The 50th anniversary special of the American Music Awards, which aired October 6 on CBS, hit a major milestone, reaching over 12.9 million viewers.
The star-studded special, which celebrates five decades of iconic shows and fan-favorite artists, ranks as CBS' top entertainment program for the month of October, beating out major sporting events like the MLB Playoffs and NASCAR.
With an average of 6 million viewers, the AMAs became the second most-watched entertainment program of the day, trailing only the NFL. Social engagement added another level of success, with over 65 million views across social media platforms, making it the most streamed AMA in the show's history.
It also saw +54% year-over-year growth from the previous show in 2022 and saw the largest year-over-year growth for any special music show or award show in 2024.
The broadcast was packed with performances from legendary names like Jennifer Lopez, Mariah Carey, Gloria Estefan, Green Day and Gladys Knight.
The show opened with a package of clips from the first show, including Stevie Wonder playing “Superstition” and Gladys Knight & the Pips performing “Midnight Train to Georgia”. Both songs were No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1973 and remain top classics. The show then cut to Knight performing the song live, with three female backup singers taking the place of Gladys' beloved Pips.
Emerging talent also shared the stage, including Stray Kids and RAYE, adding a contemporary edge to a night that celebrated five decades of music.
One of the standout performances came from EGOT recipient Jennifer Hudson, who honored 22-time AMA winner Whitney Houston by recreating a medley Houston performed at the 1994 AMAs, a pair of “I Loves You, Porgy” from Porgy & Bess and her own smash 'I Will Always Love You' from The Bodyguard.
In its fan-voted format, the AMAs have long been a reflection of popular taste, and the 50th anniversary special made it clear why the awards remain relevant for half a century.
The American Music Awards will return in 2025, live from Las Vegas during Memorial Day Weekend, with an ambitious tribute to America's veterans and a celebration of the year's most popular artists.
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/amas-50th-anniversary-special-record-tv-social-views-1235799632/