Jennifer Lopez'shistory with the American Music Awards goes far beyond her nine performances as a solo star and first hosting stint in 2015. The long-agoFly Girldebuted on the show in 1991as a backup dancerfor New Kids on the Block. She was just 21 and a decade away from superstardom when she rocked jeans and a leather jacket to unleash some very '90s dance moves during "Games," and she remembers it – and all of her performances – with a fond laugh. The AMA show "has been such a big part of my music journey and history," she tells USA TODAY during a break from rehearsing ahead of Monday's awards. More:Post Malone fires up first stadium tour with trusty accomplice Jelly Roll: Review Lopez, 55, will pull double dutyas host and performerof this year's AMAs, a music industry institution since the late Dick Clark began producing it in 1974. During her show opening performance, she says, "We're going to celebrate the year in music." And yes, there will be dancing. "I don't think there's ever been a performance where I don't dance!" she says with a knowing laugh. The awards air livefrom the Fontainebleau Las Vegas May 26 at 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET on CBS and streaming on Paramount+. Benson Boone, Blake Shelton,Gloria Estefan, Gwen Stefani, Lainey Wilson and Reneé Rapp are among the artists performing, along with Icon Award winnerJanet Jacksonand Lifetime Achievement Award recipientRod Stewart. The top nomineesfor the fan-voted show areKendrick Lamar(10),Post Malone(8),Billie Eilish,Chappell Roanand Shaboozey (all with 7), and all-time AMA leaderTaylor Swift,who adds six nominations this year to her overall win tally of 40. More:Kendrick Lamar: Not like anyone else Lopez says she doesn't usually agree to hosting gigs because, "believe it or not, I'm quite shy. I'm a performer, so if I have a script or a song, I can do that and I love doing that. But hosting is a different thing, a different skill set. I wouldn't say it's my favorite thing to do." But she agreed to the task of shuttling the show along because of the current musical landscape. "I feel music is really exciting right now with Spanish music being so global. I love that Gloria (Estefan) is being honored as a pioneer crossover artist and I love all of the new artists because there isn't a certain sound to them," she says. Lopez just wrapped filming the romantic comedy "Office Romance" with Brett Goldstein and will star in musical thriller"Kiss of the Spider Woman,"due out Oct. 10. As for music, she says, "I have a few things up my sleeve." But first, she'll be supporting her peers from the wings when not standing in the spotlight. "I hope that (people) are entertained and have a good time," she says. "And that they get to feel their impact in choosing and cheering on their favorite artists." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Jennifer Lopez talks hosting, performing on American Music Awards
