Donna Summer won three awards at the 8th American Music Awards ceremony, held 18 January 1980 with hosts Elton John, Toni Tennille and Natalie Cole. The Favorite Female Soul/R&B Artist award, presented by singers Robert John and Peaches & Herb, honored Summer in the Soul category, as the AMAs did not present awards in Disco categories after 1979, and did not introduce a Dance Artist category until 1990. In her acceptance speech, Summer thanked God and fans who had sent her letters over the recent Christmas holiday.
Summer’s original award trophy had been severely damaged sometime in the early 1990s during a move. The present statue was manufactured by Society Awards, current supplier of trophies to the AMAs.