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Man, the energy at the BleuLive Theater in Las Vegas was absolutely wild this year. If you were betting on the underdogs for the 2025 American Music Awards, I hope you kept your receipt. We just saw one of the most lopsided victories in the show's 51-year history. Billie Eilish basically walked in, grabbed every single trophy she was nominated for, and walked out like it was just another Tuesday.
Honestly, it’s kinda rare to see a "sweep" that actually feels earned and not just like a popularity contest, but after the year she had with Hit Me Hard and Soft, nobody was really surprised. She went seven for seven. Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, and Song of the Year—the big three—all went to her.
The Big Winners: Who Won the AMAs 2025?
When we talk about who won the AMAs 2025, you have to start with Billie. It wasn't just that she won; it was how she did it. Winning all seven nominations is a feat we haven't seen in a minute. She took home the Favorite Female Pop Artist title and the Pop Album award, effectively ending the debate on who owned the radio this cycle.
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But she wasn't the only one making headlines. Kendrick Lamar actually came into the night as the most-nominated artist with ten nods. While he didn't sweep like Billie, he definitely didn't go home empty-handed. His "Not Like Us" secured Favorite Hip-Hop Song, which, let's be real, was the only possible outcome for that track.
A Quick Look at the Major Category Winners
- Artist of the Year: Billie Eilish
- New Artist of the Year: Gracie Abrams
- Album of the Year: Billie Eilish (Hit Me Hard and Soft)
- Song of the Year: Billie Eilish ("Birds of a Feather")
- Favorite Male Pop Artist: Bruno Mars
- Favorite Female Country Artist: Beyoncé
- Favorite Male Hip-Hop Artist: Eminem
- Favorite Music Video: Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars ("Die With a Smile")
Gracie Abrams winning New Artist of the Year felt like a long time coming for her fans. She beat out some heavy hitters like Benson Boone and Chappell Roan. Speaking of Chappell, even though she didn't snag the New Artist trophy, her performance of "Good Luck, Babe!" was easily the most talked-about moment on social media.
Beyoncé and Post Malone Cross Over into Country
One of the coolest parts of the night was seeing established icons win in categories they’ve never touched before. Beyoncé took home Favorite Female Country Artist and Favorite Country Album for Cowboy Carter. This is actually the first time she’s been recognized in the country category at the AMAs, which is a pretty huge deal considering she’s an 11-time winner overall.
Post Malone is also officially a country star now, apparently. He won Favorite Male Country Artist, proving that his pivot to Nashville wasn't just a phase. He also shared a win with Morgan Wallen for "I Had Some Help" in the Favorite Country Song category.
Icons and Legends on Stage
Jennifer Lopez hosted the show for the second time, and she didn't just stand there with a mic. She opened the whole thing with a 23-song medley of the year's biggest hits. It was exhausting just watching her.
The emotional peak of the night, though, was Janet Jackson. She received the ICON Award, and JLo (who used to be a backup dancer for Janet back in the day) was the one to introduce her. Watching them on stage together was a "full circle" moment that actually felt authentic. Janet performed a medley of "Control," "Someone to Call My Lover," and "All For You." She’s still got it. Period.
Rod Stewart was also there to pick up a Lifetime Achievement Award. It’s easy to forget how much of a titan he is until you see the entire room of Gen Z stars standing up to give him a three-minute ovation.
Surprises in the Genre Categories
The rock and alternative categories felt a bit more "old school" this year. Twenty One Pilots dominated, taking Favorite Rock Artist and Favorite Rock Album for Clancy. Linkin Park also made a massive comeback, winning Favorite Rock Song for "The Emptiness Machine." It’s sort of wild to see them back at the top of the charts and the awards circuit in 2025, but the fans clearly showed up for them.
In the R&B world, SZA and The Weeknd continue their reign. SZA’s "Saturn" won Favorite R&B Song, while The Weeknd’s Hurry Up Tomorrow took Favorite R&B Album.
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Why the 2025 AMAs Felt Different
The show moved to CBS and Paramount+ this year, and you could tell the production value was ramped up. Hosting it on Memorial Day at the Fontainebleau in Vegas gave it a weirdly relaxed but high-stakes vibe. It wasn't just about the trophies; it was a massive tribute to the troops, too. Zac Brown received the first-ever Veterans Voice Award, which was a nice touch given the holiday.
If you're looking for the full breakdown of who won the AMAs 2025, the takeaway is simple: it was the year of the woman. From Billie's total domination to Beyoncé's country takeover and Janet's iconic status, the ladies absolutely ran the show.
Next Steps for Music Fans:
If you missed the live broadcast, you can catch the full replay on Paramount+. I'd also highly recommend checking out the official AMAs YouTube channel to see the Janet Jackson Icon medley and Chappell Roan's performance—those are the two you'll be seeing clips of for the next six months. If you're building a 2025 playlist, start with the winners list; the fans literally voted for these, so you know they're the tracks that actually defined the year.