American Music Awards 50th Anniversary Special Features Brad Paisley, Kane Brown

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Brad Paisley performs at the American Music Awards 50th Anniversary Special. Photo: Christopher Polk for Penske Media

50 years have passed since the first American Music Awards. The iconic award show’s milestone birthday was celebrated Sunday night (Oct. 6) with a star-studded anniversary special presented by CBS and Dick Clark Productions (DCP).

The special served as a tribute to the past 50 years and featured exciting new performances, artist interviews, special guests and exclusive classic highlights from DCP’s extensive archives, highlighting iconic moments that have defined the awards show and shaped pop culture.

Kane Brown performs at the American Music Awards 50th Anniversary Special. Photo: Sonja Flemming/CBS

Two-time AMA winner Brad Paisley honored the late Charley Pride during the special with a performance of Pride’s “Kiss an Angel Good Mornin’” and his own new single “Truck Still Works.”

Five-time AMA winner Kane Brown celebrated the legacy of country music with a cover of Alan Jackson‘s “Drive (For Daddy Gene)” and his own chart-topping hit “Miles On It.”

Gladys Knight, who performed on the first American Music Awards in 1974, returned to the AMAs stage for an encore performance of “Midnight Train to Georgia.”

Other performers included Mariah Carey, Sheila E, Chaka Khan, Green Day, Jennifer Hudson, Nelly, Chingy, J-Kwon, members of the St. Lunatics, Nile Rodgers & CHIC, RAYE and Stray Kids.

Reba McEntire, Carrie Underwood, Gloria Estefan, Jimmy Kimmel and Jennifer Lopez were special guests on the special. The night also featured appearances from AJ McLean, Cedric The Entertainer, Kate Hudson, Lance Bass, Samuel L. Jackson and Smokey Robinson.

The fan-voted American Music Awards will return on Memorial Day weekend, May 2025, on CBS.

LB Cantrell
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