LATIN ARTIST

Becky G

KAROL G

Natti Natasha

Shakira

Young Miko

FAVORITE LATIN DUO or GROUP

Calibre 50

Fuerza Regida

Grupo Firme

Grupo Frontera

Julión Álvarez y su Norteño Banda

FAVORITE LATIN ALBUM

Bad Bunny DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS

Fuerza Regida Dolido Pero No Arrepentido

Peso Pluma ÉXODO

Rauw Alejandro Cosa Nuestra

Tito Double P INCÓMODO

FAVORITE LATIN SONG

Bad Bunny “DtMF”

FloyyMenor X Cris Mj “Gata Only”

KAROL G “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido”

Oscar Maydon & Fuerza Regida “Tu Boda”

Shakira “Soltera”

FAVORITE ROCK ARTIST

Hozier

Linkin Park

Pearl Jam

Twenty One Pilots

Zach Bryan

FAVORITE ROCK ALBUM

Hozier Unreal Unearth: Unending

Koe Wetzel 9 livesThe Marías Submarine

Twenty One Pilots Clancy

Zach Bryan The Great American Bar Scene

FAVORITE ROCK SONG

Green Day “Dilemma”

Hozier “Too Sweet”

Linkin Park “The Emptiness Machine”

Myles Smith “Stargazing”

Zach Bryan “Pink Skies”

FAVORITE DANCE/ELECTRONIC ARTIST

Charli xcx

David Guetta

John Summit

Lady Gaga

Marshmello

FAVORITE SOUNDTRACK

Arcane League of Legends: Season 2

Hazbin Hotel (Original Soundtrack)

Moana 2 (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) • Auli'i Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson and Cast

Twisters: The Album

Wicked: The Soundtrack • Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande and Cast

FAVORITE AFROBEATS ARTIST

Asake

Rema

Tems

Tyla

Wizkid

FAVORITE K-POP ARTIST

ATEEZ

Jimin

RM

ROSÉ

Stray Kids