January 29, 1996 – The Lion King Soundtrack Wins American Music Award
“’Til we find our place on the path unwinding, in the circle, the circle of life.”
On January 29, 1996, the 23rd American Music Awards (AMAs) were held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California. At this ceremony, the soundtrack for the animated feature film The Lion King won for Favorite Soundtrack, beating out the soundtracks for Dangerous Minds and Forrest Gump. This was the second win for the album, as it won the previous year for Favorite Pop/Rock Album; as the AMAs are voted on by the public, this second award showcased the soundtrack’s immense popularity and impact. This year was the first year that the category for Top Soundtrack (then known as Favorite Soundtrack) was awarded.