Kendrick Lamar has finally been given his flowers. Credit to Getty Images.
Los Angeles, California (April 24, 2025)- Kendrick Lamar is poised to dominate the 2025 American Music Awards, leading this year’s nominations with an impressive 10 nods, including artist of the year, album of the year for GNX, and song of the year for his explosive hit “Not Like Us.” In a true flex of his musical prowess, Lamar holds three out of five nominations in the favorite hip-hop song category, with entries that include “Like That” (with Future and Metro Boomin), “Not Like Us,” and “Luther” (featuring SZA). With eight categories in play, the Compton-born rapper has the potential to tie the all-time single-night AMA wins record held by legends Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston.
Close on his heels is Post Malone, racking up eight nominations across genres—a testament to his genre-blurring versatility. He’s in the running for artist of the year, album of the year (F-1 Trillion), and song of the year for his country-pop smash “I Had Some Help” featuring Morgan Wallen. With nods in the country, hip-hop, and pop categories, Post could set a unique precedent if he takes home awards across all three.
The rest of the nomination list reflects a dynamic and diverse year in music. Billie Eilish, Chappell Roan, and Shaboozey each earned seven nods. A mix of legacy icons and newcomers rounds out the upper tier, with six nominations going to artists like Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga, Morgan Wallen, Sabrina Carpenter, SZA, and Taylor Swift. Swift, who already holds the record for most AMA wins at 40, has a chance to expand her empire with six more potential trophies this year.
In a notable shift toward inclusion and representation, seven of the 10 nominees for album of the year and six of the 10 for artist of the year are women. Among them is Chappell Roan, whose breakout year is underscored by nominations in all three of this year’s newly introduced categories: album of the year, song of the year, and social song of the year. Her rise exemplifies a new wave of artists connecting with audiences across both streaming and social media platforms.
Solo acts dominate the landscape this year. Of the 49 artists with multiple nominations, only three are groups: Fuerza Regida (with three nods), and Linkin Park and Twenty One Pilots (with two each). This trend underscores the industry’s current focus on individual star power.
Diversity also shines in the country categories. Two of the five nominees for favorite country album are Black artists—Beyoncé (Cowboy Carter) and Shaboozey (Where I’ve Been, Isn’t Where I’m Going). Their inclusion, along with nominations in the gendered country artist categories, signals a significant cultural shift in a genre long considered insular.
First-time nominees are also making a splash. Roan, Sabrina Carpenter, and Zach Bryan are all up for artist of the year—a huge milestone for artists just beginning to command the cultural conversation. Bryan, who burst onto the scene during the AMAs’ two-year hiatus, earns long-overdue recognition.
The return of the AMAs itself is a headline. After a two-and-a-half-year pause and a network switch from ABC to CBS, the 2025 show marks the beginning of a new era. For the first time, the show will be broadcast from Las Vegas and held on Memorial Day, a symbolic move meant to blend musical celebration with tribute to U.S. service members. Jennifer Lopez will host the ceremony, reprising a role she first took on in 2015. Known for her electric stage presence, Lopez will also perform—adding star power to a night already bursting with it.
Fan engagement remains central to the AMAs, which bill themselves as the world’s largest fan-voted music awards. Voting is open now on VoteAMAs.com and the official @AMAs Instagram account, with most categories closing on May 15. However, fans will have up to 30 minutes into the live show to vote for collaboration of the year and social song of the year.
The move to CBS and Paramount+ reflects a broader trend in award show broadcasting, aiming to reach younger, streaming-savvy audiences. Subscribers with SHOWTIME can watch the broadcast live via their local CBS affiliate or on-demand afterward. Viewers without the SHOWTIME add-on can still stream the show on demand the following day.
This year’s event follows the massively successful 50th Anniversary Special that aired in October 2024. That special reached over 13 million viewers and marked the most-streamed AMAs event ever, showing that the appetite for music’s biggest fan celebration remains strong.
With a loaded lineup of nominees, high-stakes categories, and cultural significance in every corner of the ballot, the 2025 American Music Awards are shaping up to be one of the most impactful music events of the decade. Whether you’re a Kendrick loyalist, a Swiftie, a Posty diehard, or a Chappell Roan convert, this year’s show is set to offer something for everyone—and maybe a few surprises, too.
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