For The Culture: Highlighting The Winners & Record Breakers At The 2025 BET Awards
Source: Christopher Polk / Getty
Los Angeles was the place to be last night (June 9th) as the 2025 BET Awards marked the 25th anniversary of the legendary event. As always, the night honored and celebrated excellence in Black music, film, sports and culture. The gathering was filled with unforgettable performances, emotional tributes, and major wins across categories. Continue reading to find out who all took home trophies last night.
It shouldn't have come as a surprise to anyone that Kendrick Lamar emerged as the standout winner. The Compton native took home multiple awards including Album of the Year (his second time winning) for GNX , Best Male Hip-Hop Artist (his record-setting eight time winning), Video Director of the Year in tandem with Dave Free. Video of the Year for 'Not Like Us,' and Best Collaboration for his duet with SZA, 'Luther.' The wins not only continued Kendrick's current dominant run but also further solidified his legacy as one of hip-hop's most influential voices.
Other big moments included Lamar's frequent collaborator and former label mate SZA winning Best Female R&B/Pop Artist and Chris Brown taking Best Male R&B/Pop Artist (Win number 8 in the category for him). Brown also won the Viewer's Choice Award for the fourth time for his smash 'Residuals.' Only Beyoncé (5) and Lil Wayne have won the award as many times as him. Leon Thomas earned Best New Artist, a category that recognized his breakout year and memorable live performance of 'Mutt.' Doechii's first BET Award (Best Female Hip-Hop Artist) signaled a positive shift in the genre's landscape. Fan favorites Future & Metro Boomin (Best Group), Summer Walker (Bet Her Award), and GloRilla (Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award) also claimed victories. GloRilla's song 'Rain Down On Me' features Kirk Franklin and Maverick City Music. The win gives Franklin eight in the category and two for Maverick City Music.
In the acting categories, Denzel Washington and Cynthia Erivo won Best Actor and Best Actress, respectively. Luther Vandross' documentary won best movie, marking the second straight year that a film about a music legend has won in that category, following Bob Marley's win last year. A new generation of talent was highlighted as Blue Ivy Carter won the YoungStars Award, undoubtedly making her parents proud. Sports giants Jalen Hurts (Philadelphia Eagles) and Angel Reese (Chicago Sky) took home Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year.
This year's show added a historic touch with the Ultimate Icon Awards, which celebrated artists whose careers have helped shape Black entertainment for decades. The honorees included Mariah Carey, Jamie Foxx, Snoop Dogg, and Kirk Franklin. The 2025 BET Awards were a perfect blend of celebrating current achievements while also honoring cultural milestones. The 25th anniversary show was one of the most significant and reflective in its history. Check out the speeches of last night's award winners below. Congrats to all of them and salute BET for an unforgettable show!
For The Culture: Highlighting The Winners & Record Breakers At The 2025 BET Awards was originally published on globalgrind.com
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