At the 2025 BET Awards, which aired Monday night (June 9), gospel music icon Kirk Franklin was one of four recipients of the Ultimate Icon Award. In his acceptance speech, the prolific gospel artist and choir director thanked his family, listeners, colleagues, and Pastor Tony Evans, “my teacher.”
The BET Ultimate Icon award honors individuals who’ve made “decades of groundbreaking contributions to music, entertainment, advocacy, and community impact.” Other recipients of the award this year include Snoop Dogg, Mariah Carey, and Jamie Foxx.
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Franklin, 55, also performed during the awards show, singing and dancing to a medley of his hits, including “Stomp” and “Revolution.”
While introducing Franklin, rapper T.I. described him as “the man whose musical genius combined the ’hood with hymnals.” Franklin has won 20 Grammy Awards and numerous GMA Dove Awards. In addition, he has won a record eight BET Best Gospel Artist awards, now known as the Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award.
Kirk Franklin Felt Love Only While Writing ‘Songs to Jesus’
To begin his three-minute acceptance speech, Kirk Franklin thanked “Gertrude, the 64-year-old woman who chose to adopt a 4-year-old little boy nobody wanted.” The artist said he “never felt the love of a mother or a father; the only time I felt love was when I sat behind the piano and wrote songs to Jesus.”
“People loved my songs,” Franklin continued, “and the more I wrote, the more people listen. Thank you to all of you who still listen. Thank you to every group, singer, musician that’s been the microphone to my pain.”
Next, Franklin thanked Tammy, his wife of 29 years. He said he appreciated that she was in attendance despite the fact that her father, “one of my heroes, is fighting for his life.” To his wife, Franklin said, “I will never be able to repay you for giving me a legacy.”
After thanking his children and other individuals, including Evans, Franklin said, “I am not perfect. I fail. I sin. I am not a perfect Christian. I’m not a perfect husband. And we all know I’m not a perfect father. Not even a perfect artist because I can’t even sing,” he said with a broad smile.
“Which makes this award even more amazing,” Franklin continued, adding:
Because what I really do don’t make sense…That’s when you know it’s God, when it don’t make sense. When you got that job you were least qualified for, don’t make sense. You’re the first in your family to break generational curses but you’re the same one the family talks about, don’t make sense. When you try to explain how favor ain’t fair to people that have been doing it longer than you but you get the results quicker, don’t make sense. How those that hate on you ended up only helping you, don’t make sense. And lastly, those same people, look how quickly they come back around when you start to finally make sense.
Kirk Franklin Is Often in the Spotlight
During his lengthy musical career, Franklin has faced numerous controversies. At last year’s BET Awards show, some people objected to his performances with Will Smith and GloRilla.
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