Janet Jackson to Receive Icon Award and Perform at 2025 American Music Awards
Status Ain't Hood Staff
May 14, 2025
Janet Jackson will be honored with the prestigious Icon Award at the 2025 American Music Awards, recognizing her remarkable five-decade impact on the music industry. The 11-time AMA winner will also make her long-awaited return to the stage with her first televised performance since 2018. The ceremony, marking its 51st year, will be hosted by Jennifer Lopez and broadcast live from the Fontainebleau Las Vegas on May 26 at 8:00 PM ET on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.
Jackson’s influence continues to resonate with audiences both old and new. Her 2001 hit “Someone to Call My Lover” recently saw a massive resurgence, fueled by a viral trend on social media. The renewed popularity propelled the track back onto the Billboard charts, peaking at No. 3 on the R&B Digital Songs chart and earning a 1,400% increase in U.S. on-demand streams, according to Luminate. Originally the second single from her chart-topping All For You album, the song’s revival underscores Jackson’s lasting cultural relevance.
Adding to the celebration, Jackson will launch the next leg of her Janet Jackson: Las Vegas residency at Resorts World Theatre. The six-show run kicks off May 21 and concludes May 31, just days after her AMA tribute. The moment is made even more special by her longstanding connection to Lopez, who began her career as one of Jackson’s backup dancers.
Rihanna is back with new music—sort of. The pop icon has released “Friend of Mine,” her first new song in three years, as part of the upcoming Smurfs movie soundtrack, in which she also voices Smurfette. Debuting in the latest trailer for the animated film, the track arrives just days after Rihanna revealed her third pregnancy at the Met Gala, fueling even more anticipation for her long-awaited next album. Check out the video for "Friend of Mine" here.
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