Janet Jackson is reclaiming her crown center stage!
The pop and R&B legend will receive the ICON Award at the 2025 American Music Awards, marking yet another historic milestone in a career that has defined generations, Rolling Stone reports. The ceremony will also feature Jackson’s first televised performance in seven years—a moment sure to remind the world of her unmatched impact.
Held during her Las Vegas residency at Resorts World, which kicks off May 21st, the AMAs return from a two-year hiatus with new energy, new categories, and a renewed commitment to honoring the greats. And there’s no better way to make a comeback than by celebrating an artist whose legacy is inseparable from the very fabric of modern music and culture.
With 11 AMAs, five Grammys, a Golden Globe, and decades of barrier-breaking artistry under her belt, Jackson becomes only the third recipient of the show’s ICON Award, following Rihanna in 2013 and Lionel Richie in 2022. Her return to the AMA stage will be a full-circle moment—not just for her, but for the millions who grew up dancing to her rhythms, finding freedom in her lyrics, and seeing themselves reflected in her strength.
Jackson’s last TV performance came in 2018 at the Billboard Music Awards, where she used the spotlight to highlight the global momentum of the #MeToo movement. Throughout her career, Jackson has made history again and again—from receiving the Ultimate Icon Award at the 2015 BET Awards to her 2019 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In her acceptance speech, she paid tribute to the Jackson family legacy while affirming her own unique journey.
“As the youngest in the family, I was determined to make it on my own… Tonight, your baby sister has made it in.”
Now, in 2025, that baby sister stands tall as a global icon, still leading, still inspiring, and still reminding us why her name is etched into the soundtrack of our lives.
The 2025 American Music Awards will air live on CBS and stream on Paramount+ on May 26th from the Fontainebleau Las Vegas.
Cover photo: Janet Jackson to Receive Icon Award at 2025 American Music Awards/Photo credit: Solaiman Fazel/Billboard