AMAs overlook Swift, spotlight Idol, Karol G, Black Eyed Peas

AMAs highlight – Taylor Swift, the 52nd AMAs’ most winning artist in history, skipped the ceremony as the show aired live May 25 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Still, the night delivered standout moments: Billy Idol’s lifetime achievement award with fiery perfor

The American Music Awards didn’t need Taylor Swift to keep the room moving.

Swift. the AMAs’ most winning artist in history. earned eight nominations without a win during the 2026 broadcast but skipped the ceremony anyway. The 52nd AMAs—airing live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on May 25—still produced a set of highlights that felt. in different ways. like the show was determined not to be defined by a single absence.

Queen Latifah steered the program for the first time in 31 years, teaming with Tom Jones and Lorrie Morgan as co-hosts.

Billy Idol burned through a lifetime achievement moment

Billy Idol accepted a lifetime achievement award with what he framed as a kind of release he found only by playing music. In a speech that carried him back to the London punk scene of the 1970s. he told the crowd that “playing music was the only thing that gave me a sense of freedom as a young man” on that scene.

He then pivoted to advice for younger artists. “To any kid out there who loves any music, if you’re inspired to create that sense of freedom and pursue a life of art, pick an instrument, find out who you are, and be it.”

Idol followed with blazing renditions of “Eyes Without a Face” and “Dancing With Myself,” with longtime collaborator Steve Stevens shredding guitar solos beside him. The crowd—many of whom weren’t even born during Idol’s ’80s peak—bopped in the aisles.

Karol G receives her first international artist award since Whitney Houston

Karol G was next to take center stage for an honor with historical weight. She received the international artist award, which had last been given to Whitney Houston in 2009 and recognizes an artist whose music and cultural influence has resonated globally.

As John Legend introduced Karol G, he pointed to the scale of her 63-date stadium tour this summer, saying, “That isn’t just a fan base, it’s a movement.”

Karol G accepted the award moments after performing “Latina Foreva” and “Tropicoqueta” in a signature belly-baring outfit. “God allows me to have the most incredible experience in my life,” Karol G said. “The most important thing in my life is purpose. I found purpose in my music … My life is meaningful because of my music and (for it) to help others through it.”.

Legend then surprised her with another win: best Latin album for “Tropicoqueta.”

The Pussycat Dolls return to TV after more than six years

For fans who haven’t seen The Pussycat Dolls on television in more than six years, their appearance on the AMAs felt like a reunion with an unfinished storyline. The group’s first TV performance in that span offered a glimpse of what viewers would “miss on a now-canceled summer tour.”

Nicole Scherzinger—now a Tony winner—led the trio in a skintight red latex look. Flanked by Ashley Roberts and Kimberly Wyatt, Scherzinger brought the medley with what the performance framed as defiant sass.

“We’re baaaaak,” Scherzinger announced with a wink.

They rotated through dance calisthenics in a medley that included “Buttons. ” “When I Grow Up” and “Don’t Cha.” During “Don’t Cha. ” The Pussycat Dolls headed into the audience for fans to sing along before briefly ceding the spotlight to Busta Rhymes. who worked the motif into a red “Beat It”-inspired outfit as he delivered nimble raps.

A Memorial Day salute from Darius Rucker to veterans

The show also made room for Hootie & The Blowfish, even as the fan-voted broadcast leaned heavily toward current chart stars like BTS and Sombr. The reason had two parts.

First, the original quartet—Darius Rucker, drummer Jim Sonefeld, guitarist Mark Bryant and bassist Dean Felber—celebrated the 30th-plus anniversary of their smash breakthrough “Cracked Rear View” album with a nostalgic medley of “Hold My Hand” and “Only Wanna Be With You.”

Second. the band was in the room because Rucker. still known for potent vocals. was honored with the veterans voice award for his military advocacy work. “All of us can use our voice to support these brave men and women who protect our country. Every day we should be doing this,” Rucker said on Memorial Day. “I hear stories from service members all over the world and one thing it gives me is perspective. You learn real quick what resilience looks like.”.

Black Eyed Peas win the inaugural best throwback category, with Fergie in tow

The first time the AMAs added a best throwback award category, the picks reflected both nostalgia and pop staying power: “What’s Up” from 4 Non Blondes, “Rock That Body” from Black Eyed Peas and “Iris” from the Goo Goo Dolls.

With 4 Non Blondes leader Linda Perry and Goo Goo Dolls frontman Johnny Rzeznik pulled into bits earlier in the show, it wasn’t much of a surprise that Black Eyed Peas landed the inaugural trophy.

Fergie reunited with the group—appearing with Taboo, Will.i.am and Apl.de to accept the award. Taboo, sporting his trademark long hair shaved close, offered a shoutout to the recently deceased Rob Base, saying, “We sampled a great legend in hip-hop.”

A giddy Fergie held hands with Will.i.am and Taboo and called the group her “longtime friends and brothers.” After thanking the fans for making TikToks and Instagram reels spotlighting “Rock That Body. ” she delivered a parting quip: “And thanks for making this moment possible so my (12-year-old) son would put our song on his playlist.”.

Sombr turns “Homewrecker” into a spectacle after first-ever AMA win

Sombr also lit up the stage after picking up his first-ever AMA for best rock/alternative song (“Back to Friends”). He told the crowd, “Two years ago I was sitting in my living room watching this show.”

That energy carried into “Homewrecker,” described as an aggressive performance built on strobe lights, black eyeliner and a rain shower in the desert. The visuals were so intense that the moment prompted a near-joke from viewers: anyone else worried about “a live electrocution.”

The night’s throughline was never about whether one headline star was present. With Swift absent, the AMAs still found ways to deliver—through legacy, reinvention, and surprise wins—moments that moved faster than a single narrative could hold.

American Music Awards AMAs Billy Idol Karol G Black Eyed Peas Fergie Queen Latifah Darius Rucker The Pussycat Dolls Sombr MGM Grand Garden Arena Taylor Swift