Janet Jackson is stepping back into the spotlight—and this time, she’s being honored like the legend she is.

The pop and R&B icon will receive the prestigious ICON Award at the 2025 American Music Awards, a recognition that marks yet another milestone in one of the most influential careers in entertainment history (Rolling Stone). The event will also feature Jackson’s first televised performance in seven years—an appearance that many in the industry are calling one of the most anticipated musical moments of 2025 (Variety).

Set to take place during her Las Vegas residency at Resorts World, beginning May 21, the AMAs are returning from a two-year hiatus with a refreshed format, new categories, and a renewed dedication to celebrating artists who have shaped global culture (Billboard). And there may be no artist more fitting to anchor this comeback than Janet Jackson, whose contributions to music, dance, and visual storytelling have influenced generations.

With 11 American Music Awards, five Grammy wins, a Golden Globe, and decades of culturally defining work, Jackson now joins the exclusive group of ICON Award recipients—following Rihanna, who earned the honor in 2013, and Lionel Richie in 2022 (Associated Press). For longtime fans, her return to the AMA stage represents far more than a performance; it’s a moment of collective nostalgia, celebration, and recognition of the ways Jackson’s artistry opened doors for countless performers.

Jackson last graced television audiences with a live performance in 2018 at the Billboard Music Awards, where she used her platform to spotlight the global momentum of the #MeToo movement (Billboard). It was yet another example of her lifelong commitment to using her voice not only to entertain, but also to empower and uplift.

Throughout her extraordinary career, Jackson has consistently broken barriers and rewritten the rules. She received the Ultimate Icon Award at the 2015 BET Awards, delivered a record-setting series of chart-topping albums in the ’80s and ’90s, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019—an honor that underscored her undeniable influence across genres and generations (New York Times). During her Hall of Fame speech, she paid tribute to her famous family while asserting her own hard-won path:

“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 as a towering global icon—still pushing boundaries, still commanding the stage, and still shaping the cultural landscape. Her upcoming AMA performance is expected to be both a celebration of her legacy and a powerful reminder of why her music remains woven into the soundtrack of millions of lives.

The 2025 American Music Awards will air live on CBS and stream on Paramount+ on May 26, broadcasting from the Fontainebleau Las Vegas (CBS News).