It’s getting hot in here: Nelly, Nile Rodgers and more join lineup for American Music Awards 50th Anniversary

“American Music Awards 50th Anniversary Special” airs coast to coast this Sunday, October 6, at 8:00pm Eastern/5:00pm Pacific, and they have just announced more artists who will take the stage as performers: Nelly, Nile Rodgers and CHIC, and Sheila E.

Rapper Nelly has won three AMAs, and he will perform a tribute to hip-hop’s evolution and greatest moments over the years along with special guests Chingy, J-Kwon, and members of the St. Lunatics. Meanwhile, Nile Rodgers and CHIC will perform their classic single “Le Freak” as well as Rodgers’s Grammy-winning collaboration with Daft Punk and Pharrell, “Get Lucky.” Among his career achievements, Rodgers has been inducted into the Rock and Roll and Songwriters Halls of Fame. And Sheila E. will be joining previously announced performer Chaka Khan‘s tribute to women at the AMAs.

We can also expect special appearances by Backstreet Boys member AJ McLean, comedian Cedric The Entertainer, actress and singer Kate Hudson, NSYNC member Lance Bass, country legend Reba McEntire, actor Samuel L. Jackson, and singer Smokey Robinson.

Previously announced performers include Brad Paisley, Gladys Knight, Green Day, Jennifer Hudson, Kane Brown, Mariah Carey, Raye, and Stray Kids. Other stars making special appearances will be Carrie Underwood, Gloria Estefan, Jennifer Lopez, and Jimmy Kimmel.

The American Music Awards aired on ABC from 1974 through 2022. They have been on hiatus since then, but are slated to return in May 2025 on CBS. Both nominees and winners were decided by music industry insiders based on commercial performance metrics until 2006, at which point fans started to determine the winners, making the AMAs one of the biggest fan-voted events in the music business. They’re presented by Dick Clark Productions.