SANTA MONICA, CA (CelebrityAccess) – The People’s Choice Awards took place live on Sunday (February 18) at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica. The awards season is now in full swing as actor Simu Liu (Barbie, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) took the reins as the host for the night. Despite being nominated in the movie performance category for his role in Barbie, Liu graciously accepted the loss to fellow thespian America Ferrera.
The evening unfolded with some notable winners, as Olivia Rodrigo, Nicki Minaj, Ice Spice, and Jimmy Fallon each snagged two awards. Rodrigo secured recognition for her song “Vampire” and album Guts. Minaj claimed victory as a hip-hop artist for the collaboration song “Barbie World” with Ice Spice and Aqua. Ice Spice walked away with the New Artist award and shared the collaboration win with Minaj. Jimmy Fallon was acknowledged for his nighttime talk show (The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon) and as the host of That’s My Jam.
The intersection of the music and television worlds was evident as Billie Eilish got the nod for TV performance with Swarm, Selena Gomez was recognized as the female TV star for Only Murders in the Building, and Kelly Clarkson won the daytime talk show category for The Kelly Clarkson Show.
Barbie dominated the night, clinching five awards, including movie, comedy movie, male and female movie star (Ryan Gosling and Margot Robbie), and movie performance for Ferrera.
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes secured two awards for action movie and action movie star to Rachel Zegler. Meanwhile, Only Murders in the Building won in the comedy show category. The Last of Us emerged as the drama show, with Pedro Pascal taking home the male TV star award. The Kardashians claimed the reality show title, and Khloé Kardashian was recognized as the reality TV star, surpassing sister Kim.
Adam Sandler was honored with the prestigious People’s Icon Award. The ceremony included a heartfelt tribute from his friend Jennifer Aniston, highlighting his contributions to the film industry as an actor, writer, and producer.
Sandler, known for his trademark humor, kicked off with a story about a supposed mix-up, claiming he had mistakenly believed he had earned PEOPLE’s Sexiest Man Alive title and re-cited his pre-written speech for that very award. Laughing at himself, he read from his paper, declaring himself the “sexiest man alive” and thanking the “PEOPLE Magazine’s academy members of hotness and sexual attractiveness.”
Sandler expressed gratitude for being recognized with the People’s Icon Award. In Sandler’s style of humor, he remarked, “I am trying to be gracious, PEOPLE Magazine, but I have to admit three words keep popping into my head right now: ‘It’s about freaking time!’” a nod to his his longstanding presence in the industry.
Sandler’s career spans over three decades, featuring box office hits such as Grown Ups, The Longest Yard, Mr. Deeds, Billy Gilmore, Happy Madison, and many more. His films have collectively grossed over $3 billion globally, and his Netflix offerings remain among the most-streamed movies.
Stepping outside of his “comfort zone,” Sandler has also received critical acclaim for his dramatic roles in Uncut Gems, Hustle, and Big Daddy. News of his award follows his most recent 2023 sold-out comedy tour, I Missed You, and next is the science-fiction movie Spaceman, set for release on February 23. Sandler continues to diversify his portfolio.
The decorated comedian boasts a collection of awards, including nine People’s Choice Awards, six MTV Movie Awards, and 12 Kids’ Choice Awards. In 2023, he was honored with the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. Sandler joins an esteemed list of previous People’s Icon Award recipients, including Aniston, Ryan Reynolds, Halle Berry, Jennifer Lopez, and Melissa McCarthy.
Lenny Kravitz was honored with the People’s Music Icon Award, presented to him by triple Grammy Award winner Victoria Monét. The rocker delivered a powerful mini-set of his classic hits and offered reflections on his journey during an emotional speech.
The respected musician shared what he believes the term “icon” means by saying, “It means a lot of things to a lot of people. To me, it means you’ve made an indelible mark by being who God created you to be. And, daring to be different.” Reflecting on his early days, Kravitz revealed the challenges he faced when many sought to mold him into a different artist. Despite lucrative offers, he chose authenticity over conformity.
“When I was first coming up, a lot of people offered me a lot of deals, but they wanted me to change. My music wasn’t black enough, it wasn’t white enough. It didn’t fit nicely inside a box. Or sound like what was on the radio at the time – and I turned down the money and the glitzy promises of fame and stardom because I couldn’t live with myself doing something inauthentic.”
Kravitz’s own trajectory, marked by 11 albums, 40 million records sold, and four Grammys, has never been solely about commercial success or awards. Instead, he emphasized the importance of enjoying the journey, expressing gratitude, and utilizing the gifts that he believes God has given him. Kravitz remains steadfast in his mantra: “Never follow the trends, set your own pace, and recognize that the best is here right now in front of you. I was a fan of music long before I was a musician.”
Here’s the complete list of nominees, with winners in bold.
Male artist of the year
Bad Bunny
Drake
Jack Harlow
WINNER: Jung Kook
Luke Combs
Morgan Wallen
Post Malone
The Weeknd
Female artist of the year
Beyoncé
Doja Cat
Karol G
Lainey Wilson
Miley Cyrus
Nicki Minaj
Olivia Rodrigo
WINNER: Taylor Swift
Male country artist of the year
Chris Stapleton
Cody Johnson
HARDY
WINNER: Jelly Roll
Kane Brown
Luke Combs
Morgan Wallen
Zach Bryan
Female country artist of the year
Ashley McBryde
Carly Pearce
Carrie Underwood
Gabby Barrett
Kelsea Ballerini
WINNER: Lainey Wilson
Megan Moroney
Shania Twain
Male Latin artist of the year
WINNER: Bad Bunny
Bizarrap
Feid
Manuel Turizo
Maluma
Peso Pluma
Rauw Alejandro
Ozuna
Female Latin artist of the year
Ángela Aguilar
Anitta
Becky G
Kali Uchis
Karol G
Rosalía
WINNER: Shakira
Young Miko
Pop artist of the year
Billie Eilish
Doja Cat
Dua Lipa
Jung Kook
Miley Cyrus
Olivia Rodrigo
Tate McRae
WINNER: Taylor Swift
Hip-hop artist of the year
Cardi B
Drake
Future
Jack Harlow
Latto
WINNER: Nicki Minaj
Post Malone
Travis Scott
R&B artist of the year
WINNER: Beyoncé
Brent Faiyaz
Janelle Monáe
SZA
Tems
The Weeknd
Usher
Victoria Monét
New artist of the year
Coi Leray
WINNER: Ice Spice
Jelly Roll
Jung Kook
Noah Kahan
Peso Pluma
PinkPantheress
Stephen Sanchez
Group/duo of the year
Dan + Shay
Fuerza Regida
Grupo Frontera
Jonas Brothers
Old Dominion
Paramore
WINNER: Stray Kids
TOMORROW X TOGETHER
Song of the Year
Dua Lipa, “Dance the Night”
Luke Combs, “Fast Car”
Miley Cyrus, “Flowers”
Gunna, “Fukumean”
Tate McRae, “greedy”
Morgan Wallen, “Last Night”
Doja Cat, “Paint the Town Red”
WINNER: Olivia Rodrigo, “Vampire”
Album of the year
Miley Cyrus, Endless Summer Vacation
Drake, For All the Dogs
Luke Combs, Gettin’ Old
WINNER: Olivia Rodrigo, Guts
Karol G, Mañana Será Bonito
Bad Bunny, Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana
organ Wallen, One Thing at a Time
Nicki Minaj, Pink Friday 2
Collaboration song of the year
Lil Durk Feat. J. Cole, “All My Life”
WINNERS: Nicki Minaj & Ice Spice with Aqua, “Barbie World”
Esabon Armado X Peso Pluma, “Ella Baila Sola”
Drake Feat. J. Cole, “First Person Shooter”
Zach Bryan feat. Kasey Musgraves, “I Remember Everything”
Jung Kook feat. Latto, “Seven”
Karol G and Shakira, “TQG”
Grupo Frontera X Bad Bunny, “Un x100to”
Concert tour of the year
Ed Sheeran, +–=÷x Tour
Coldplay, Music of the Spheres World Tour
Harry Styles, Love on Tour
Luke Combs, World Tour
Morgan Wallen, One Night at a Time World Tour
P!nk, Summer Carnival Tour
Beyoncé, Renaissance World Tour
WINNER: Taylor Swift, The Eras Tour
Movie of the year
WINNER: Barbie
Fast X
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Oppenheimer
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour Film
The Little Mermaid
The Super Mario Bros. Movie
Action movie of the year
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
Fast X
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
John Wick: Chapter 4
Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One
WINNER: The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes
The Marvels
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts
Comedy movie of the year
80 for Brady
Anyone but You
Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.
Asteroid City
WINNER: Barbie
Cocaine Bear
No Hard Feelings
Wonka
Drama movie of the year
Creed III
Five Nights at Freddy’s
Killers of the Flower Moon
Leave the World Behind
M3GAN
WINNER: Oppenheimer
Scream VI
The Color Purple
Male movie star of the year
Cillian Murphy, Oppenheimer
Chris Pratt, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Keanu Reeves, John Wick: Chapter 4
Leonardo DiCaprio, Killers of the Flower Moon
Michael B. Jordan, Creed III
WINNER: Ryan Gosling, Barbie
Timothée Chalamet, Wonka
Tom Cruise, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One
Female movie star of the year
Florence Pugh, Oppenheimer
Halle Bailey, The Little Mermaid
Jenna Ortega, Scream VI
Jennifer Lawrence, No Hard Feelings
Julia Roberts, Leave the World Behind
WINNER: Margot Robbie, Barbie
Rachel Zegler, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes
Viola Davis, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes
Action movie star of the year
Brie Larson, The Marvels
Chris Pratt, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Gal Gadot, Heart of Stone
Jason Momoa, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom
Keanu Reeves, John Wick: Chapter 4
WINNER: Rachel Zegler, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes
Tom Cruise, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One
Viola Davis, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes
Comedy movie star of the year
Adam Sandler, You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah
Glen Powell, Anyone but You
WINNER: Jennifer Lawrence, No Hard Feelings
Margot Robbie, Barbie
Ryan Gosling, Barbie
Scarlett Johansson, Asteroid City
Sydney Sweeney, Anyone but You
Timothée Chalamet, Wonka
Drama movie star of the year
Cillian Murphy, Oppenheimer
Julia Roberts, Leave the World Behind
Fantasia Barrino, The Color Purple
Florence Pugh, Oppenheimer
Jacob Elordi, Priscilla
WINNER: Jenna Ortega, Scream VI
Leonardo DiCaprio, Killers of the Flower Moon
Michael B. Jordan, Creed III
Movie performance of the year
WINNER: America Ferrera, Barbie
Charles Melton, May December
Danielle Brooks, The Color Purple
Jacob Elordi, Saltburn
Melissa McCarthy, The Little Mermaid
Natalie Portman, May December
Simu Liu, Barbie
Viola Davis, Air
Show of the year
WINNER: Grey’s Anatomy
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Only Murders in the Building
Saturday Night Live
Ted Lasso
The Bear
The Last of Us
Vanderpump Rules
Comedy show of the year
Abbott Elementary
And Just Like That…
Never Have I Ever
WINNER: Only Murders in the Building
Saturday Night Live
Ted Lasso
The Bear
Young Sheldon
Drama show of the year
Chicago Fire
Ginny & Georgia
Grey’s Anatomy
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Outer Banks
Succession
WINNER: The Last of Us
The Morning Show
Sci-fi/fantasy show of the year
Ahsoka
American Horror Story: Delicate
Black Mirror
Ghosts
WINNER: Loki
Secret Invasion
The Mandalorian
The Witcher
Bingeworthy show of the year
Beef
Citadel
Jury Duty
Love Is Blind
Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story
The Crown
The Night Agent
WINNER: The Summer I Turned Pretty
Male TV star of the year
Chase Stokes, Outer Banks
Jason Sudeikis, Ted Lasso
Jeremy Allen White, The Bear
Kieran Culkin, Succession
WINNER: Pedro Pascal, The Last of Us
Samuel L. Jackson, Secret Invasion
Steve Martin, Only Murders in the Building
Tom Hiddleston, Loki
Female TV star of the year
Ali Wong, Beef
Hannah Waddingham, Ted Lasso
Jennifer Aniston, The Morning Show
Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary
Reese Witherspoon, The Morning Show
Rosario Dawson, Ahsoka
WINNER: Selena Gomez, Only Murders in the Building
Comedy TV star of the year
Ali Wong, Beef
Bowen Yang, Saturday Night Live
Hannah Waddingham, Ted Lasso
Jason Sudeikis, Ted Lasso
WINNER: Jeremy Allen White, The Bear
Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary
Selena Gomez, Only Murders in the Building
Steve Martin, Only Murders in the Building
Drama TV star of the year
Bella Ramsey, The Last of Us
Chase Stokes, Outer Banks
Ice-T, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
WINNER: Jennifer Aniston, The Morning Show
Kieran Culkin, Succession
Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Pedro Pascal, The Last of Us
Reese Witherspoon, The Morning Show
TV performance of the year
Adjoa Andoh, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story
Ayo Edebiri, The Bear
WINNER: Billie Eilish, Swarm
Jon Hamm, The Morning Show
Matt Bomer, Fellow Travelers
Meryl Streep, Only Murders in the Building
Steven Yeun, Beef
Storm Reid, The Last of Us
Nighttime talk show of the year
Hart to Heart
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
Late Night with Seth Meyers
The Daily Show
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
WINNER: The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
Host of the year
Gordon Ramsay, Hell’s Kitchen
WINNER: Jimmy Fallon, That’s My Jam
Nick Cannon, The Masked Singer
Padma Lakshmi, Top Chef
RuPaul, RuPaul’s Drag
Ryan Seacrest, American Idol
Steve Harvey, Celebrity Family Feud
Terry Crews, America’s Got Talent
Pop Culture
Social celebrity of the year
Britney Spears
Dwayne Johnson
Kim Kardashian
Kylie Jenner
Megan Thee Stallion
Nicki Minaj
Selena Gomez
WINNER: Taylor Swift
Comedy act of the year
John Mulaney, Baby J
Amy Schumer, Emergency Contact
Marlon Wayans, God Loves Me
Wanda Sykes, I’m an Entertainer
Trevor Noah, Off the Record
Kevin Hart, Reality Check
WINNER: Chris Rock, Selective Outrage
Sarah Silverman, Someone You Love
Athlete of the year
Coco Gauff
Giannis Antetokounmpo
LeBron James
Lionel Messi
Sabrina Ionescu
Simone Biles
Stephen Curry
WINNER: Travis Kelce
