The 2025 American Music Awards (AMAs) nominations have been revealed, bringing a mix of expected names and surprising snubs. Kendrick Lamar is leading the pack with 10 nominations, continuing his successful streak with his album GNX. From his performance at the Super Bowl halftime show to dominating the Grammys and Billboard charts, Lamar is now aiming for AMAs glory. He’s followed by Post Malone with 8 nominations, surprising many by surpassing his Fortnite collaborator Taylor Swift, who earned 6 nominations.
The list also highlights the growing influence of K-pop, with BTS members Park Jimin and Kim Namjoon, as well as BLACKPINK’s Rosé, among the standouts. The 51st annual AMAs will be hosted by Jennifer Lopez and will take place on May 26, 2025.
Kendrick Lamar’s Strong Contender for 2025
Lamar’s 2025 could potentially be a record-breaking year, as he has the chance to tie music legends like Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston for the most AMA wins in a single year. He is nominated in eight categories, including Artist of the Year, Album of the Year for GNX, and Song of the Year for “Not Like Us,” a diss track aimed at Drake. Lamar also secured three out of five spots in the Favorite Hip-Hop Song category with “Like That” (featuring Future and Metro Boomin), “Not Like Us,” and “Luther” (with SZA).
Post Malone and Billie Eilish Shine
Post Malone follows closely behind Lamar with eight nominations. He is up for Artist of the Year, Album of the Year for F-1 Trillion, and Song of the Year for “I Had Some Help,” his country collaboration with Morgan Wallen. Malone, who has previously won in both rap/hip-hop and pop/rock categories, is now also a contender in three country music categories. Additionally, he is nominated for Collaboration of the Year twice, for “I Had Some Help” and his surprise collaboration with Taylor Swift on Fortnite.
Billie Eilish, who released her third album Hit Me Hard and Soft, has seven nominations. These include Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Favorite Touring Artist, Favorite Female Pop Artist, Favorite Pop Album, and Favorite Pop Song. Eilish shares the same number of nominations as Chappell Roan and Shaboozey. Other notable nominees with six nods each include Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga, Morgan Wallen, Sabrina Carpenter, and SZA.
K-pop’s Growing Presence at the AMAs
For K-pop, ATEEZ and Stray Kids have been nominated as groups, while several K-pop stars, including BLACKPINK’s Rosé, are recognized as solo artists. Rosé received two nominations: one for Collaboration of the Year and another for Favorite K-pop Artist. In the Favorite K-pop category, BTS members Jimin and RM, ATEEZ, and Stray Kids are also nominated.
K-pop performances have increasingly dominated the AMA stage in recent years. At one point, restrictions were placed on BTS fans, including a ban on light sticks, due to the overwhelming popularity of their performances. This surge in fan engagement eventually led to the creation of a separate K-pop category, driven by fan votes.
As the 2025 AMAs draw closer, it’s clear that artists across genres, from hip-hop and pop to K-pop, are competing for the biggest honors in music.
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