The 2025 American Music Honors is set to celebrate a powerhouse lineup of legendary artists, with Smokey Robinson, John Fogerty, Emmylou Harris, Tom Morello, and Joe Ely being recognized for their influence on American music.
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Hosted by the Bruce Springsteen Archives & Center for American Music, the event will take place on April 26 at Monmouth University in New Jersey, with Bruce Springsteen and Patti Scialfa, along with Steven Van Zandt and Nils Lofgren, serving as presenters. Tickets for the event go on sale March 25.
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“This year’s honorees represent a cross-section of American music,” said Robert Santelli, founding executive director of the Bruce Springsteen Archives. “Rock, Americana, soul, and country are all represented by some of the most important artists from each genre. We are most excited to honor them and welcome them into the American Music Center family.”
While their careers span different genres—Motown, rock, country, and alternative—the honorees all share an undeniable impact on Billboard’s charts and American music history.
Smokey Robinson’s work as the frontman of The Miracles helped define the sound of Motown, and he was behind some of its biggest early hits. “Shop Around” became Motown’s first million-selling record and climbed to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1960. Later, as a solo artist, Smokey kept the momentum going. His 1981 hit “Being with You” also peaked at No. 2 on the Hot 100, making it his highest-charting solo single. Meanwhile, “Cruisin’” remains one of his most beloved tracks, reaching No. 4 on the Hot 100 in 1980.
John Fogerty, the voice behind Creedence Clearwater Revival, is a Billboard legend in his own right. The band famously holds the record for the most No. 2 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 without reaching No. 1, with classics like “Proud Mary” and “Bad Moon Rising.” His solo career continued that momentum, with Wrote a Song for Everyone reaching No. 3 on the Billboard 200 in 2013.
Tom Morello, best known as the guitarist for Rage Against the Machine, has left a major mark on rock music. The band’s 1992 self-titled debut peaked at No. 45 on the Billboard 200 but became one of the most influential records of the era. Their follow-ups Evil Empire (1996) and The Battle of Los Angeles (1999) both debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.
Emmylou Harris, a country and Americana icon, has earned multiple No. 1 albums on the Top Country Albums chart, including Luxury Liner in 1977. She also secured a No. 1 hit on Hot Country Songs with “Together Again” in 1976.
Joe Ely, a pioneer in progressive country music, has had multiple charting albums. His 1981 release, Musta Notta Gotta Lotta, reached No. 135 on the Billboard 200 and peaked at No. 12 on the Top Country Albums chart. His later work continued to make an impact, with Twistin’ in the Wind peaking at No. 55 in 1998, Streets of Sin at No. 51 in 2003, and Satisfied at Last at No. 46 in 2011 on the Top Country Albums chart.
