BET Awards 2025: Full List of Winners, Performances, and Highlights
The spotlight was on Kendrick Lamar and SZA, who won the night’s biggest awards
The BET Awards 2025 were held on June 10 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, and the night’s biggest spotlight belonged to Kendrick Lamar. The rapper took home five awards out of the ten nominations he received, making him the most awarded artist of the evening. On the women’s side, SZA stood out as the top winner.
Known for celebrating Black excellence in music, entertainment, and culture, the BET Awards honored Kendrick not only for his music, but also for the impact he’s had this year—headlining the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show and being at the center of one of the most talked-about rap beefs in recent years with Drake.
“BET has always made sure they’re representing the culture right and always put me in the midst of the cycle of what we represent,” Lamar said during his acceptance speech.
This 25th anniversary edition was hosted by comedian Kevin Hart and featured several memorable performances. Ashanti delivered a high-energy medley of her greatest hits, while Andra Day paid tribute to the legendary Roberta Flack with an emotional performance.
Mariah Carey also took the stage—not only to receive one of the night’s Icon Awards, but to debut her brand-new single, ‘Dangerous Type,’ which she released just days before.
Highlights of BET Awards 2025
Some of the most powerful and emotional moments at the 2025 BET Awards came from stars like Kirk Franklin, Mariah Carey, Jamie Foxx, and Snoop Dogg, who brought both heart and honesty to the stage.
Actor Jamie Foxx reflected on his near-death experience after suffering a stroke two years ago, sharing a deeply personal moment with the audience: “When I saw that in memoriam, I was like, ‘Man, that could’ve been me.” His words were met with a standing ovation, marking one of the most touching moments of the night.
“I don’t know why I went through what I went through, but I know my second chance, I’m not going to turn down.” – Jamie Foxx talking about his stroke at the #BETAwards
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) June 10, 2025
There was also a strong political message woven into the evening. Doechii, who took home the award for Best Female Hip Hop Artist, delivered a bold and pointed speech. She criticized the government’s response to past protests in Los Angeles—particularly the military deployment during demonstrations against ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement).
Full list of winners from this 25th edition of the BET Awards:
Album of the Year
- Drake and PartyNextDoor, $Some $Sexy $Songs 4 U
- Chris Brown, 11:11 Deluxe
- Doechii, Alligator Bites Never Heal
- Beyoncé, Cowboy Carter
- GloRilla, Glorious
- Kendrick Lamar, GNX— WINNER
- The Weeknd, Hurry Up Tomorrow
- Future and Metro Boomin, We Don’t Trust You
Best
Female R&B/Pop Artist
- Ari Lennox
- Ayra Starr
- Coco Jones
- Kehlani
- Muni Long
- Summer Walker
- SZA — WINNER
- Victoria Monét
Male R&B/Pop Artist
- Bruno Mars
- Chris Brown — WINNER
- Drake
- Fridayy
- Leon Thomas
- Teddy Swims
- The Weeknd
- Usher
Group
- 41
- Common and Pete Rock
- Drake and PartyNextDoor,
- FLO
- Future and Metro Boomin — WINNER
- Jaquees and Dej Loaf
- Larry June, 2 Chainz, The Alchemist
- Maverick City Music
Collaboration
- SZA Featuring Kendrick Lamar, 30 For 30
- Doechii Featuring JT, Alter Ego
- Teddy swims Featuring Giveon, Are You Even Real
- Dee Billz Featuring Kyle Richh, Kai Swervo, KJ Swervo, Beckham
- Lil Wayne, Wheezy and Young Thug, Bless
- Future, Metro Boomin and Kendrick Lamar, Like That
- Kendrick Lamar and SZA, Luther — WINNER
- Tyler, The Creator Featuring Glorilla, Sexxy Red and Lil Wayne, Sticky
- The Weeknd Featuring Playboi Carti, Timeless
Female Hip Hop Artist
- Cardi B
- Doechii — WINNER
- Doja Cat
- GloRilla
- Latto
- Megan Thee Stallion
- Nicki Minaj
- Rapsody
- Sexxy Red
Male Hip Hop Artist
- BigXThaPlug
- BossMan Dlow
- Burna Boy
- Drake
- Future
- Kendrick Lamar — WINNER
- Key Glock
- Lil Wayne
- Tyler, The Creator
Video
Of the Year
- Key Glock, 3AM in ToKEYo
- Shaboozey, A Bar Song (Tipsy)
- Kehlani, After Hours
- Doechii, Denial is a River
- Drake, Family Matters
- Kendrick Lamar, Not Like Us — WINNER
- The Weeknd Featuring Playboi Carti, Timeless
- Future, Metro Boomin Travis Scott and Playboi Carti, Type Shit
Director of the Year
- Anderson .Paak
- B Pace Productions and Jacquees
- Benny Boom
- Cactus Jack
- Cole Bennett
- Dave Free and Kendrick Lamar — WINNERS
- Dave Meyers
- Foggieraw
- Tyler, The Creator
Best New Artist
- 41
- Ayra Starr
- BigXThaPlug
- BossMan Dlow
- Dee Billz
- Leon Thomas — WINNER
- October London
- Shaboozey
- Teddy Swims
Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel, Inspiration Award
- Common and Pete Rock Featuring Jennifer Hudson, A God (There Is)
- Pastor Mike Jr., Amen
- Fridayy, Better Days
- Yolanda Adams Featuring Sir The Baptist and Donald Lawrence, Church Doors (Terry Hunter Remix)
- Maverick City Music, Jordin Sparks, Chandler Moore and Anthony Gargiula, Constant
- Tamela Mann, Deserve to Win
- Rapsody, Faith
- GloRilla Featuring Kirk Franklin, Maverick City Music, Rain Down on Me — WINNER
Viewer’s Choice Award
- Chris Brown, Residuals — WINNER
- Doechii, Denial is a River
- Drake, Nokia
- Future and Metro Boomin Featuring Kendrick Lamar, Like That
- GloRilla, TGIF
- Kendrick Lamar, Not Like Us
- Kendrick Lamar and SZA, Luther
- Latto, Brokey
BET Her
- Mary J. Blige, Beautiful People
- Beyoncé Featuring Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy and Reyna Roberts, Blackbird
- Doechii, Bloom
- Tems, Burning
- Cynthia Erivo Featuring Ariana Grande, Defying Grafity
- Summer Walker, Heart of a woman — WINNER
- Tems, Hold on
- FLO and GloRilla, In My Bag
Best Movie
- Bad Boys: Ride or Die
- Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F
- Luther: Never Too Much — WINNER
- Mufasa: The Lion King
- One of Them Days
- Rebel Ridge
- The Piano Lesson
- The Six Triple Eight
Actor
- Aaron Pierre
- Aldis Hodge
- Anthony Mackie
- Colman Domingo
- Denzel Washington — WINNER
- Jamie Foxx
- Joey Bada$$
- Kevin Hart
- Sterling K. Brown
- Will Smith
Actress
- Andra Day
- Angela Bassett
- Coco Jones
- Cynthia Erivo — WINNER
- Keke Palmer
- Kerry Washington
- Quinta Brunson
- Viola Davis
- Zendaya
Youngstars Award
- Akira Akbar
- Blue Ivy Carter — WINNER
- Graceyn “Gracie” Hollingsworth
- Heiress Harris
- Melody Hurd
- Thaddeus J. Mixson
- Tyrik Johnson
- VanVan
Sportswoman of the Year Award
- A’ja Wilson
- Angel Reese — WINNER
- Claressa Shields
- Coco Gauff
- Dawn Staley
- Flau’Jae Johnson
- Juju Watkins
- Sha’carri Richardson
- Simone Biles
Sportsman of the Year Award
- Aaron Judge
- Anthony Edwards
- Deion Sanders
- Jalen Hurts — WINNER
- Jayson Tatum
- Lebron James
- Saquon Barkley
- Stephen Curry