The Moment
Las Vegas did what Vegas does. On Memorial Day Monday, the American Music Awards rolled into the MGM Grand Garden Arena, and the red carpet hit the gas immediately. In a widely circulated red carpet gallery published May 25, arrivals included Teyana Taylor, Karol G, and Hilary Duff, who drew cheers in a gleaming silver look. Reality and streaming names kept pace: The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Jessi Draper turned heads alongside Marciano Brunette, while Abbey Romeo and JaNa Craig brought bold, camera-ready energy.
It wasn’t just the women bringing heat. Singer Esty delivered a sleek, high-shine moment; Mia Calabrese channeled classic J.Lo plunge-era confidence; and the guys, Riley Green, Jason Derulo, and Maluma, leaned into swagger and sharp suiting. And yes, Queen Latifah presided as the evening’s on-stage anchor, reporting from the scene. In short: a packed runway of pop, reality, and legacy names, all betting big on sparkle.
The Take
I love a good red carpet as much as anyone who’s ever rewound a Joan Rivers one-liner, but this one read loud and clear: the carpet is now the main stage. The looks were glossy, confident, and algorithm-ready, with metallics, plunging necklines, and sculpted tailoring built for the front camera more than the front row. It’s the AMAs trying to be both a nostalgia hug and a TikTok burst, a little bit of everything, buffet-style.
That’s not a dig; it’s strategy. Queen Latifah, as host, is a savvy bridge between eras. She carries gravitas for the 40+ crowd and legit credibility for anyone raised on 90s hip-hop and early-aughts rom-coms. Hilary Duff delivers the “I grew up with her” dopamine. Teyana Taylor is the gym-sculpted fashion assassin who never phones it in. Karol G is a global draw who brings streaming muscle and Latin-pop heat. Add in Lisa Rinna, reality’s ultimate utility player, and you’ve got a carpet built like a greatest-hits playlist: energizing, familiar, and easy to share.
But here’s the rub: when the entryway becomes the show, the show can start to feel like the after-party. The AMAs have always been about fan energy and splashy performances, yet the oxygen tonight felt captured by outfit reveals rather than onstage surprises. I’m not mad at a spectacle, Vegas practically requires it, but I do want the music moments to hit as hard as the mirrorball gowns. Give me one performance that trends for its sound, not just its sleeve.
Receipts
Confirmed:
- A May 25, 2026 red carpet photo gallery from a major entertainment news outlet documented arrivals at the American Music Awards in Las Vegas, including Teyana Taylor, Karol G, Hilary Duff, Jessi Draper, Marciano Brunette, Abbey Romeo, JaNa Craig, Esty, Mia Calabrese, Riley Green, Jason Derulo, Maluma, Lisa Rinna, and Queen Latifah (gallery credited photos to Getty Images).
- Professional red-carpet coverage of the event on that date.
Unverified/Reported:
- Specific designer credits for individual looks (not publicly posted by stylists or the artists at the time of writing).
- Official hosting confirmation and full show rundown from the AMAs’ own channels and broadcast recap (expected post-event).
- Any winners, performance setlists, or ratings (to be confirmed by the show’s official platforms and network partners).
Backstory (for Casual Readers)
The American Music Awards, launched by producer Dick Clark in 1973, are historically fan-voted and engineered for big-tent pop spectacle: think blockbuster medleys, crossover pairings, and radio-dominant winners. Over the decades, the AMAs have minted moments for icons from Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston to Taylor Swift, who has stacked record wins. The show’s venue and timing have shifted over the years, but its calling card remains the same: make pop feel like a party.
What’s Next
Watch for the official winners list and performance clips to hit the AMAs’ channels and the artists’ own feeds. Stylists usually drop full fashion credits within 24-48 hours, so expect a second wave of “who wore what” once those posts land. Ratings and streaming tallies will be provided by network partners. If the chatter tilts carpet-first, don’t be surprised if next year’s plan doubles down on pre-show spectacle, or, if they’re listening, slips in a can’t-miss performance that steals it back for the music.
Where did the AMAs’ red carpet land for you this year: fun fashion appetizer, or the main course you actually came to see?
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