LL COOL J to host this year’s award show
The 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards, Airing Monday, March 17 on FOX to Feature Performances by Bad Bunny, Billie Eilish, GloRilla, Gracie Abrams, Kenny Chesney, Muni Long, Nelly and More Live from Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles
iHeartMedia
Angel Aristone
angelaristone@iheartmedia.com
Peyton Webb
peytonwebb@iheartmedia.com
iHeartMedia and FOX Entertainment today announced that the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards will feature performances by Bad Bunny, Billie Eilish, GloRilla, Gracie Abrams, Kenny Chesney, Muni Long, Nelly and more. Additionally, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Kennedy Center Honoree, NAACP Image Award winner and two-time Grammy® Award-winning Hip-Hop icon LL COOL J will return as host for the annual event airing LIVE from Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, Monday, March 17 (8:00-10:00 p.m. ET live / PT tape-delayed) on FOX. The event also will broadcast live on iHeartRadio stations nationwide and on the iHeartRadio app.
“Excited to be back on the iHeartRadio stage to host this year’s awards. It’s going to be a night to remember—big energy, iconic moments and special collaborations you won’t want to miss,” said LL COOL J.
In addition to performing, Nelly will receive the 2025 iHeartRadio Landmark Award, which honors artists whose album releases have inspired and shaped culture over multiple decades. Nelly made an explosive debut in 2000 with Country Grammar, an album that has sold over 10 million copies worldwide and set the foundation for his iconic career. He further solidified his superstar status with Nellyville (2002), featuring chart-topping hits like “Hot in Herre” and “Dilemma” with Kelly Rowland—songs that earned him two of his three Grammy Awards. With over 21 million albums sold in the U.S., globally, his total record sales, encompassing both albums and singles, have surpassed 75 million units. This double diamond-selling artist ranks among one of the best-selling rap artists of all time. This performance kicks off his “Where The Party At” worldwide tour.
The 12th annual iHeartRadio Music Awards will celebrate the most-played artists and songs on iHeartRadio stations and the iHeartRadio app throughout 2024, while also offering a preview of the upcoming hits of 2025. The show will feature award presentations in multiple categories, live performances from the biggest artists in music, surprise guests and collaborations and will showcase the stories of the winning artists’ road to #1.
Additionally, 13-time Grammy Award, Academy Award and Golden Globe Award winning artist Lady Gaga will be honored with the 2025 iHeartRadio Innovator Award and Mariah Carey, the elusive chanteuse and best-selling female artist of all time, will be honored with the 2025 iHeartRadio Icon Award.
To celebrate iHeartRadio’s “Tour of the Century Award” honoring Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour, which launched two years ago to the day of this year’s telecast, an exclusive performance from that opening night show of The Eras’s Tour will premiere during the Awards telecast.
This year’s iHeartRadio Music Awards will also pay tribute to the resiliency and rebuilding of Los Angeles following the devastating wildfires affecting the entire community and will drive donations to Fireaidla.org. Contributions made to FireAid will be distributed under the advisement of the Annenberg Foundation, for short-term relief efforts and long-term initiatives to prevent future fire disasters. The Annenberg Foundation, with decades of philanthropic leadership in the community, including rapid response, will help coordinate a team to direct funds for the greatest impact.
Artists receiving several nominations include, aespa, Benson Boone, Billie Eilish, Bruno Mars, Chappell Roan, Charli xcx, Doja Cat, ENHYPEN, FEID, Future, GloRilla, Green Day, Hozier, ILLIT, Jelly Roll, Jimin, Karol G, Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga, Linkin Park, Megan Thee Stallion, Metro Boomin, Morgan Wallen, Olivia Rodrigo, Peso Pluma, Post Malone, Sabrina Carpenter, Shaboozey, SZA, Tate McRae, Taylor Swift, Teddy Swims, Tyla, Usher and Xavi.
In addition to paying tribute to music and artists, the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards will again celebrate the fans, giving iHeartRadio listeners the opportunity to decide winners in several new and established categories. Fan voting will determine this year’s Favorite Soundtrack, Favorite Broadway Debut, Favorite K-pop Dance Challenge, Favorite Surprise Guest, Favorite Tour Tradition, Best Lyrics, Best Music Video, Favorite Tour Style, Favorite Tour Photographer and Favorite on Screen. Social voting will close on March 10 at 11:59 p.m. PT for all categories. Fans can vote by visiting iHeartRadio.com/awards.
Additional categories include Label of the Year and individual winners for Album of the Year in music’s biggest genres, including Pop, Country, Alternative, Rock, Dance, Hip-Hop, R&B, Latin and Regional Mexican formats. For a full list of categories, visit iHeartRadio.com/awards.
Executive producers for the iHeartRadio Music Awards are Joel Gallen, for Tenth Planet; and John Sykes, Tom Poleman and Bart Peters for iHeartMedia. For breaking news and exclusive iHeartRadio Music Awards content, visit iHeartRadio.com/awards or follow the social buzz on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Proud partners of this year’s event across iHeart platforms include David’s Bridal and e.l.f. Beauty.
Artists and/or events subject to change or cancellation without notice.
About iHeartMedia, Inc.
iHeartMedia, Inc. [Nasdaq: IHRT] is the leading audio media company in America, with 90% of Americans listening to iHeart broadcast radio in every month. iHeart’s broadcast radio assets alone have a larger audience in the U.S. than any other media outlet; twice the size of the next largest broadcast radio company; and over four times the ad-enabled audience of the largest digital only audio service. iHeart is the largest podcast publisher according to Podtrac, with more downloads than the next two podcast publishers combined, has the most recognizable live events across all genres of music, has the number one social footprint among audio players, with seven times more followers than the next audio media brand, and is the only fully integrated audio ad tech solution across broadcast, streaming and podcasts. The company continues to leverage its strong audience connection and unparalleled consumer reach to build new platforms, products and services. Visit iHeartMedia.com for more company information.
About FOX Entertainment
With a legacy spanning nearly 40 years, FOX Entertainment is one of the world’s most recognizable media brands and a prolific content producer across its iconic broadcast network and both owned and third-party platforms worldwide. Known for its independent, innovative spirit and provocative, groundbreaking storytelling, the company includes three key business units: FOX Television Network, FOX Entertainment Studios and worldwide content sales and licensing unit FOX Entertainment Global.
While maintaining its leadership in linear television with an exceptional slate of original series – including Doc, Extracted, The Masked Singer, The Floor, The Simpsons, Animal Control, Going Dutch, Murder in a Small Town, Rescue: HI-Surf, The Cleaning Lady, Hell’s Kitchen and LEGO Masters – FOX Entertainment is growing its portfolio of studio engines, business operations and library of owned original content.
To date, the FOX Entertainment Studios division includes the in-house unscripted studio FOX Alternative Entertainment with hits The Masked Singer, I Can See Your Voice and Name That Tune, and its scripted content studio featuring comedies Animal Control and Going Dutch and signature drama series The Way Home and The Chicken Sisters. The unit also oversees the award-winning animation studio Bento Box Entertainment with animated comedies including Krapopolis, Grimsburg, Hazbin Hotel and Universal Basic Guys; entertainment platform TMZ with its tentpole primetime series TMZ Investigates; its new independent film label Tideline Entertainment with inaugural releases including First Time Female Director, Ponyboi and Slanted; and the culinary and lifestyle content venture Studio Ramsay Global in partnership with iconic chef Gordon Ramsay, featuring food-themed original series on FOX such as Next Level Chef, Kitchen Nightmares and Gordon Ramsay’s Food Stars, as well as the new next-gen global food brand and entertainment platform Bite, Being Gordon Ramsay on Netflix and No Taste Like Home on Disney+.
As a global content creator and production partner, FOX Entertainment Studios collaborates with studios and platforms worldwide, including Disney/Hulu, Warner Bros. Discovery, Sony Pictures Television, Prime Video, Netflix, Apple+, Hallmark, Lifetime, TelevisaUnivision, UK’s Channel 4, France’s TF1, German’s ProSieben, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Australia’s Foxtel and FOX-owned streamer Tubi.
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