At a star-studded ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of the BET Awards, Kendrick Lamar, SZA, and Chris Brown emerged as standout winners in music’s biggest night for Black culture.
Kendrick Lamar led the evening with four major wins—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 “Luther.” Despite being tied for most nominations this year, Lamar accepted his awards remotely while on tour.
SZA affirmed her dominance in R&B by claiming Best Female R&B/Pop Artist. She also teamed up with Lamar to snag Best Collaboration for “Luther,” proving her versatility across genres .
Chris Brown claimed Best Male R&B/Pop Artist and won the Viewers’ Choice Award for his hit single “Residuals” from 11:11 (Deluxe)—a testament to his enduring popularity and strong fan support .
Other notable wins included Leon Thomas as Best New Artist, Doechii for Best Female Hip-Hop Artist, and Future & Metro Boomin as Best Group.
The awards also celebrated film and acting talent, honoring Cynthia Erivo as Best Actress, Denzel Washington as Best Actor, and recognizing Luther: Never Too Much as Best Movie.
The Ultimate Icon Awards paid tribute to legends Mariah Carey, Jamie Foxx, Snoop Dogg, and Kirk Franklin, while Angel Reese and Jalen Hurts were named Sportswoman and Sportsman of the Year, respectively.
The show, hosted by Kevin Hart at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, also featured powerful social commentary. Rapper Doechii used her acceptance speech to highlight government response to civil rights protests.
The night was a celebration of both established icons and breakthrough talent, showcasing the vibrancy and influence of Black excellence across music, film, television, and sports.
Key Winners at a Glance
- Album of the Year: GNX – Kendrick Lamar
- Best Male Hip-Hop Artist: Kendrick Lamar
- Best Female R&B/Pop Artist: SZA
- Best Male R&B/Pop Artist: Chris Brown
- Best Collaboration: “Luther” – Kendrick Lamar & SZA
- Best New Artist: Leon Thomas
- Sportswoman of the Year: Angel Reese
- Sportsman of the Year: Jalen Hurts
