Janet Jackson was honored with the Icon Award at the 2025 American Music Awards tonight in Las Vegas. She celebrated by making her first TV performance in seven years, during which she broke out “Someone to Call My Lover” and “All for You” onstage at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas. Backed by a live band, Jackson danced her way around the stage in a Vetements denim outfit while singing both songs, and backup dancers worked through flashy choreography nearby. Watch a replay below.
Actress Tasha Smith introduced Jackson before handing her the Icon Award onstage. “I am so, so honored. I am so grateful,” Jackson said during her acceptance speech. “I mean no disrespect in any way, but I don’t consider myself an icon. My family, myself—our dream wasn’t ever to be famous. We weren’t raised like that. We always had a special love for music, dancing, and singing, and fame came with the result of hard work and dedication. My story, my family’s story, it’s truly an American story. This would have only happened in America. The one thing that I hope for is that I’ve been an inspiration to others and artists to follow their dreams and succeed. I want to thank my staff, my management, CAA, Live Nation, AEG, to all the incredible dancers, musicians, and producers that I’ve worked with. To my family who have been my biggest supporters since birth, and, of course, to the fans. Because of you and God, I’m standing right here. I wanna thank the AMAs for this honor, which I am humbly grateful, and last but not least, I want to say, keep God in every part of your life, because that’s where he wants to be. I love you so much.”
Jackson’s most recent studio album, Unbreakable, came out in 2015. The pop and R&B star has been busy on the road, touring her hits and old staples, as well as reissuing several of her albums, including a special 25th anniversary version of The Velvet Rope. After being given the Icon Award at the Billboard Music Awards in 2018, Jackson got to bestow Mary J. Blige with that same trophy a few years later in 2022.
Read about Janet. and The Velvet Rope in “The 150 Best Albums of the 1990s.”
