Even though fans dragged the 2025 American Music Awards for being a “hot mess,” the winners’ list delivered a few pleasant surprises, unexpected wins, and history-making moments — especially for Afrobeats, Country, and Pop.
The biggest winner of the night? Billie Eilish. She didn’t attend, but her name was everywhere.
The pop star took home multiple major categories including:
- Artist of the Year
- Album of the Year – Hit Me Hard And Soft
- Favorite Female Pop Artist
- Song of the Year – Birds Of A Feather
- Favorite Pop Song
- Favorite Pop Album
- Favorite Touring Artist
Meanwhile, Beyoncé made history again by winning Favorite Female Country Artist and Favorite Country Album with Cowboy Carter. Let that sink in — Queen B just claimed country music as her own and no one is doing it like her.
Another major moment was Eminem’s comeback. The rap icon snagged:
- Favorite Male Hip-Hop Artist
- Favorite Hip-Hop Album – The Death Of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce)
He shared the spotlight with Kendrick Lamar, who won Favorite Hip-Hop Song for Not Like Us — the same diss track that shook the internet just weeks ago.
Tyla, the South African hitmaker, also had a massive moment, winning Favorite Afrobeats Artist, cementing her place in global music. For a genre still carving its place on international stages, this was big.
Other key highlights:
Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars’ dramatic collab Die With A Smile won Collaboration of the Year and Favorite Music Video.
Doechii won Social Song of the Year for Anxiety — a Gen Z anthem that resonated deeply with fans.
Post Malone made unexpected waves in country, nabbing Favorite Male Country Artist and Country Song for I Had Some Help featuring Morgan Wallen.
SZA stayed winning, taking home Favorite R&B Song (Saturn) and Favorite Female R&B Artist, while The Weeknd bagged Favorite Male R&B Artist and R&B Album for Hurry Up Tomorrow.
Bad Bunny claimed both Favorite Male Latin Artist and Favorite Latin Album, while Shakira’s Soltera won Favorite Latin Song.
RM held it down for K-pop as Favorite K-Pop Artist, and Twenty One Pilots rocked out with wins for Favorite Rock Artist and Rock Album (Clancy).
And guess what won Favorite Soundtrack? Arcane League of Legends: Season 2. Yes, gamers ate this round!
Here’s your quick glance at the full winners list:
AMAs 2025 Winners at a Glance
- Artist of the Year: Billie Eilish
- Album of the Year: Hit Me Hard And Soft – Billie Eilish
- Song of the Year: Birds Of A Feather – Billie Eilish
- Collaboration of the Year: Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – Die With A Smile
- Social Song of the Year: Doechii – Anxiety
- Favorite Female Pop Artist: Billie Eilish
- Favorite Male Pop Artist: Bruno Mars
- Favorite Pop Song: Birds Of A Feather – Billie Eilish
- Favorite Pop Album: Hit Me Hard And Soft – Billie Eilish
- New Artist of the Year: Gracie Abrams
- Favorite Touring Artist: Billie Eilish
- Favorite Music Video: Die With A Smile – Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars
Hip-Hop / R&B
- Favorite Male Hip-Hop Artist: Eminem
- Favorite Female Hip-Hop Artist: Megan Thee Stallion
- Favorite Hip-Hop Song: Kendrick Lamar – Not Like Us
- Favorite Hip-Hop Album: Eminem – The Death Of Slim Shady
- Favorite Male R&B Artist: The Weeknd
- Favorite Female R&B Artist: SZA
- Favorite R&B Song: SZA – Saturn
- Favorite R&B Album: The Weeknd – Hurry Up Tomorrow
Country / Rock
- Favorite Male Country Artist: Post Malone
- Favorite Female Country Artist: Beyoncé
- Favorite Country Album: Cowboy Carter – Beyoncé
- Favorite Country Duo/Group: Dan + Shay
- Favorite Country Song: I Had Some Help – Post Malone ft. Morgan Wallen
- Favorite Rock Artist: Twenty One Pilots
- Favorite Rock Song: Linkin Park – The Emptiness Machine
- Favorite Rock Album: Clancy – Twenty One Pilots
Global Sounds
- Favorite Male Latin Artist: Bad Bunny
- Favorite Female Latin Artist: Becky G
- Favorite Latin Duo or Group: Julión Álvarez y su Norteño Banda
- Favorite Latin Album: DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS – Bad Bunny
- Favorite Latin Song: Shakira – Soltera
- Favorite K-Pop Artist: RM
- Favorite Afrobeats Artist: Tyla
- Favorite Dance/Electronic Artist: Lady Gaga
- Favorite Soundtrack: Arcane League of Legends: Season 2
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