The 51st Annual American Music Awards delivered an evening full of music, performances, and most unexpectedly—shock. Held in Las Vegas on May 26, 2025, the long-awaited return of the fan-voted show brought with it not just big wins, but major surprises that even the most seasoned fans and experts didn’t see coming.
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Billie Eilish’s Domination
Probably the biggest surprise of the night was Billie Eilish’s domination. The pop superstar took home all seven awards she was nominated for, emerging as the biggest winner of the night. Billie won major categories such as Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, and Album of the Year. Don’t get us wrong—Billie deserved every win, but her sweep was unexpected, especially since the AMAs are fan-voted and Taylor Swift likely has the largest fan base.
Taylor Swift’s Shutout
The shock of the 51st American Music Awards was not seeing Taylor Swift’s name among the winners. Taylor was nominated for six awards, including Album of the Year and Favorite Touring Artist. Given that she is the most decorated artist in AMAs history (with 40 wins) and arguably has the biggest fan base in the industry, it was surprising that she ended the night without a single win.
New Artist of the Year
Gracie Abrams took home the coveted New Artist of the Year award. The 25-year-old had an exceptional 2024 with her sophomore album The Secret of Us. Her win wasn’t entirely unexpected, but many had predicted Chappell Roan to win, especially after she took home the Grammy in the same category.
Becky G Beats Shakira and Karol G
Another surprising moment came in the Favorite Female Latin Artist category. Shakira was widely considered the frontrunner with her new album Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran. If not her, many expected Karol G to win. However, it was Becky G—who also performed with Manuel Turizo—who took home the award.
Favorite Latin Duo or Group
In a category where Fuerza Regida and Grupo Frontera were expected to dominate, the win instead went to Julión Álvarez y Su Norteño Banda, pulling off a surprising victory in Favorite Latin Duo or Group.
Photo: PMC
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