American Music Awards to Mark 50th Anniversary With Performances by Music Icons

American Music Awards 2024 performers include (L-R) Mariah Carey, Chaka Khan, Gladys Knight, Jennifer HudsonPhoto byShutterstock and China Images

To celebrate its 50th anniversary, the American Music Awards will be staging a special show “celebrating half a century of groundbreaking music, iconic moments, unforgettable performances and rich pop-culture history.”

Instead of the usual awards ceremony, the two-hour special - dubbed The American Music Awards 50th Anniversary Special - will feature performances by artists who have made a significant impact in American music.

The show will air live on Sunday, Oct. 6 concurrently on both coasts.

The first round of performers have been announced, with Kane Brown, Mariah Carey, Green Day, Jennifer Hudson, Chaka Khan, Stray Kids, Gladys Knight, Brad Paisley and RAYE set to take the stage at the star-studded celebration.

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Each artist will deliver a special performance honoring the legacy of the AMAs.

Country superstar and five-time AMA winner Kane Brown will celebrate the legacy of country music with a performance of classic and current hits.

Music icon and 10-time AMA winner Mariah Carey will perform a medley of hits off her multi-platinum album, The Emancipation of Mimi – which is celebrating its 20th anniversary.

Toasting the history of rock music, three-time AMA winners Green Day will perform their latest #1 hit, "Dilemma."

EGOT winner Jennifer Hudson will honor 21-time AMA winner Whitney Houston, who remains one of the top AMA winners of all time, with a performance tribute.

Meanwhile, K-pop stars Stray Kids will deliver a special performance honoring the legacy of boy bands at the AMAs.

The evening will also feature special appearances by multiple AMA-winning global superstars including Gloria Estefan, five-time AMAs host Jimmy Kimmel, and AMA winner Carrie Underwood.

More performers and guest appearances will be announced soon.

Created by Dick Clark and first awarded in 1974, the AMAs celebrate the year's top achievements in music determined by the fans, for the fans.

The ceremony airs live coast-to-coast on Sunday, Oct. 6 at 8:00-10:00 PM ET/5:00-7:00 PM PT) on CBS and streams on Paramount+.