American Music Awards May 25 Queen Latifah

The 52nd American Music Awards will air live on Monday, May 25, from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, with Queen Latifah hosting the fan-voted show. CBS says the ceremony begins at 8 p.m. ET and will also stream on Paramount+. Dick Clark Productions and the AMAs have billed the event as the largest-venue edition of the show to date. Taylor Swift enters the night as the top nominee with eight nominations. ### When and where are the awards happening? Monday, May 25, is the date set for this year’s ceremony, which falls on Memorial Day. The event will be held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, according to CBS, the AMAs and UPI. CBS lists the start time at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. Las Vegas is hosting the show at a venue the organizers have described as the largest in AMA history. (cbs.com) Tickets are available through AXS, according to the AMAs’ April and May announcements. ### Why is Queen Latifah the central figure this year? Queen Latifah was announced in April as host of the 52nd American Music Awards. (cbs.com) In materials published by the AMAs and CBS, organizers described her as the host for the Memorial Day broadcast from Las Vegas. Billboard reported that Latifah will become the first person to have solo-hosted both the Grammys and the AMAs when she takes the stage on May 25. (theamas.com) The outlet said she previously hosted the Grammys in 2005. ### Who is performing and who else is appearing? Billy Idol and New Kids on the Block were among the early performers identified in advance coverage of the show. (theamas.com) The AMAs later added Hootie & the Blowfish, Keith Urban, Maluma, Riley Green, SOMBR, Teddy Swims, Twenty One Pilots and KATSEYE to the performance roster. Billboard and Yahoo also listed Karol G among performers and said she is set to receive the international artist award of excellence. (yahoo.com) BTS will make a special appearance at the ceremony, UPI reported on May 20. UPI said the group is nominated for three awards this year and that the event will mark its first awards-show appearance in four years. ### How strong is Taylor Swift’s position going into the show? Taylor Swift leads the field with eight nominations, according to the AMAs’ nominations announcement and UPI’s preview. (theamas.com) The AMAs said Morgan Wallen, Olivia Dean, Sabrina Carpenter and SOMBR follow with seven nominations each. April 14 was the date nominations were announced, and the AMAs said fan voting opened the same day and ran through May 8. (upi.com) CBS describes the show as fan-voted, with results revealed live during the broadcast. ### Is Swift expected to attend? UPI reported that Swift is the most-nominated artist this year, but it did not say she would attend. (theamas.com) The expectation that she may skip the ceremony comes from a Daily Mail report cited in the source briefing, not from CBS or the AMAs. Official AMA and CBS materials reviewed ahead of the show focused on nominations, performers, presenters and broadcast details. (theamas.com) As of the sources reviewed, organizers had not published an attendance confirmation for Swift. ### What should viewers watch for on Monday night? CBS says the American Music Awards will air live on May 25 at 8 p.m. (upi.com) ET/5 p.m. PT on CBS and Paramount+. The announced lineup includes Queen Latifah as host, a performance slate spanning Billy Idol to Karol G, and BTS in a special appearance. (cbs.com)