Last night, on June 9 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, the 25th annual BET Awards turned up the heat. Hosted by the ever-charismatic Kevin Hart—returning to the stage since 2011—the celebration honored phenomenal achievements in music, film, TV, and sports across Black culture people.com+5iheart.com+5blackamericaweb.com+5people.com+8reuters.com+8en.wikipedia.org+8.
💥 Kendrick Lamar Dominates
Kendrick Lamar was the evening’s star, securing five awards out of ten nominations. He swept Album of the Year for GNX, Best Male Hip Hop Artist, Video of the Year for “Not Like Us,” and shared Video Director of the Year with Dave Free en.wikipedia.org+7reuters.com+7bet.com+7. His presence echoed throughout the event—even from afar, as he was touring in Detroit reuters.com+2vulture.com+2queondamagazine.com+2.
🌟 Standouts & Breakthroughs
- Doechii won Best Female Hip Hop Artist, delivering a bold acceptance speech that condemned the militarized response to L.A. protests blackamericaweb.com+15them.us+15reuters.com+15.
- SZA and Chris Brown captured Best Female and Best Male R&B/Pop Artist, respectively en.wikipedia.org+5ew.com+5queondamagazine.com+5.
- Newcomer Leon Thomas earned Best New Artist, while GloRilla and collaborators won the Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award for “Rain Down on Me” en.wikipedia.org+10bet.com+10people.com+10.
🏅 Icons & Tributes
- Ultimate Icon Awards were presented to music legends Mariah Carey, Snoop Dogg, Kirk Franklin, and Jamie Foxx. Emotional highlights included Foxx’s tearful tribute and Stevie Wonder’s heartfelt remarks vulture.com+9reuters.com+9iheart.com+9.
- Snoop Dogg took a nostalgic trip down memory lane, recalling how Mariah Carey’s music impacted him—literally—even behind bars people.com.
✨ Memorable Moments & Performances
- Andra Day delivered a hauntingly beautiful rendition of “Killing Me Softly” in memory of Roberta Flack los40.com.
- Kirk Franklin closed the night with an uplifting gospel medley featuring stars like Muni Long and Tamar Braxton eonline.com+3people.com+3iheart.com+3.
- A heartfelt 106 & Park 25th-anniversary tribute reunited artists like Ashanti, Amerie, Bow Wow, and B2K blackamericaweb.com+8people.com+8people.com+8.
- Comedic highlights included Kevin Hart’s witty jabs about pop culture icons—and yes, even pointed at Kirk Franklin en.wikipedia.org+5people.com+5iheart.com+5.
🏀 Sporting Honor
This year’s awards also celebrated athletic excellence, with Jalen Hurts and Angel Reese being named Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year eonline.com+3ew.com+3timesofindia.indiatimes.com+3.
In Summary: A Night of Culture & Conviction
The 2025 BET Awards stood as a powerful fusion of entertainment, activism, and nostalgia. From Kendrick Lamar’s dominance to Doechii’s political bravery, this show reaffirmed the awards’ mission: honoring Black excellence and storytelling in all its forms. With nostalgic flashes, emotional tributes, and star-studded performances, this milestone ceremony hit every beat—and then some.