Chaka Khan and Sheila E. on the Lasting Legacy of ‘I’m Every Woman,’ Performed at the American Music Awards

At the American Music Awards’ 50th Anniversary special, the awards took a back seat in a celebration of the show’s legacy and its performers were paramount. In some instances, stars got to pay tribute, like Jennifer Hudson paying homage to to Whitney Houston by covering “I Will Always Love You.”

“The gospel, her presence, her gift, touched me at an early age,” Hudson said about what connected her to Houston during the tapings of the show.

Others such as Gladys Knight, Mariah Carey and Chaka Khan came onstage to sing their own classics.

“It’s wonderful,” Khan told Variety last week, as she rehearsed the show’s closer, “I’m Every Woman,” which found her joined by Sheila E., who played the drums with the band.  

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“I’m just excited she asked me to do this, because its been so long since I actually did the AMAs,” said Sheila E., who first performed on the show in 1984. “The connection I have with ‘I’m Every Woman,” that song is actually iconic because of Chaka. Everyone sings that’s song. It’s more like an anthem.”

“Well, it must touch some important aspect of something,” Khan said of the song’s staying power over the past 45 plus years, adding that the world is going through a “women’s resurgence” at the moment. “It means something to a lot of people — and not just women. You’d be surprised: When I’m on a stage doing it, I get as many men as women cheering and singing.”

Nelly had a set that was a love letter to his hometown via a medley of his hits and surprise guests.

“The AMAs have always come with great performances,” Nelly said. “It’s always been a staple, but it’s different because a lot of award shows try to pride themselves on performances. With it being the 50 thanniversary, which we are totally honored to be a part of, I thought I would bring St. Louis to the AMAs.”

Naturally, Nelly was joined by fellow Lou natives J-Kwon and Chingy.

“Being a little kid and getting into music, you’re like ‘one day, I’ll get there. One day I’ll be on that stage,’” Chingy said. “I actually got a chance to perform on the AMAs stage in 2004 and I got a chance to perform with Nelly at this one.”

Lance Bass, who introduced the “Boy Band” segment with AJ McLean from the Backstreet Boys, was wowed by the Stray Kids tribute to NSYNC with “Bye Bye Bye.” It conjured up memories of him seeing New Kids On The Block as a kid himself on the AMAs.

“One of my first memories of the AMAs, just watching as a fan, was New Kids on the Block,” Bass said. “My sister was such a huge fan, and I became a huge fan because I went to see them in concert in Jackson, Mississippi.”

Bass had a vivid, first-hand memory of another performer making their first appearance on the show.

“It was Ariana Grande’s very first outing on a red carpet,” he recalled. “The paparazzi were being so mean to her because she was only showing the [left side] of her face, because I think she may have a had a little pimple on the other side. They were yelling at her so much they actually made her cry. They were like, ‘You’re going nowhere!’

“I was the first person she came to on the carpet and I was like, ‘Trust me, you’re going to show them.’”