BET Awards celebrates 45 Years of Black Excellence

2025 BET Awards

By: Joshua Martin

The 2025 BET Awards was a powerful celebration of legacy, evolution and cultural dominance. Held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday, June 9th, BET marked three monumental milestones. 45 years of the network, 25 years of the BET Awards and 25 years since the debut of 106 & Park, the iconic music countdown show that defined a generation.

Hosted by comedy legend Kevin Hart, the event opened with a mix of laughter and nostalgia. The iconic comedic actor paid homage to BET for playing a major role in the early stages of his career. 

“BET was the first to put a spotlight on voices like mine. To stand here tonight, decades later, is a full circle moment.”

— Kevin Hart, BET Awards

Terrence J, Pretty Vee, LaToya Luckett, Jacob Lattimore, Mouse Jones, and Jessie Woo co-hosted the red carpet, which doubled as a celebration of past and present. The crowd was treated to performances by rising stars like Jordan Adetunji, Rob49, Honey Bxby and others.

The main show delivered a lineup stacked with some of the biggest names in music. From Ashanti and Mýa to Bow Wow and Jermaine Dupri, to current stars like GloRilla, Leon Thomas, and Playboi Carti.

Kendrick Lamar led the night with 10 nominations and took home 5 awards, including Album of the Year and Video of the Year. Doechii took home female artist of the year and in a powerful acceptance speech addressed recent national protests.

“There are ruthless attacks that are creating fear and chaos in our communities in the name of law and order. Trump is using military forces to stop a protest. We all deserve to live in hope and not in fear.”

— Doechii, BET Awards 

Later in the evening, Jamie Foxx, Mariah Carey, Snoop Dogg, and Kirk Franklin were each honored for their cultural impact across music, film, and faith. Foxx, reflected on his near death health scare, giving an emotional speech that reminded everyone of the fragility of life and the power of second chances.

“When I saw the memoriam, I was like, Man, that could’ve been me. I don’t know why I went through what I went through, but my second chance, I won’t turn it down.”

— Jamie Foxx, BET Awards

BET also announced the return of Real Husbands of Hollywood and a new show titled 106 & Sports, hosted by former NFL star Cam Newton.

The full list of winners (displayed in bold) are listed below:

Album of the Year

This award was presented by Keke Palmer. 

$ome $exy $ongs 4 U — Drake & Partynextdoor
11:11 Deluxe — Chris Brown
Alligator Bites Never Heal — Doechii
Cowboy Carter — Beyoncé
Glorious — GloRilla
GNX — Kendrick Lamar — WINNER
Hurry Up Tomorrow — The Weeknd
We Don’t Trust You — Future & Metro Boomin

Best Female R&B/Pop Artist

This award was presented by Crystal Renee Hayslett from Tyler Perry’s Zatima. 

Ari Lennox
Ayra Starr
Coco Jones
Kehlani
Muni Long
Summer Walker
SZA — WINNER
Victoria Monét

Best Male R&B/Pop Artist

Bruno Mars
Chris Brown — WINNER
Drake
Fridayy
Leon Thomas
Teddy Swims
The Weeknd
Usher

Best Group

41
Common & Pete Rock
Drake & Partynextdoor
Flo
Future & Metro Boomin — WINNER
Jacquees & Dej Loaf
Larry June, 2 Chainz, The Alchemist
Maverick City Music

Best Collaboration

“30 For 30” — SZA feat. Kendrick Lamar
“Alter Ego” — Doechii feat. JT
“Are You Even Real” — Teddy Swims feat. Givēon
“Beckham” — Dee Billz feat. Kyle Richh, Kai Swervo, KJ Swervo
Bless — Lil Wayne, Wheezy & Young Thug
“Like That” — Future & Metro Boomin & Kendrick Lamar
“Luther” — Kendrick Lamar & SZA — WINNER
“Sticky” — Tyler, The Creator feat. GloRilla, Sexyy Red & Lil Wayne
“Timeless” — The Weeknd feat. Playboi Carti

Best Female Hip Hop Artist

This award was presented by Quinta Brunson and Tyler James Williams from Abbott Elementary who reminisced about BET shows from their adolescence, including Hell Date and Cita’s World.  

Cardi B
Doechii — WINNER
Doja Cat
GloRilla
Latto
Megan Thee Stallion
Nicki Minaj
Rapsody
Sexyy Red

Best Male Hip Hop Artist

BigXthaPlug
Bossman DLow
Burna Boy
Drake
Future
Kendrick Lamar — WINNER
Key Glock
Lil Wayne
Tyler, The Creator

Video of the Year

“3AM in Tokeyo” — Key Glock
“A Bar Song (Tipsy)” — Shaboozey
“After Hours” — Kehlani
“Denial Is a River” — Doechii
“Family Matters” — Drake
“Not Like Us” — Kendrick Lamar — WINNER
“Timeless” — The Weeknd feat. Playboi Carti
“Type Shit” — Future, Metro Boomin, Travis Scott & Playboi Carti

Video Director of the Year

Anderson .Paak
B Pace Productions & Jacquees
Benny Boom
Cactus Jack
Cole Bennett
Dave Free & Kendrick Lamar — WINNER
Dave Meyers
Foggieraw
Tyler, The Creator

Best New Artist

This award was presented by comedian Deon Cole and actress Dominique Thorne (Marvel’s Ironheart series). 

41
Ayra Starr
BigXthaPlug
BossMan Dlow
Dee Billz
Leon Thomas — WINNER
October London
Shaboozey
Teddy Swims

Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award

This award was presented by DeVon Franklin, Lala Anthony, and LeToya Luckett. 

“A God (There Is)” — Common & Pete Rock feat. Jennifer Hudson
“Amen” — Pastor Mike Jr.
“Better Days” — Fridayy
“Church Doors” — Yolanda Adams feat. Sir The Baptist & Donald Lawrence (Terry Hunter Remix)
“Constant” — Maverick City Music, Jordin Sparks, Chandler Moore & Anthony Gargiula
“Deserve to Win” — Tamela Mann
“Faith” — Rapsody
“Rain Down on Me” — GloRilla feat. Kirk Franklin, Maverick City Music — WINNER

Viewer’s Choice Award

This award was presented by DC Young Fly. 

“Residuals” — Chris Brown — WINNER
“Denial Is a River” — Doechii
“Nokia” — Drake
“Like That” — Future & Metro Boomin feat. Kendrick Lamar
“TGIF” — GloRilla
“Not Like Us” — Kendrick Lamar
“Luther” — Kendrick Lamar & SZA
“Brokey” — Latto

Best International Act

Any Gabrielly (Brazil)
Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
Basky (UK)
Black Sherif (Ghana)
Ezra Collective (UK)
Joé Dwèt Filé (France)
MC Luanna (Brazil)
Rema (Nigeria)
SDM (France)
Tyla (South Africa)
Uncle Waffles (Swaziland)
Best New International Act
Abigail Chams (Tanzania)
Ajulicosta (Brazil)
Amabbi (Brazil)
Dlala Thukzin (South Africa)
Dr Yaro (France)
KWN (UK)
Maglera Doe Boy (South Africa)
Merveille (France)
Odeal (UK)
Shallipopi (Nigeria)
TxC (South Africa)

BET Her

This award was presented by Terrance J. 

“Beautiful People” — Mary J. Blige
“Blackbiird” — Beyonce feat. Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy & Reyna Roberts
“Bloom” — Doechii
“Burning” — Tems
“Defying Gravity” — Cynthia Erivo feat. Ariana Grande
“Heart of a Woman” — Summer Walker — WINNER“Hold On” — Tems
“In My Bag” — Flo & GloRilla

Best Movie

Bad Boys: Ride or Die
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F
Luther: Never Too Much — WINNER
Mufasa: The Lion King
One of Them Days
Rebel Ridge
The Piano Lesson
The Six Triple Eight

Best Actor

Aaron Pierce
Aldis Hodge
Anthony Mackie
Colman Domingo
Denzel Washington — WINNER
Jamie Foxx
Joey Bada$$
Kevin Hart
Sterling K. Brown
Will Smith

Best Actress

Andra Day
Angela Bassett
Coco Jones
Cynthia Erivo — WINNER
Keke Palmer
Kerry Washington
Quinta Brunson
Viola Davis
Zendaya

Young Stars Award

Akira Akbar
Blue Ivy Carter — WINNER
Graceyn “Gracie” Hollingsworth
Heiress Harris
Melody Hurd
Thaddeus J. Mixson
Tyrik Johnson
VanVan

Sportswoman of the Year Award

A’ja Wilson
Angel Reese — WINNER
Claressa Shields
Coco Gauff
Dawn Staley
Flau’jae Johnson
Juju Watkins
Sha’Carri Richardson
Simone Biles

Sportsman of the Year

Aaron Judge
Anthony Edwards
Deion Sanders
Jalen Hurts — WINNER 

Jayson Tatum
LeBron James
Saquon Barkley
Stephen Curry

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