The American Music Award for Best Pop Song (formerly known as Favorite Pop/Rock Single 1974–1995 and Favorite Song – Pop/Rock 1996–2025) has been awarded since 1974. The category was retired for over a decade in 1995, before returning in the 2016 ceremony. Years reflect the year in which the awards were presented, for works released in the previous year (until 2003 onward when awards were handed out in November of the same year). The all-time winner for this category is tied between the following four artists: Justin Bieber, Boyz II Men, Whitney Houston and Lionel Richie, with 2 wins each.
Winners and nominees 1970s Year Artist Song Ref 1974 Tony Orlando & Dawn "Tie a Yellow Ribbon" Jim Croce "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown" Roberta Flack "Killing Me Softly" 1975 Olivia Newton-John "I Honestly Love You" Terry Jacks "Seasons in the Sun" Barbra Streisand "The Way We Were" 1976 Glen Campbell "Rhinestone Cowboy" Captain & Tennille "Love Will Keep Us Together" Elton John "Philadelphia Freedom" 1977 Elton John and Kiki Dee "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" The Manhattans "Kiss and Say Goodbye" Wild Cherry "Play That Funky Music" 1978 Debby Boone "You Light Up My Life" Andy Gibb "I Just Want to Be Your Everything" Meco "Star Wars Medley" 1979 Commodores "Three Times a Lady" Bee Gees "Stayin' Alive" Debby Boone "You Light Up My Life (song)"
1980s Year Artist Song Ref 1980 Donna Summer "Bad Girls" The Knack "My Sharona" Rod Stewart "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?" 1981 Queen "Another One Bites the Dust" Pink Floyd "Another Brick in the Wall" Diana Ross "Upside Down" 1982 Lionel Richie and Diana Ross "Endless Love" Kim Carnes "Bette Davis Eyes" REO Speedwagon "Keep On Loving You" Rick Springfield "Jessie's Girl" 1983 Lionel Richie "Truly" Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder "Ebony and Ivory" Survivor "Eye of the Tiger" 1984 Michael Jackson "Billie Jean" Irene Cara "Flashdance... What a Feeling" The Police "Every Breath You Take" Bonnie Tyler "Total Eclipse of the Heart" 1985 Bruce Springsteen "Dancing in the Dark" Prince "When Doves Cry" Tina Turner "What's Love Got to Do with It" 1986 Huey Lewis and the News "The Power of Love" Dire Straits "Money for Nothing" Wham! "Careless Whisper" 1987 Billy Ocean "There'll Be Sad Songs (To Make You Cry)" Madonna "Live to Tell" Pet Shop Boys "West End Girls" Steve Winwood "Higher Love" 1988 Whitney Houston "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" Bon Jovi "Livin' on a Prayer" Bob Seger "Shakedown" 1989 Guns N' Roses "Sweet Child O' Mine" Rick Astley "Never Gonna Give You Up" Steve Winwood "Roll With It"
1990s Year Artist Song Ref 1990 Milli Vanilli "Girl You Know It's True" Bon Jovi "I'll Be There for You" Gloria Estefan "Don't Wanna Lose You" 1991 Jon Bon Jovi "Blaze of Glory" Madonna "Vogue" Wilson Phillips "Hold On" 1992 Bryan Adams "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" Color Me Badd "I Wanna Sex You Up" Extreme "More Than Words" 1993 Boyz II Men "End of the Road" Mariah Carey "I'll Be There" Red Hot Chili Peppers "Under the Bridge" 1994 Whitney Houston "I Will Always Love You" Tag Team "Whoomp! (There It Is)" UB40 "Can't Help Falling in Love" 1995 Boyz II Men "I'll Make Love to You" Ace of Base "The Sign" Celine Dion "The Power of Love"
2010s Year Artist Song Ref 2016 Justin Bieber "Love Yourself" Adele "Hello" Drake "One Dance" 2017 Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee "Despacito" The Chainsmokers "Closer" Ed Sheeran "Shape of You" 2018 Camila Cabello "Havana" Drake "God's Plan"Ed Sheeran"Perfect" 2019 Halsey "Without Me" Jonas Brothers "Sucker" Lil Nas X "Old Town Road" Panic! at the Disco "High Hopes" Post Malone and Swae Lee "Sunflower"
2020s Year Artist Song Ref2020Dua Lipa "Don't Start Now" Lewis Capaldi "Someone You Loved"Post Malone "Circles"Roddy Ricch "The Box"The Weeknd "Blinding Lights"2021BTS "Butter" Doja Cat "Kiss Me More"Dua Lipa "Levitating"Olivia Rodrigo "Drivers License"The Weeknd and Ariana Grande "Save Your Tears (Remix)"2022 Harry Styles "As It Was" Adele "Easy on Me" Carolina Gaitán, Mauro Castillo, Adassa, Rhenzy Feliz, Diane Guerrero, Stephanie Beatriz and the Encanto Cast "We Don't Talk About Bruno" The Kid Laroi and Justin Bieber "Stay" Lizzo "About Damn Time" 2023 – 24 colspan="3" 2025 Billie Eilish "Birds of a Feather" Sabrina Carpenter "Espresso" Benson Boone "Beautiful Things" Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars "Die with a Smile" Teddy Swims "Lose Control"2026 Huntrix: Ejae, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami "Golden" Alex Warren "Ordinary" Olivia Dean "Man I Need" Sabrina Carpenter "Manchild" Taylor Swift "The Fate of Ophelia"
Category facts Multiple wins 2 wins Justin Bieber Boyz II Men Whitney Houston Lionel Richie
Multiple nominations 3 nominations Justin Bieber
2 nominations Adele Bon Jovi Debby Boone Boyz II Men Sabrina Carpenter Whitney Houston Elton John Dua Lipa Madonna Lionel Richie Diana Ross Steve Winwood Ed Sheeran Halsey The Weeknd
References