Honestly, it felt like a foregone conclusion the second the lights hit the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on June 9, 2025. We all knew Kendrick Lamar was going to have a massive night, but seeing it actually happen—watching the man scoop up five trophies while the room basically vibrated with energy—was something else entirely. It wasn't just about the music. It was a victory lap for a guy who had spent the last year dominating the cultural conversation without even trying that hard.
Kevin Hart was back on hosting duties for the first time since 2011, and he didn't miss a beat. He kept the energy high, though he did spend a good chunk of his opening monologue joking about how nobody was allowed to have afterparties this year because he was too tired to attend them. Classic Kevin. But once the awards started rolling, the "funny" took a backseat to some of the most intense, emotional, and frankly surprising moments we’ve seen in years.
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The Kendrick Lamar landslide and the 2025 BET Awards winners
You’ve probably seen the headlines, but the sheer scale of Kendrick’s dominance is worth a second look. He walked into the night with ten nominations and left with a handful of the biggest awards on the shelf.
Basically, Kendrick won:
- Album of the Year for GNX
- Best Male Hip Hop Artist
- Video of the Year for "Not Like Us" (naturally)
- Best Collaboration for "Luther" with SZA
- Video Director of the Year alongside Dave Free
When he took the stage for Album of the Year, it didn't feel like a typical "I'm so humble" speech. It felt like a statement of fact. He thanked BET for being the platform that held him down since the beginning, but you could tell he knew GNX was the record of the year before the envelope was even opened.
The battle for Best Female Hip Hop Artist was way more of a toss-up than people expected. Doechii ended up taking it home, which was a huge moment for her. Her album Alligator Bites Never Heal has been a slow-burn success, and seeing her beat out names like Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion shows that the "culture" is actually paying attention to the craftsmanship again.
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Why the Gospel win caused a stir
If you were on Twitter (or X, whatever) during the broadcast, you saw the explosion when GloRilla won the Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award. She won for "Rain Down on Me" featuring Kirk Franklin and Maverick City Music.
Kinda wild, right?
Traditionalists like Deitrick Haddon weren't exactly thrilled. He openly called it "discouraging," but GloRilla’s speech was actually one of the more grounded moments of the night. She admitted she was "scared" to even ask Kirk Franklin for the feature because of her reputation as a hardcore rapper. But hey, the song worked, and the voters clearly felt the "inspirational" tag fit the vibe, even if the artist wasn't a traditional choir leader.
Beyond the music: Acting and Sports icons
It’s easy to forget that the BET Awards aren't just a concert with trophies. The film and sports categories this year featured some of the heaviest hitters in the industry.
Denzel Washington took home Best Actor, which, at this point, feels like we should just name the award after him. On the flip side, Cynthia Erivo snagged Best Actress, largely off the back of her powerhouse presence in Wicked and her collaboration with Ariana Grande.
The sports categories were equally stacked. Angel Reese won Sportswoman of the Year, continuing her run as the most talked-about name in the WNBA. For the guys, Jalen Hurts took Sportsman of the Year, proving that Philly’s favorite QB still has a massive pull with the fans regardless of the season's outcome.
The Ultimate Icons: A four-way tie for greatness
Usually, BET picks one "Ultimate Icon" and calls it a day. For the 25th anniversary, they went all out and honored four:
- Mariah Carey (Introduced by Busta Rhymes)
- Snoop Dogg (Presented by Dr. Dre)
- Jamie Foxx (Introduced by Stevie Wonder)
- Kirk Franklin (Presented by T.I.)
Jamie Foxx’s moment was the one that had everyone reaching for tissues. He’s been through a lot health-wise lately, and he didn't shy away from it. He stood there, looking at the "In Memoriam" segment, and told the crowd, "I was thanking God because that could have been me." You could have heard a pin drop in that theater. It was a raw reminder of why we celebrate these people while they’re still here.
A nostalgic trip down 106 & Park
Speaking of anniversaries, the 25th-anniversary tribute to 106 & Park was probably the highlight for anyone born before 2005. They brought back the original hosts—Free and AJ—plus Terrence J, Rocsi Diaz, and Big Tigger.
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The performance medley was a fever dream of Y2K excellence. We’re talking:
- Ashanti doing "Foolish"
- Bow Wow (Mr. 106 & Park himself) hitting "Fresh Azimiz"
- T.I. bringing the house down with "What You Know"
- B2K reuniting in those iconic white suits for "Bump, Bump, Bump"
It wasn't just a nostalgia baiting moment. It was a reminder of how much that show shaped the way we consume music and style today. Even Leon Thomas, who won Best New Artist, felt like a bridge between that era and now, having started as a child star on Nickelodeon before evolving into a legitimate R&B heavyweight.
The 2025 BET Awards Winners List (The Big Ones)
If you’re just looking for the quick rundown of who walked away with hardware, here is how the major categories shook out:
- Best Female R&B/Pop Artist: SZA
- Best Male R&B/Pop Artist: Chris Brown
- Best Group: Future & Metro Boomin
- Viewer’s Choice Award: Chris Brown ("Residuals")
- Best Movie: Luther: Never Too Much
- Youngstars Award: Blue Ivy Carter
- Best International Act: Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
Summer Walker also grabbed the BET Her Award for "Heart of a Woman," which felt like a massive win for the R&B community that has been championing her vulnerability for years.
What this means for the rest of the year
Looking at the 2025 BET Awards winners, it’s clear that the industry is in a bit of a transition. We have the established legends like Kendrick and SZA holding the line, but the rise of people like Doechii and Leon Thomas suggests a shift toward more genre-fluid, "musician's music."
If you want to stay ahead of the curve, keep an eye on the "Best New International Act" winners, Ajuliacosta (Brazil) and TxC (South Africa). The global influence is no longer a side-story; it’s becoming the main event.
Next time you're putting together a playlist, don't just stick to the Top 40. Look at the BET Her nominees or the international categories. That’s where the real innovation is happening right now. Also, if you haven't seen Luther: Never Too Much, find a way to watch it. There’s a reason it beat out big-budget blockbusters for Best Movie. It’s a masterclass in storytelling that actually respects the culture it’s portraying.