BET Awards 2025 WINNERS: Kendrick Lamar wins big as Doechii scoops up her first gong at ceremony and tearful Jamie Foxx says he's thankful for 'second chance' during acceptance speech

The 2025 BET Awards went down in Los Angeles on Monday evening.
Hosted by Kevin Hart, it brought together some of the biggest stars across music, film, TV, and sports to celebrate the talent shaping the culture and pushing it forward.
Kendrick Lamar was the standout for the evening, taking home four major awards including Album of the year for GNX, Best Male Hip Hop Artist, Video of the Year for 'Not Like Us,' and Best Collaboration alongside SZA for their track 'Luther'.
He also shared Video Director of the Year with longtime creative partner Dave free.
SZA took home Best Female R&B/Pop Artist, while Chris Brown snagged Best Male R&B/Pop Artist.
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Future & Metro Boomin earned Best Group and Leon Thomas was crowned Best New Artist.
Leon beat out Ayra Starr, BigXthaPlug, Bossman Dlow, Dee Billz, October London, Shaboozey and Teddy Swims for the award.
Thomas began by saying his grandfather always told him, 'music is a team sport,' before thanking God, adding he was, 'the coach of my life.'
He began by saying his grandfather always told him, 'music is a team sport,' before thanking God, adding he was, 'the coach of my life.'
The star also joked, 'My mother, she went on a bathroom break, she didn't get to see me win! But I'll tell you right now, we've been in this together my entire life and I wouldn't be here without you, mom, I love you so much.'
Doechii continued her genre-bending rise with a win for Best Female Hip Hop Artist, in which she used her acceptance speech to address the unrest over ICE raids in Los Angeles.
The 26-year-old Tampa rapper (born Jaylah Ji'mya Hickmon) beat out Cardi B, Doja Cat, GloRilla, Latto, Megan Thee Stallion, Nicki Minaj, Rapsody and Sexyy Red for the award, during the ceremony.
She took to the stage to accept her award, thanking the BET network, adding, 'This is my first BET Awards, so this means a lot to me.'
'I grew up watching this. I want to acknowledge all of the girls in my category that worked hard, extremely talented and very creative. You ladies are amazing. So, thank you, BET, for honoring me with this,' she added.
She then turned to address the protests in downtown Los Angeles over mass deportations and ICE raids, which President Donald Trump responded to by deploying the National Guard in a controversial move.
'But as much as I'm honored by this award, I do want to address what's happening right now outside of the building,' she said to applause.
'There are ruthless attacks that are creating fear and chaos in our communities in the name of 'Law & order.' Trump is using military forces to stop a protest,' she added.
'I want you all to consider what kind of government it appears to be one every time we exercise our democratic right to protest, the military is deployed against us,' she added.
'What type of government is that? People are being swept up and torn from their families, and I feel it's my responsibility as an artist to use this moment to speak up for all oppressed people,' she said to more applause.
'For black people. For Latino people, for trans people. For the people in Gaza. We all deserve to live in hope and not in fear. I hope we stand together. My brothers and my sisters, against hate, and we protest against it. Thank you, BET!' she concluded.
GloRilla, Kirk Franklin, and Maverick City Music took home the Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award for 'Rain Down on Me.'
Heat of a Woman by Summer Walker won the official Bet Her Award.
Jamie Foxx was honoured with the BET Ultimate Icon Award, presented by Stevie Wonder.
'I cannot even begin to express the love that I feel from everybody out there,' Foxx began, adding when he saw the memoriam segment, he realized, 'Man, that could've been me.'
'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,' Foxx said.
'I have so much love to give. I told him, I said, man, bro, just give me one more crack at this. And I promised, I said whatever reason you put this on me, I promise I'm going to do it right,' Foxx said while choking back tears.
'I don't want to make my whole speech about that, but you can't go through something like that and not testify,' he added.
He concluded by thanking his 14-year-old daughter Anelise Bishop, who when he was sick, 'snuck into my room with her guitar and said I know what you need. And she played the guitar, my vitals dropped and I realized that god was in that guitar, and the nurses ran in and said what did they give him? And my daughter says "Shh, I got him."'
Cynthia Erivo won Best Actress, and Denzel Washington added another trophy to his legendary career as Best Actor.
The fan-favorite biopic Luther: Never Too Much was named Best Movie.
Blue Ivy Carter received the YoungStars Award, a full-circle moment of legacy and promise.
Angel Reese dominated as Sportswoman of the Year, continuing her many streak of wins both on and off the court.
Jalen Hurts earned Sportsman of the Year honors for his performance and leadership in the NFL.
2025 BET Awards Winners
Album of the Year
$Ome $Exy $Ongs 4 U - Drake & PartyNextDoor
11:11 Deluxe - Chris Brown
Alligator Bites Never Heal - Doechii
Cowboy Carter - Beyoncé
Glorious - GloRilla
GNX - Kendrick Lamar - WINNER
Hurry Up Tomorrow - The Weeknd
We Don't Trust You - Future & Metro Boomin
Best Female R&B/Pop Artist
Ari Lennox
Ayra Starr
Coco Jones
Kehlani
Muni Long
Summer Walker
SZA - WINNER
Victoria Monét
Best Male R&B/Pop Artist
Bruno Mars
Chris Brown - WINNER
Drake
Fridayy
Leon Thomas
Teddy Swims
The Weeknd
Usher
Best Group
41
Common & Pete Rock
Drake & PartyNextDoor
FLO
Future & Metro Boomin - WINNER
Jacquees & Dej Loaf
Larry June, 2 Chainz, The Alchemist
Maverick City Music
Best Collaboration
'30 For 30' - SZA Feat. Kendrick Lamar
'Alter Ego' - Doechii Feat. JT
'Are You Even Real' - Teddy Swims Feat. Givēon
'Beckham' - Dee Billz Feat. Kyle Richh, Kai Swervo, Kj Swervo
'Bless' - Lil Wayne, Wheezy & Young Thug
'Like That' - Future & Metro Boomin & Kendrick Lamar
'Luther' - Kendrick Lamar & SZA - WINNER
'Sticky' - Tyler, the Creator Feat. GloRilla, Sexyy Red & Lil Wayne
'Timeless' - The Weeknd Feat. Playboi Carti
Best Female Hip Hop Artist
Cardi B
Doechii - WINNER
Doja Cat
GloRilla
Latto
Megan Thee Stallion
Nicki Minaj
Rapsody
Sexyy Red
Best 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
'3AM in ToKEYo' - Key Glock
'A Bar Song (Tipsy)' - Shaboozey
'After Hours' - Kehlani
'Denial Is A River' - Doechii
'Family Matters' - Drake
'Not Like Us' - Kendrick Lamar - WINNER
'Timeless' - The Weeknd Feat. Playboi Carti
'Type Shit' - Future, Metro Boomin, Travis Scott & Playboi Carti
Video Director of the Year
Anderson .Paak
B Pace Productions & Jacquees
Benny Boom
Cactus Jack
Cole Bennett
Dave Free & Kendrick Lamar - WINNER
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/Inspirational Award
'A God (There Is)' - Common & Pete Rock Feat. Jennifer Hudson
'Amen' - Pastor Mike Jr.
'Better Days' - Fridayy
'Church Doors (Terry Hunter Remix)' - Yolanda Adams Feat. Sir The Baptist & Donald Lawrence
'Constant' - Maverick City Music, Jordin Sparks, Chandler Moore & Anthony Gargiula
'Deserve To Win' - Tamela Mann
'Faith' - Rapsody
'Rain Down on Me' - GloRilla Feat. Kirk Franklin, Maverick City Music - WINNER
Viewer's Choice Award
'Residuals' - Chris Brown - WINNER
'Denial Is A River' - Doechii
'Nokia' - Drake
'Like That' - Future & Metro Boomin Feat. Kendrick Lamar
'TGIF' - GloRilla
'Not Like Us' - Kendrick Lamar
'Luther' - Kendrick Lamar & SZA
'Brokey' - Latto
Best International Act
Any Gabrielly (Brazil)
Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
Bashy (United Kingdom)
Black Sherif (Ghana)
Ezra Collective (United Kingdom)
Joé Dwèt Filé (France)
Mc Luanna (Brazil)
Rema (Nigeria)
Sdm (France)
Tyla (South Africa)
Uncle Waffles (Swaziland)
Best New International Act
Abigail Chams (Tanzania)
Ajuliacosta (Brazil)
Amabbi (Brazil)
Dlala Thukzin (South Africa)
Dr Yaro (France)
kwn (United Kingdom)
Maglera Doe Boy (South Africa)
Merveille (France)
Odeal (United Kingdom)
Shallipopi (Nigeria)
TxC (South Africa)
BET Her
'Beautiful People' - Mary J. Blige
'Blackbiird' - Beyoncé Feat. Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy & Reyna Roberts
'Bloom' - Doechii
'Burning' - Tems
'Defying Gravity' - Cynthia Erivo Feat. Ariana Grande
'Heart of a Woman' - Summer Walker - WINNER
'Hold On' - Tems
'In My Bag' FLO & GloRilla
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
Best Actor
Aaron Pierre
Aldis Hodge
Anthony Mackie
Colman Domingo
Denzel Washington - WINNER
Jamie Foxx
Joey Bada$
Kevin Hart
Sterling K. Brown
Will Smith
Best 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

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