The 2025 BET Awards aired live from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on June 9, with Kevin Hart hosting. Kendrick Lamar emerged as the night’s top winner, taking home five trophies, including Album of the Year for GNX.
Lamar also won Best Collaboration for “Luther” with SZA, Best Male Hip Hop Artist (a record-extending eighth win), Video of the Year for “Not Like Us,” and Video Director of the Year with Dave Free. GNX beat Grammy-winning albums by Beyoncé, Chris Brown, and Doechii.
SZA and Chris Brown each won two awards. SZA took Best Female R&B/Pop Artist for the third straight year and shared Best Collaboration. Brown won Best Male R&B/Pop Artist for the eighth time and earned his fourth Viewer’s Choice Award for “Residuals.”
Other Major Winners:
- Doechii won Best Female Hip Hop Artist, her first BET Award.
- Leon Thomas was named Best New Artist and performed his hit “Mutt.”
- GloRilla, with Kirk Franklin and Maverick City Music, won Best Gospel/Inspirational for “Rain Down on Me.”
- Future & Metro Boomin won Best Group.
- Summer Walker’s “Heart of a Woman” took the BET Her Award.
- Blue Ivy Carter won Young Stars Award for the second year in a row.
- Denzel Washington won Best Actor for the fifth time.
- Cynthia Erivo won Best Actress.
- Angel Reese (Sportswoman) and Jalen Hurts (Sportsman) were also recognized.
Despite six nominations, Drake went home empty-handed. The Weeknd also didn’t win any of his four nods.
Tributes & Icon Honors:
Tributes were held for Quincy Jones, Roberta Flack, and Angie Stone. Luke James, Miles Caton, and Lucky Daye performed “The Secret Garden,” Andra Day sang “Killing Me Softly,” and Brittney Spencer performed “No More Rain.” The In Memoriam honored Cissy Houston, Nikki Giovanni, Frankie Beverly, Tito Jackson, and more.
Kirk Franklin, Mariah Carey, Snoop Dogg, and Jamie Foxx were named BET Ultimate Icons. Carey’s award was her first-ever BET win.
Production Credits:
Connie Orlando served as executive producer, along with Jamal Noisette for BET. Jesse Collins Entertainment produced the show, with Jesse Collins, Dionne Harmon, and Jeannae Rouzan-Clay as executive producers.
