Jennifer Lopez Kicks Off 2025 AMAs Dancing to Kendrick Lamar, Billie Eilish, Chappell Roan Hits

Jennifer Lopez Kicks Off 2025 AMAs Dancing to Kendrick Lamar, Billie Eilish, Chappell Roan Hits

The 2025 American Music Awards opened with a bang on Sunday night as Jennifer Lopez electrified the stage with a stunning dance medley that paid tribute to some of this year’s most groundbreaking hits. With flawless choreography, powerful visuals, and a commanding stage presence, J.Lo once again proved why she remains one of the most iconic performers in the entertainment industry.

The performance began in near darkness, with a single spotlight casting a silhouette of Lopez standing tall in a sleek, metallic ensemble. As the opening notes of Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” echoed through the arena, the crowd erupted in cheers. Lopez led a crew of dancers in a sharp, stomping routine that matched the intensity of Lamar’s biting diss track—originally known for sparking one of hip-hop’s most buzzed-about rivalries. Her interpretation leaned more into the track’s powerful rhythm and social commentary, turning it into an anthem of strength and self-assertion.

Without missing a beat, the medley transitioned into Billie Eilish’s “Birds of a Feather,” a haunting ballad that had become a sleeper hit throughout 2025. The stage was bathed in soft blue light as Lopez shifted into a more fluid, contemporary style of dance. Floating across the stage in a flowing, sheer cape, she embodied the vulnerability and emotional nuance that Eilish’s music so often evokes. The contrast between the aggressive precision of the first number and the dreamy melancholy of the second demonstrated not only Lopez’s incredible versatility as a performer but also the thematic range of this year’s AMAs.

The final segment of the medley exploded with color and energy as Chappell Roan’s breakout anthem “Good Luck, Babe!” blared through the speakers. Roan, a newcomer who has rapidly built a cult following with her bold aesthetic and queer-positive anthems, represented the new wave of pop artists pushing boundaries in 2025. Lopez, now dressed in a vibrant, iridescent bodysuit with pink and gold fringe, led a troupe of dancers in a joyful, high-energy number that had the entire audience on their feet. Pyrotechnics lit up the stage, confetti rained down, and Lopez’s megawatt smile radiated as she struck her final pose—arms outstretched, head held high.

This opening act set the tone for an evening that would go on to celebrate both the legends and the future stars of music. The performance also underscored a broader theme at this year’s AMAs: generational convergence. In a single medley, Lopez managed to channel the grit of hip-hop, the introspection of alt-pop, and the exuberance of queer indie pop. Each segment was distinct yet seamlessly interwoven—a reflection of the increasingly genre-fluid world of contemporary music.

While Lopez herself didn’t release new music in 2025, her presence at the AMAs felt symbolic. As an artist who has remained relevant for over two decades, her willingness to spotlight newer voices speaks to a legacy not built solely on personal accolades, but on cultural impact and reinvention. In this way, her performance was not just entertainment—it was a ceremonial passing of the torch.