The 2026 American Music Awards delivered the ultimate dose of nostalgia on Monday night when Fergiejoined her former bandmates will.i.am, apl.de.ap, and Taboo live onstage. Taking over the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, the iconic four-piece reunited publicly for the first time in years to accept the newly minted award for Best Throwback Song.
The crowd erupted as the group took the stage to celebrate their 2010 smash hit, “Rock That Body”.
“Rock That Body, we did it,” Fergie beamed to the cheering crowd. “Black Eyed Peas, Rock That Body, American Music Awards 2026, let’s go!”
A Full-Circle Moment for the Classic Lineup
The brand-new AMAs category was introduced to celebrate classic pop radio staples that have recently experienced massive viral revivals across social media platforms like TikTok.
Prior to Monday’s ceremony, the Black Eyed Peas hyped their nomination on Instagram, sharing a compilation video of fan-made trends set to the track.
“We’re honoured to be nominated for the 2026 AMAs!” the group captioned the post. “Rock That Body up for Best Throwback Song… a song we made all those years ago, still making an impact today.”
Fergie originally served as the iconic lead vocalist for the group from 2002 to 2018 before stepping away to focus on her solo music career and family life. Despite her departure, the core four have remained incredibly close, even getting together this past December to celebrate a milestone month of 50th birthdays.
During their incredible run together, Fergie and the Black Eyed Peas sold more than 80 million albums worldwide and secured three separate Billboard Hot 100 number-one hits.
The Fan Debate: How Did “Rock That Body” Beat “Iris”?
While pop music purists were thrilled by the emotional onstage reunion, the victory sparked a massive wave of debate across social media. Many fans are scratching their heads wondering how “Rock That Body” managed to beat out heavy-hitting masterpieces like “Iris” by the Goo Goo Dolls and “What’s Up?” by 4 Non Blondes.
| Nominee Song | Original Release Year | Billboard Hot 100 Peak |
|---|---|---|
| “Rock That Body” (Black Eyed Peas) | 2009 / 2010 | No. 9 |
| “Iris” (Goo Goo Dolls) | 1998 | No. 9 (Airplay No. 1 for 18 weeks) |
| “What’s Up?” (4 Non Blondes) | 1993 | No. 14 |
When analyzing the metrics, it comes down to a fundamental clash of genres and a targeted digital voting campaign.
“Iris” and “What’s Up?” are universally recognized, multi-generational anthems with deep emotional weight. However, the American Music Awards are fan-voted, and the Black Eyed Peas intentionally mobilized their massive international fanbase via social media challenges. “Rock That Body” possesses high-energy, dance-heavy production that makes it uniquely built to drive modern algorithm engagement.
While it may not hold the raw lyrical status of a ballad like “Iris,” the club track dominated the digital space just enough to push the Peas straight to the winner’s podium.