Mariah Carey, Snoop Dogg, Jamie Foxx, Kirk Franklin Named BET Ultimate Icon Award Recipients
'Thank you @BET this is an honor,' Franklin wrote on social platform X. The award is meant to celebrate groundbreaking contributions across entertainment, music, advocacy, and community impact, according to BET.
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Last month, Carey was notably shut out of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame despite her tangible and lasting cross-genre influence on music. Foxx recently released the stand-up special What Had Happened Was, which detailed the harrowing medical scare he experienced in April 2023 while hospitalized following a debilitating stroke. 'I was fighting for my life, but I'm here right in front of you,' he said tearfully during his set. 'If I dance all night, don't mind me. I'm happy to be alive.'
This year's slate of honorees marks the first time the Ultimate Icon Award has been presented since 2019, when it was awarded to Tyler Perry. Past recipients also include Janet Jackson and Deborah L. Lee.
In addition to Carey, Franklin, and Snoop Dogg, the 2025 BET Awards will also feature performances from Lil Wayne, Teyana Taylor, GloRilla, Playboi Carti, and Leon Thomas. The night will also pay tribute to 106 & Park in honor of the show's 25th anniversary, which will bring together former hosts AJ Calloway, Free Marie Wright, Julissa Bermudez, Keshia Chanté, Rocsi Diaz, and Terrence J. Performers for the tribute include Bow Wow, Amerie, B2K, Jim Jones, Mya, and T.I.
'We're setting the tone for a night that celebrates 25 years of impact, creativity, and Black culture,' Connie Orlando, EVP of Specials, Music Programming & Music Strategy at BET, said in a statement. 'With electrifying performances from some of the biggest names in music and an iconic comedic host, 'BET Awards' 2025 will be a can't-miss celebration of everything the culture represents.'
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