The 2025 American Music Awards started with a bang scratch, a downright explosion of choreography, emotion, and controversy, with the endlessly fearless Jennifer Lopez at the helm. On Monday night under the shimmering lights of Las Vegas' Fontainebleau, Lopez opened the night with a six-minute, high-energy, 23-clip-filled performance. From the pumping beats of "Dance Again" and "Lose Control" to the brassy strut of "Hot To Go" and tear-jerking "Die With a Smile," Jenny from the Block reminded us all why she's still the queen of stage spectacle.
But it wasn't simply the music with viewers and the internet buzzing. Halfway through the performance, the choreography veered in a bold direction. A male dancer came along, planting a quick yet emphatic kiss on Lopez's lips. Not a second breath, a female dancer stepped up and kissed her. And then, just when the audience thought it had seen it all, a second female dancer hovered lip-close, faces nearly touching in a pause filled with tension that left viewers gasping.
The internet did what it did best: light up with opinions and comparisons and, of course, plenty of throwbacks. Many, of course, couldn't resist comparing the moment to the iconic 2003 MTV VMAs moment when Madonna smooched Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. A lesser-known fun fact? Lopez was supposed to be part of that performance but pulled out due to a scheduling conflict. In a way, this AMAs moment felt like her full-circle mic drop.
So what were all those passionate theatrics about, anyway? And as Lopez said to Variety backstage, it was all part of the plan. "It felt a little bit like a story, a mini story going on," she said. "The whole concept was about the mirrors and the reflections. We listen to all this great music every year and escape into our little world with music, which was the whole point of the performance. And then, all the way through, everybody feels it differently. "I enjoy the idea of losing control."
That is not to say the night was not without a bit of comic relief. Tiffany Haddish, who doesn't pass up the opportunity for a moment, joked, after this performance, "Save a dancer for me, Jennifer Lopez Damn! You ain't the only one out here single."
Wrapping the performance, Lopez pushed back toward something bigger than the spectacle. On Memorial Day, she paid tribute to America's veterans, grounding the show with a tribute that struck a different emotional chord.
Fearless, fierce, and classic Jennifer Lopez, the 2025 AMA opener wasn't a performance but a declaration. And whether we're discussing the music, the message, or the kisses, she's still got everyone talking.
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