The 55-year-old singer took the stage in a performance that stirred both applause and confusion, leaving viewers debating what exactly they had just witnessed.
The 2025 American Music Awards (AMAs) lit up Las Vegas with bold theatrics, nostalgic moments, and star-powered performances. Gwen Stefani emerged as one of the night’s standout acts, delivering a visually striking set that drew a wide range of reactions from viewers.
Country star Blake Shelton introduced her, adding a warm, personal layer to the spectacle.
“That’s a hollaback flashback to 2005, and a winning artist who I really love. Tonight, she’s celebrating the 20th anniversary of that AMA win by performing two of her biggest hits and her newest hit. Let’s hear it for my one and only—the one and only Gwen Stefani,” he declared.
Stefani opened with her latest single, “Swallow My Tears,” before launching into an upbeat rendition of her 2006 hit, “Sweet Escape.” Her performance embraced theatrical flair.
Dressed in a pastel pink romper with ruffled edges, lace sleeves, icy blue bows, and crystal embellishments, she stood at the center of a vibrant, candy-colored set. Her platinum blonde hair, styled in a dramatic vintage wave, added to the retro-fantasy aesthetic.
While the staging was visually striking, public response to the performance was sharply divided. One viewer commented, “Respectfully…. what did I just watch…”
View this post on Instagram
Another viewer pointed out the show’s nostalgic tone, noting the presence of legacy artists like Janet Jackson, Jennifer Lopez, and Gloria Estefan, and questioned the lack of current performers. A third dismissed the moment with minimal enthusiasm.
View this post on Instagram
A fourth added, “Just wasted 2 hours of my time for the worst award show ever. Now I see why it’s been cancelled the past few years 😂.” Someone else remarked, “That was some bad lip syncing.”
Still, not all reactions were critical. “BEST PERFORMANCE OF THE NIGHT,” one person declared. One fan praised Stefani’s seemingly ageless appearance, while another described her as an enduring icon and commended her performance as spectacular.
Others highlighted the strong creative direction, vibrant energy, and standout styling as key strengths of the set.
Public debate surrounding Stefani’s age and relevance has followed her for years, something she has addressed head-on. In a 2021 interview with Vogue, when asked if she ever questioned whether she was too old for pop, she admitted, “I heard that from myself.”
She added, “This is the thing about age—there are days when you think you’re expired. Then there are other days where you’re like, I’m not dead. Why stop now? If you don’t like it, then turn off the TV or the radio or don’t look. I’m still going to do it.”
View this post on Instagram
On the question of legacy, she observed, “Sometimes I can see my style, especially right now because it feels like there’s a 1990s nostalgia in terms of fashion.” Her 14-year-old son, she said, encouraged her to revisit her creative roots, “He had a lot to do with me reinvestigating myself and taking me back to when I discovered ska music.”
View this post on Instagram
Reflecting on her career trajectory, Stefani acknowledged that personal hardship had a significant impact on her creativity. She described the period following her 2015 divorce from Gavin Rossdale as a “horrible time” in her life, explaining that her “life was falling apart” when she began writing her 2016 album.
According to Stefani, the project wasn’t driven by commercial goals but by a need to heal — she characterized it as a process of emotional survival.
View this post on Instagram
As the album progressed, her life began to change in unexpected ways. Midway through recording, she began a relationship with Blake Shelton, referring to him as “this cowboy guy” and remarking, “like, what the hell?”
View this post on Instagram
That sense of personal transformation and artistic evolution was a recurring theme throughout this year’s AMAs, which showcased a wide range of performers across generations.
Alongside Stefani, the event featured performances by Shelton, Jackson, Lopez, Estefan, Benson Boone, Lainey Wilson, and Reneé Rapp. Rod Stewart also took the stage for the first time since 2004, receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his decades-long contribution to music.
View this post on Instagram
Among the most anticipated acts of the night, Jackson delivered her first televised performance in seven years. She opened with the intro of her 1986 hit “Control” before moving into “Someone to Call My Lover,” a song that recently went viral on TikTok, and wrapped with “All for You.”
View this post on Instagram
@legendsinconcert A Legendary Spring Awaits! 🎶 We’re back for our 30th season, Now – May 24! 🎉✨ Don’t miss the iconic performances that make us a Myrtle Beach tradition. See you soon! 🔜 #legendsinconcert #legendsinconcertmb #myrtlebeach #livemusic #tributeconcert #fyp ♬ original sound – Legends in Concert
Dressed in a white puffy jacket and jeans, she performed alongside backup dancers in a routine that echoed her signature style.
Following the performance, actor Tasha Smith presented Jackson with the AMA’s Icon Award. While accepting the honor, Jackson expressed gratitude but added, “I don’t consider myself an icon.”
She spoke about her family’s musical legacy and the importance of staying grounded in faith, drawing cheers from the crowd and a few playful boos at her humility.
Following Jackson’s moment in the spotlight, Estefan took the stage to celebrate both her legacy and her latest work. Dressed in an all-black ensemble with feathered sleeves and a bedazzled corset, the Queen of Latin Pop delivered a high-energy three-song medley that spanned decades.
She opened with her 1987 classic “Rhythm Is Gonna Get You,” then leapt forward to 2025 with her new single, “La Vecina (No Sé Na),” dancing through the set with confident salsa moves.
View this post on Instagram
Estefan closed her performance with “Conga,” one of her most iconic tracks, pausing mid-song to acknowledge its milestone, “Happy 40th birthday ‘Conga,'” she told the crowd. “You know what? You still got it.”
Lopez followed with one of the night’s flashiest performances, hitting the stage in a sparkling leotard that blended elements of her 2019 “It’s My Party Tour” wardrobe with futuristic, couture-inspired styling.
Backed by a sharp and tightly choreographed dance team, Lopez powered through a high-energy set built around tracks that dominated streaming platforms and radio over the past year.
On the stage, lit with laser beams and pyrotechnics, Lopez performed her own hit “Dance Again” before pivoting into a sequence that paid tribute to recent hip-hop standouts. The medley included Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us,” “Squabble Up,” and “TV Off.”
