Jennifer Lopez Recalls Her First American Music Awards Performance as Show Celebrates 50 Years: 'The Energy Was Electric'

Mar. 15, 2025

Jennifer Lopez.Photo:AMAs/X

AMAs/X

Jennifer Lopezis looking back on some of her most memorable experiences at theAmerican Music Awardsfor the ceremony’s50th anniversary.

“It’s pretty incredible, right? Fifty years of the American Music Awards. I remember watching them at home when I was a little girl,” she said, before recalling her very first appearance at the event in 2001.

“What?” she said with a laugh as throwback footage of her performance from that year flashed on the screen. “It was so long ago — but the energy in the room was very electric.”

Lopez — who wore a pink pussy-bow silk blouse for the segment — then reminisced about the moment in 2011 when she won the award for favorite Latin artist. “Winning a fan-voted award is incredibly special because it’s directly from the people that you make the music for. It’s just a humbling experience,” she said of the honor.

Elsewhere in her interview, the “Can’t Get Enough” singer looked back on her time serving as the ceremony’s host in 2015, calling the role “a huge honor” and nodding to her many wardrobe changes throughout the night.

“I decided that I was gonna change for every time I came out there [onstage],” she explained. “We did this dance medley to all of these amazing songs from that year, and I wanted everyone to feel that love and energy.”

She then teased: “Maybe I’ll do it again one day. Who knows?”

Lopez also took a moment to reflect on the power of music. “Music really does have the power to heal and uplift and to connect us, and the AMAs have been showcasing that for half a century now,” she said, adding, “And I’m excited for the next 50 years of music — and magic.”

Jennifer Lopez at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2024.Emma McIntyre/Getty

Emma McIntyre/Getty

The “This Is Me… Now” singer’s AMAs cameo came amid herongoing split from Ben Affleck.

The pair were recently spotted going out for lunch togetherat the Polo Loungeinside the Beverly Hills Hotel on Sept. 14 with Affleck’s kidsSeraphina, 15, andSamuel, 12, plus Lopez’s 16-year-old twins,Max and Emme. The meeting less than a month after Lopezfiled for divorcefrom Affleck, 52.

A source close to theUnstoppableactresspreviously told PEOPLEthat she and theAccountantstar “are still moving forward with the divorce” despite their friendly outing, as they “continue to focus on the kids.”

Lopez attends the Road to the Golden Globes Party in Toronto in September 2024.Emma McIntyre/Getty Images

Emma McIntyre/Getty Images

Other special guests at the 50th Anniversary Special — which is being held in place of the usual American Music Awards ceremony to commemorate 50 years of the show — includeCarrie Underwood, who has won 17 AMAs over her career, multiple award-winnersGloria Estefan, and five-time AMA hostJimmy Kimmel.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Brad Paisley,Chaka Khan,Gladys Knight,Green Day,Jennifer Hudson,Kane Brown,Mariah Carey,RAYEandStray Kidsare all set to perform.

CBS has dubbed the special as “an evening celebrating half a century of groundbreaking music, iconic moments, unforgettable performances, and rich pop culture history.” The marks the first AMAs event since the last ceremony aired in November 2022. The regular AMAs has been pushed back and will air in May 2025.

American Music Awards’ 50th Anniversary Special airs on CBS and streams on Paramount+ (live for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers or on-demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers) at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on Oct. 6.

source: people.com