The time has arrived to celebrate Black excellence in media with the 2025 BET Awards! From chart-smashing diss tracks to genre-defining acting performances, the nominees demanded our attention throughout the year. Excitement and anticipation couldn’t be higher, with the ceremony also marking its 25th anniversary. Hosted by Kevin Hart, here’s a rundown of all the winners, performers, and highlights you may have missed during Culture’s Biggest Night!
Nostalgic Tributes and Honors
To kick off the show, BET celebrated its 25th birthday with a nostalgic tribute to 106 & Park, a hip-hop and R&B music video countdown show that ran on the network until its cancellation in 2014. Fans were treated to surprise performances from artists who defined that era. Ashanti started the night with a bang, performing “Rock Wit U” and “Foolish.” Jim Jones hyped the crowd with “We Fly High (Ballin).” Amerie, Mya, Keyshia Cole, Bow Wow, and even a retired T.I. each delivered with their throwback hits and anthems. As the ultimate cherry on top, the early 2000s boy band B2K reunited for the first time in years to perform “Bump, Bump, Bump.” Such moments touched the hearts of millennials and early 2000s kids everywhere, an emotional homage to many people’s childhood music and culture.
Beyond the competitive categories, BET also honored people whose influence exceeds charts. Jamie Foxx, Mariah Carey, Snoop Dogg, and Kirk Franklin were all bestowed with the Ultimate Icons Award. According to coverage by USA Today, this honors impactful names in the industry for “their decades of groundbreaking contributions to music, entertainment, advocacy, and community.” In a hilarious moment, Stevie Wonder joked about Foxx’s famous portrayal of Ray Charles, another blind musician, in the 2004 biopic Ray.
Lastly, artists also dedicated emotional performances to legends who’ve recently passed. Miles Caton (from Sinners), Luke James, and Lucky Daye gave us a soulful rendition of the late Quincy Jones’s song “The Secret Garden (Sweet Seduction Suite).” Andra Day used her ethereal voice to channel the late Roberta Flack for an otherworldly cover of “Killing Me Softly With His Song.” Each tribute was a stirring reminder of the power of Black culture and the need to preserve the legacies of those who’ve shaped it.
Special Headliners and Appearances
The Peacock Theater stage was filled with electric performances and intricate set pieces alike, clearly showing off that 25th anniversary budget. Big names like Lil Wayne, GloRilla, Playboi Carti, and Teyana Taylor were among some of the confirmed guests to make a splash.
Lil Wayne gave us a high-energy performance of “King Carter” and “Welcome to Tha Carter,” tracks from his newest album, Tha Carter VI, as well as “A Milli.”
GloRilla turned heads dressed in a sharp all-white suit with “Let Her Cook,” even bringing Keyshia Cole back out to perform a hybrid duet of “Love” and “Typa.”
Taylor topped it all off with a visually stunning, cinematic performance of “Long Time.” Her set spanned multiple backdrops involving flaming umbrellas and bouquets, an ethereal white dress that towered over the stage, and chrome-lined robots doing sci-fi dances. Yes, it was as wild as it sounds!
Fantastic performances didn’t stop with the headliners. Carey returned to the stage with an all-gold dress for a dazzling medley of classics and newer hits. She was joined on stage by rap legend Rakim, just ahead of receiving her Ultimate Icon Award.
In the musical tribute to Foxx, Babyface, Ludacris, Jennifer Hudson, T-Pain, and more delivered an energized display. Other standout acts came from artists such as Ledisi, Elmiene, and Ravyn Lenae. From music superstars to amazing tributes, the BET Awards were dedicated to making the audience feel that impact.
The Major Winners
Music
This year’s nominee list was stacked with talent, but few artists took over the culture like Kendrick Lamar. You can’t talk about recent hip-hop without mentioning the Compton lyricist. Lamar has shown us why he’s the king of rap, with his record-breaking “Not Like Us,” chart-topping album GNX, and a consistently sold-out Grand National Stadium Tour with SZA. He dominated the show with ten nominations across several categories, including:
-Album of the Year
-Video of the Year
-Best Collaboration (with SZA, Future, Metro Boomin)
-Best Male Hip-Hop Artist
-Video Director of the Year (with Dave Free)
Of these, the Pulitzer Prize winner took home every single one. The only exception was the Viewer’s Choice Award, which went to Best Male R&B/Pop Artist winner Chris Brown for “Residuals.” A masterclass in building a lasting legacy for Lamar.
However, women in hip-hop and R&B made an equally powerful showing. SZA won Best Female R&B/Pop Artist alongside her tour co-headliner. In the words of BET, she had built a persona of “consistent excellence, raw honesty, and genre-blurring style” that sets her in a league of her own.
While accepting the award for Best Female Hip-Hop Artist, Doechii made a powerful statement of solidarity. She affirmed her allyship with the LA protestors against ICE as well as Black, LGBTQ+, Latino, Palestinian, and other oppressed people around the world. Her words were a much-needed declaration of unity and recognition for many.
GloRilla’s shine wasn’t over, as she took home the Best Gospel/Inspirational Award for “Rain Down on Me.” This track showcased a more faithful side to her, highlighting her versatility.
Lastly, Summer Walker championed the BET Her Award for “Heart of a Woman.” It’s an anthem packed with meaning and sentiment, celebrating the strength and resilience of Black womanhood.
Film
Hollywood experienced no shortage of Black excellence either. Cynthia Erivo defied the odds by taking home the Best Actress Award. Her now-famous rendition of “Defying Gravity“ in Wicked has more than earned her the culture’s widespread praise. Beyond being a Broadway classic, Defying Gravity is now a song of empowerment, especially for Black women.
Denzel Washington conversely received the Best Actor Award. His longstanding career and status as an industry legend need no explanation. Unforgettable performances in Training Day and Remember the Titans make him a powerful staple in Black cinema.
For Best Film, Luther: Never Too Much, directed by Dawn Porter, made waves in the documentary space. Its heartfelt story chronicling the life of R&B legend Luther Vandross was a testament to an enduring influence.
Sports
The world of sports also received its shine on the BET stage. Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts received the award for Sportsman of the Year. Following the Eagles’ standout performance at Super Bowl LIX against the Kansas City Chiefs, Hurts was crowned MVP for his key plays throughout the game. Similarly,Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese won Sportswoman of the Year for her record-breaking stats throughout the WNBA season. Her athletic performance as well as her social media presence are the definition of star power.
Other Notable Awards
Beyond Lamar’s reign over the music category, Atlanta rapper Future and producer Metro Boomin received the award for Best Group. The duo has a portfolio of genre-defining collaborations. Most of the new hip-hop generation’s flows, cadences, and projects continue to be inspired by their style.
The BET Awards also celebrated the cultural contributions of new-wave artists. Leon Thomas took home the award for Best New Artist. This solidifies his impressive transition from well-established actor to a musical innovator in the space.
Lastly, one of the most heartwarming honors went to Blue Ivy Carter, who received the YoungStars Award. Her standout role as a lead dancer while accompanying her mother, Beyoncé, on the Cowboy Carter tour has made shockwaves across social media. Even at a young age, Blue Ivy is demonstrating that talent and stage presence run in the family.
What's Your Reaction?
