Rod Stewart delivered a lively performance of “Forever Young” at the 2025 American Music Awards Monday night as he received the AMA’s lifetime achievement award.
Ahead of his set, all five of the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer’s children took the stage to honor their father. A subsequent video was played to showcase the extensiveness of Stewart’s career.
“When I started singing the early ’60s, way before any of you lot were here, the reason I got into it is because I had this burning ambition to sing,” he said. “It’s all I wanted to do, I didn’t want be rich or famous, and here I am a few years later, picking up this wonderful award.”
“I want to thank all of the musicians I’ve played with, all of my influences,” he said, heaping praise to Sam Cooke, David Ruffin and Muddy Waters.
After accepting the honor, Stewart sang his 1988 track “Forever Young,” dancing across the stage as his accompanying dancers and musicians led an upbeat, high-spirited performance.
Monday night marked Stewart’s return to the AMAs, his first appearance at the award show in over two decades since he last performed a rendition of Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World” during the show back in 2004.
Jennifer Lopez pulled double duty on Monday, acting as the night’s host and one of the award show’s many performers. Alongside Lopez, Benson Boone, Blake Shelton, Gloria Estefan, Gwen Stefani, Lainey Wilson and Reneé Rapp took the stage as well.
Janet Jackson gave her first TV performance in seven years at the 2025 AMAs while she was notably honored with the Icon Award. Previously, the “That’s the Way Love Goes” singer received the Billboard Music Awards Icon Award in 2018, where she performed a medley of “Nasty,” “If” and “Throb.”
Billie Eilish won artist of the year and Eilish’s Hit Me Hard and Soft won album of the year while “Birds of a Feather” took home song of the year. Gracie Abrams was crowned new artist of the year. Heading into Monday night, Kendrick Lamar led this year’s nominees with 10 nominations, followed closely by Post Malone, Eilish, Chappell Roan and Shaboozey.
The AMAs were created by Dick Clark Productions. DCP is owned by Penske Media Corporation, The Hollywood Reporter‘s parent company, in a subsidiary joint venture between Penske Media and Eldridge. Check out the star-studded arrivals and the night’s full list of winners.
