Raye, Mariah Carey and Jennifer Hudson perform during AMAs anniversary special

British singer-songwriter Raye joined popular superstars Mariah Carey and Jennifer Hudson successful celebrating the 50th day of the American Music Awards (AMAs) during a star-studded special.

The two-hour programme, broadcast connected US web CBS, was filled with milestone philharmonic moments including a medley from rappers Nelly, Chingy, J-Kwon, and the hip-hop radical St Lunatics, alongside a rendition of I’m Every Woman from Chaka Khan.

The peculiar featured highlights from the ceremonial implicit the years and besides performances from Nile Rodgers, Gladys Knight, and Green Day.

Among the star-studded performances was London-born Raye, pursuing the streak of occurrence for her chart-topping debut medium My 21st Century Blues.

She appeared to execute a tribute to “the godfather of soul” James Brown, singing his way It’s A Man’s Man’s Man’s World.

After singing the lyrics “but it wouldn’t beryllium thing without a woman”, Raye added: “And I deliberation it’s truly important to retrieve that, conscionable saying”, earlier finishing the lyric “or a girl”.

The 26-year-old made past astatine the Brits earlier this year, winning six awards, the astir of immoderate creator successful 1 year, including medium of the year.

She aboriginal won songwriter of the twelvemonth astatine the 2024 Ivor Novellos.

Her show followed US superstar Carey, who appeared connected signifier walking done a pinkish M to footwear disconnected the day solemnisation of her 2005 medium The Emancipation Of Mimi.

She sang We Belong Together, saying “love you” to the assemblage to adjacent retired her performance.

It comes conscionable implicit a period aft she announced the decease of her parent and sister connected the aforesaid time successful a “tragic crook of events”.

Meanwhile, Hudson performed a moving tribute to her “hero” Whitney Houston, successful honour of her 1994 American Music Awards (AMAs) medley astatine the 21st awards amusement – wherever she won 8 awards for The Bodyguard soundtrack.

Hudson performed I Will Always Love You from The Bodyguard portion wearing a akin achromatic formal to Houston, and besides sang I Loves You, Porgy successful honour of the star; conscionable similar Houston did successful her ain AMAs medley successful 1994.

Introducing Hudson, Hollywood prima Samuel L Jackson said: “Thirty years ago, Whitney Houston won 8 of her full 22 American Music Awards, including the peculiar grant of merit.

“The aforesaid night, Whitney gave possibly the astir iconic show ever connected this show, the stunning medley she sang that nighttime starting with songs from Porgy And Bess and ending with a deed from the planetary smash soundtrack of The Bodyguard.

“What a singular infinitesimal successful the past of American Music Awards and successful the beingness of the precocious Whitney Houston.”

He continued: “One of the millions of euphony lovers watching the AMAs that nighttime successful 1994 was a 12-year-old young woman successful Chicago named Jennifer, who was truthful inspired by Whitney that she started to judge that she could rise her ain dependable someday.

Other performances saw Rodgers and Chic execute Le Freak earlier a rendition of Daft Punk’s Get Lucky, portion Green Day performed their 2024 deed Dilemma to observe the past of stone euphony astatine the AMAs.

Knight, who performed during the archetypal AMAs successful 1974, returned to the signifier to execute Midnight Train to Georgia successful a sparkling achromatic jumpsuit.

While Nelly, Chingy, J-Kwon, and the hip-hop radical St Lunatics besides performed a medley of deed songs including Ride Wit Me, Wat da Hook Gon Be, Right Thurr and Hot In Herre.

The last show was from Chaka Khan and Sheila E with I’m Every Woman, to observe 50 years of achievements by pistillate artists astatine the AMAs.

Star presenters included histrion Kate Hudson, comedian Cedric the Entertainer and psyche vocalist Smokey Robinson, who hosted the archetypal AMAs.

The awards ceremonial was created by seasoned shaper Dick Clark arsenic a fan-based alternate to the Grammys.

The past AMAs aired successful 2022 and saw Taylor Swift triumph six times, including creator of the year.

The yearly AMAs ceremonial volition instrumentality successful May 2025.