Janet Jackson, one of the most influential and iconic musical artists of all time, will receive the prestigious ICON Award at the 2025 American Music Awards. CBS and Dick Clark Productions announced today that the global superstar will also deliver a powerhouse TV return performance, her first since 2018, in what will be a moment in pop culture history.
The 51st American Music Awards will broadcast live from the Fontainebleau Las Vegas on Monday, May 26, 2025, on Memorial Day. The celebrity-filled evening, hosted by global entertainer Jennifer Lopez, will be broadcast on the CBS Television Network at 8:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM PT and stream on Paramount+ in the United States. Tickets for the live show are available now on Ticketmaster.
Celebrating Half a Century of Cultural Impact: Janet Jackson Announced as 2025 AMAs ICON Award Recipient
The ICON Award is the highest distinction bestowed at the American Music Awards, and it is presented to artists whose music, innovation, and global influence have left an unforgettable mark on the music world. Janet Jackson’s career has lasted 50 historic years, during which she has shattered genre, style, and performance boundaries. She is among the best-selling artists of all time, with over 180 million records sold globally, and remains a powerful voice in music, fashion, film, and philanthropy.
Jackson’s legendary career is decorated with honors, including five GRAMMY Awards, two Emmy Awards, a Golden Globe, and an Academy Award nomination. She has also won countless awards at the American Music Awards, MTV Video Music Awards, and Billboard Music Awards. In 2019, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, further cementing her status as one of the greatest entertainers ever.
A Record-Breaking Comeback: Janet Jackson Will Sing Live on TV for the First Time in Seven Years
In a moment that fans have been waiting for, Jackson will perform on the AMAs for her first TV performance since 2018. As a celebrated high-energy choreographer, emotionally potent vocalist, and visionary stage producer, the performance will be among the year’s most talked-about performances. The performance will celebrate her artistry and re-ignite the power and poise that has made her one of music’s most respected icons.
Aiding in her recent resurgence, Jackson’s 2001 single “Someone To Call My Lover” recently exploded on social media platforms, generating newfound interest in the track and catapulting it back onto the Billboard charts nearly 24 years to the day of its debut. The track soared to number three on the R&B Digital Songs chart and saw a 1,400 percent increase in U.S. on-demand streams, speaking to her enduring cultural influence across generations.
Breaking Records and Setting Standards: A Career Filled with Firsts and Milestones
Janet Jackson has continually rewritten the rules of musical success. She is the first woman artist to debut in the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 and one of only four artists in history to have number-one albums in the 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s, along with Bruce Springsteen, U2, and Barbra Streisand.
Her 1986 breakthrough album Control was a pop and R&B milestone, yielding five Top 10 singles and establishing her as a feisty, independent-minded creative force. The album sold over 10 million copies worldwide. It paved the way for her record-breaking follow-up, Rhythm Nation 1814, which became the first and only album in history to generate seven Top 5 singles on the Billboard Hot 100.
Jackson’s 1993 album, Janet, yielded six more Top 10 singles, making her the first artist in Billboard history with five or more Top 10 singles from three consecutive albums. This feat established her as one of music’s most consistent hitmakers.
Taking Over the Stage Once Again: Las Vegas Residency and Sold-Out Tour Success
Jackson’s rule doesn’t stop at the studio. Her 2023 Together Again Tour was the highest-grossing tour of her career, selling out 36 concerts and drawing critical acclaim nationwide. Media sources like The Boston Globe credited her as “a killer live act,” Okayplayer wrote, “Janet has still got it, working as our beloved sex symbol, superstar, and Queen of Pop.”
In December 2024, she launched her newest Las Vegas residency, JANET JACKSON: LAS VEGAS, at Resorts World Theatre, thrilling audiences with a curated selection of career-spanning hits, deep cuts, and high-fashion moments designed by Thom Browne. After her AMAs performance, Jackson will resume her residency with additional dates on May 28, 30, and 31, 2025. Tickets to all performances are available now.
Honoring Those Who Serve: AMAs Partners with Easy Day Foundation to Put Spotlight on Veterans
The AMAs this year will honor music and pay tribute to the brave men and women of the armed forces. In celebration of Military Appreciation Month, the AMAs will partner with the Easy Day Foundation, a Las Vegas-based charity that helps veterans transition back into civilian life. The show will include two special performances, individual vignettes from active and veteran military personnel, and the presentation of a special humanitarian award to an artist making essential contributions to the veteran community.
These emotional segments will add more depth to what is already gearing up to be an evening of legendary performances and fan-voted celebrations.
The Legacy Continues: 2025 AMAs Follow Blockbuster 50th Anniversary Special
Following the record-breaking success of the 2024 AMA’s 50th Anniversary Special, the most-streamed AMA broadcast in history, the 2025 show will continue the momentum. Last year, the special brought in more than 13 million viewers and increased by 53 percent year-over-year from 2022, making it one of the most-viewed music awards shows in recent history.
Created by the legendary Dick Clark, the AMAs have long been a platform for unforgettable moments and career-defining performances. They debut new talent and honor enduring legends like Janet Jackson.
Vote for Your Favorites: 2025 AMAs Fan Voting Now Open Online
As the only major music award show voted entirely by the fans, the American Music Awards invite viewers to vote for their favorite artists in each category. Voting is also currently taking place at VoteAMAs.com and on the official @AMAs Instagram page. All voting categories close on Thursday, May 15 at 11:59 PM PT, except for Collaboration of the Year and Social Song of the Year, which will remain open through the first 30 minutes of the live broadcast.
This year, the top nominees include Kendrick Lamar, who has ten nominations, Post Malone, Billie Eilish, Chappell Roan, and Shaboozey.
