Jennifer Lopez kisses backup dancers in 2025 AMAs performance

Jennifer Lopez turned up the heat in a big way during her opening performance at the 2025 American Music Awards.

After powering through a rendition of her 2012 hit “Dance Again,” the global icon and ceremony host kicked off Monday night’s show with a high-energy dance routine set to a medley of recent radio hits.

Midway through the set, after Lopez ditched a space-themed helmet she sported during the beginning sequence, the 55-year-old began moving to a remixed version of “Lose Control” by singer Teddy Swims.

As her backup dancers shifted position around her, Lopez locked lips with a male dancer, before a female dancer approached Lopez and kissed her as well.

Another dancer in a magenta wig whirled toward Lopez after that, with the pair’s lips almost touching in a tantalizing tease before the music once again changed to an alternate mix of Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars’ “Die With a Smile.”

Elsewhere during the set, Lopez and her dancers grooved to uptempo iterations of other notable songs, including “Espresso” by Sabrina Carpenter, “Not Like Us” by Kendrick Lamar, “A Bar Song” by Shaboozey “Apt.” by Rosé and Mars, “Hot to Go!” by Chappell Roan, Billie Eilish’s “Birds of a Feather,” and Beyoncé’s No. 1 hit “Texas Hold ‘Em,” among others.

“I had to kick things off, you know that, turning it up to the biggest songs of the year and dancing my heart out for all of you,” Lopez said after the set, before saluting the nation’s veterans, as the AMAs awards show took place on the Memorial Day holiday.

Lopez returned to the AMAs stage as host for the second time in her career, after she hosted the 2015 ceremony as well.

Entertainment Weekly has reached out to a representative for Lopez for additional comment on her performance.

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Additional stars previously announced to sing on stage at the 2025 AMAs included Blake Shelton, Gwen Stefani, Benson Boone, Lainey Wilson, Gloria Estefan, Reneé Rapp, Rod Stewart, Becky G, Manuel Turizo, and Icon Award recipient Janet Jackson.