The American Music Awards’ 50th Anniversary Special has unveiled its star-studded lineup.
On Thursday, Oct. 3, CBS and Dick Clark Productions announced the music artists who will be presenting and performing at the anticipated event on Sunday, Oct. 6, which is being held in place of the annual award ceremony in honor of the milestone year.
Newly announced performers for the grand special include three-time AMA winner Nelly, Sheila E. and Nile Rodgers & CHIC.
The “Hot in Herre” singer will take the stage with Chingy, J-Kwon and St. Lunatics for an homage to ‘hip-hop anthems,” while Nile Rodgers & CHIC will perform their hit song “Le Freak” and Sheila E. will sing “I’m Every Woman” with the already announced performer Chaka Khan.
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The broadcast will also welcome special appearances by Reba McEntire, actor Samuel L. Jackson, Kate Hudson, Backstreet Boys alum AJ McLean, Cedric the Entertainer, *NSYNC member Lance Bass and Smokey Robinson.
Last month, it was announced that the special will feature performances by Brad Paisley, Gladys Knight, Green Day, Jennifer Hudson, Kane Brown, Mariah Carey, RAYE and Stray Kids.
Paisley is set to honor the late country singer Charley Pride, who won the first AMA for country male and country album. He will also perform his new single “Truck Still Works,” which he debuted at the 2024 People’s Choice Country Music Awards.
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Additionally, Gladys Knight will perform “Midnight Train to Georgia” in honor of performing at the first-ever AMAs in 1974, and Green Day will perform their new hit “Dilemma.” Jennifer Hudson is set to honor Whitney Houston with a tribute performance; Kane Brown will perform a mix of “classic and current hits,” and Mariah Carey will celebrate 20 years of her record The Emancipation of Mimi.
Singer-songwriter RAYE is set to perform “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World” by James Brown, following a retrospective on the American Music Award of Merit, and K-pop group Stray Kids will honor the legacy of boybands.
Additional special guests announced in September include 17-time AMA winner Carrie Underwood, Gloria Estefan, Jennifer Lopez, and five-time AMA host Jimmy Kimmel.
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According to the press release, the evening will “serve as a tribute to the past 50 years and feature dazzling new performances, heartfelt artist interviews, legendary special guests, and exclusive never-before-seen footage from DCP’s extensive archives, highlighting iconic moments that have defined the awards show and shaped pop culture.”
American Music Awards’ 50th Anniversary Special airs on CBS and streams on Paramount+ at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on Sunday, Oct. 6.
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