Which award was first given at the 2025 AMAs to honor work impacting veterans?

The first 2025 AMAs award created to honor work impacting veterans was the Veterans Voice Award.

The inaugural honor went to Zac Brown at the 51st American Music Awards, held on May 26, 2025, in Las Vegas. The award recognized his support for veterans and military communities through initiatives connected with his music and charitable work.

The Veterans Voice Award is separate from the AMAs’ long-running competitive categories and special honors. That makes it easy to confuse with the Icon Award, which Janet Jackson received in 2025, or the Lifetime Achievement Award, presented to Rod Stewart. Those honors celebrate broad artistic influence or career longevity rather than veteran-focused service.

The 2025 ceremony also marked the AMAs’ move to CBS and Paramount+ after the show’s scheduling and broadcast changes. Zac Brown’s recognition therefore introduced a new type of award to the ceremony’s expanding collection of artist and humanitarian honors.