Dubbed Culture’s Biggest Night, the 2025 BET Awards lived up to every ounce of the hype. With comedian and actor Kevin Hart at the helm as host, the star-studded celebration honored not only the brightest talents across music, film, TV, and sports—but also the legacy and future of Black excellence. This year’s show wasn’t just about trophies—it was a declaration of impact, vision, and elevation.
Kendrick Lamar: King of the Night
Kendrick Lamar proved once again why he’s in a league of his own. He swept the awards with four major wins:
- Album of the Year for GNX
- Best Male Hip Hop Artist
- Video of the Year for the explosive hit Not Like Us
- Best Collaboration with SZA for the emotionally charged Luther
To top it off, Lamar also claimed Video Director of the Year, sharing the honor with his longtime visual collaborator Dave Free.
R&B Reigns Supreme
SZA continued her dominance in R&B, earning Best Female R&B/Pop Artist, reaffirming her status as one of today’s most influential voices. Chris Brown took home Best Male R&B/Pop Artist, while dynamic duo Future and Metro Boomin snagged Best Group for their genre-defying collaboration.
Fresh Faces, Big Wins
The future of music took center stage too.
- Rising star Leon Thomas was named Best New Artist, a full-circle moment for the former child actor turned soulful solo act.
- Doechii, who continues to blur genre lines with fearless creativity, won Best Female Hip Hop Artist.
- Summer Walker‘s heart-wrenching ballad Heart of a Woman won the BET Her Award, connecting with listeners on a deeply emotional level.
Inspirational and Iconic Moments
In a soul-stirring moment, GloRilla, Kirk Franklin, and Maverick City Music took home the Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award for Rain Down on Me, a track that stirred both spirit and soul.
Meanwhile, Blue Ivy Carter—already a rising fashion and cultural force—made history by winning the YoungStars Award, marking a symbolic torch-passing from her legendary parents Beyoncé and Jay-Z to the next generation of icons.
Silver Screen & Sports Spotlight
Hollywood had its moment too:
- Cynthia Erivo shined bright with a win for Best Actress
- Denzel Washington, a pillar of Black cinematic excellence, added another honor to his legacy as Best Actor
- Fan-favorite biopic Luther: Never Too Much earned Best Movie, celebrating the story of a musical legend.
In sports, two powerhouses took home the top honors:
- Angel Reese, known for her dominance on the court and influence off it, was named Sportswoman of the Year
- Jalen Hurts, a force in the NFL, won Sportsman of the Year, reflecting both his athleticism and leadership.
As the BET Awards marked its 25th anniversary and BET itself celebrated 45 years of shaping Black culture, the 2025 show was more than a ceremony—it was a powerful statement. From veterans like Denzel and Kendrick to rising forces like Blue Ivy and Doechii, this year’s event captured a cultural renaissance. A night that wasn’t just watched—it was felt.
Winners List – BET Awards 2025
- Best Female R&B/Pop Artist – SZA
- Best Male R&B/Pop Artist – Chris Brown
- Best Group – Future & Metro Boomin
- Best Collaboration – “Luther” – Kendrick Lamar & SZA
- Best Male Hip Hop Artist – Kendrick Lamar
- Best Female Hip Hop Artist – Doechii
- Video of the Year – “Not Like Us” – Kendrick Lamar
- Video Director of the Year – Dave Free & Kendrick Lamar
- Best New Artist – Leon Thomas
- Album of the Year – GNX – Kendrick Lamar
- Gospel/Inspirational Award – “Rain Down on Me” – GloRilla feat. Kirk Franklin, Maverick City Music
- Best Actress – Cynthia Erivo
- Best Actor – Denzel Washington
- Best Movie – Luther: Never Too Much
- YoungStars Award – Blue Ivy Carter
- Sportswoman of the Year – Angel Reese
- Sportsman of the Year – Jalen Hurts
- BET Her Award – “Heart of a Woman” – Summer Walker
The future is now—and it’s Black, bold, and boundary-breaking.