Gospel music superstar Kirk Franklin was honored with the Ultimate Icon Award at the 2025 BET Awards on Monday evening.
During his acceptance speech, the urban musician didn’t mince words when describing that this award doesn’t make him a “perfect person.”
“I am not perfect. I fail. I sin,” Franklin said. “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, which makes this award even more amazing.”
Franklin, who first emerged in the 1990s, is a 20-time Grammy Award winner who has left a “lasting legacy in Gospel music,” according to the Grammy Awards website. He is known for songs that blend hip-hop and Gospel music, such as “Imagine Me,” “I Smile,” “Lean on Me,” and “Wanna Be Happy?”
Franklin performed several other of his hits, including “Stomp” and “Revolution,” during Monday’s show.
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The 55-year-old musician received the 2025 Icon Award alongside Snoop Dogg, Mariah Carey, and Jamie Foxx. The BET Ultimate Icon Award recognizes individuals who have made “decades of groundbreaking contributions to music, entertainment, advocacy, and community impact.”
Previous recipients include Janet Jackson in 2015, Deborah L. Lee in 2018, and Tyler Perry in 2019.
Franklin acknowledges family
When introducing Franklin on Monday, rapper T.I. described him as “the man whose musical genius combined the ’hood with hymnals.”
He noted Franklin’s numerous other BET awards, which include a record eight BET Best Gospel Artist awards, according to People Magazine.
Franklin opened his emotional acceptance speech by thanking “Gertrude, the 64-year-old woman who chose to adopt a 4-year-old little boy nobody wanted.”
“I never felt the love of a mother or a father,” Franklin said. “The only time I felt love was when I sat behind the piano and wrote songs to Jesus. People loved my songs, and the more I wrote, the more people listened. Thank you to all of you who still listen.”
The musician also thanked a number of other individuals, including his wife, Tammy, of 29 years.
“You sit here with me while your father, one of my heroes, is fighting for his life. Thank you. I will never be able to repay you for giving me a legacy,” he told her. He also went on to praise their four children. “You gave me Caziah, my young leader; Carrington, my best friend; Kennedy, twin. And you partnered with the mother of my oldest, Kerrion, whom I love with all my soul.”
Franklin thanks controversial pastor Tony Evans
He also thanked the Rev. Tony Evans, whom he called “my teacher.”
Tony Evans, who previously led the megachurch Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas, stepped away from his role as pastor in June 2024, as previously reported by The Roys Report. Saying his decision was due to “sin” he committed years ago, he was not specific about his actions, but said they were not criminal.
He said he wanted to apply a “biblical standard of repentance and restoration to myself.”
Evans previously applied this same standard to Franklin in 2021. He “corrected” the musician after Franklin got into an obscenity-laced argument with his son, Kerrion.
TRR previously reported the incident, which was recorded and posted online. Franklin later publicly apologized for his remarks and reassured a talk show host that his relationship with his son had never been abusive.
Evans said at that time that Franklin “was both challenged and corrected” for his actions. “And that’s part of the accountability that every man needs in his life,” Evans continued.
At Monday’s awards, Franklin acknowledged that he is not perfect, which makes him appreciate the award all the more.
“Because what I really do don’t make sense,” Franklin said. “That’s when you know it’s God, when it don’t make sense.
Liz Lykins is a correspondent covering religion news for The Roys Report, WORLD Magazine, and other publications.
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3 Responses
“Because what I really do don’t make sense,” Franklin said. “That’s when you know it’s God, when it don’t make sense.“”
When what you do doesn’t make sense is NEVER an indication that what you do is of God. This is a thought-stopping device to escape criticism. And it’s a deceptive strategy to whitewash ungodly behaviors.
I took Kirk’s comment in a different way: when considering his humanity (humble beginnings as an unwanted child taken in by his grandma, being a young single parent, admitted struggles and sins he’s dealt with quite publicly, the fact he’s not qualified as a singer but moreso a writer/producer), Kirk’s music career – it’s successes, opportunities, reach and impact – doesn’t make sense. And that’s BECAUSE of God.
And yes, I believe God will do things – open doors, create opportunities, put us in places we aren’t qualified for based on human expectations – in such ways where only He can get the glory, where people can say “that HAS to be God, because it sure ain’t “.
I don’t think this means all that much; BET itself has been going steadily downhill since Paramount/Viacom bought the channel 25 years ago.