Jamie Foxx honored with BET Ultimate Icon Award was a highlight at the 2025 BET Awards, an event held Monday night at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles and hosted by Kevin Hart. With star power from music, film, and sports, the ceremony gathered prominent artists, actors, and athletes to celebrate Black excellence and creativity across entertainment industries.
Spotlight on Nominees and Performers at Culture’s Biggest Night
The 25th BET Awards reaffirmed its place as a top platform for recognizing talent and impactful work, with Jamie Foxx, Mariah Carey, Snoop Dogg, and Kirk Franklin each honored with the Ultimate Icon Award for their enduring influence in music, entertainment, advocacy, and community service. As the event unfolded, Kendrick Lamar stood out with ten nominations, headlining in categories such as Album of the Year for “GNX,” Video of the Year, Viewer’s Choice, Best Collaboration, Video Director of the Year, and Best Male Hip Hop Artist.
Following Lamar were top contenders like Doechii, Drake, Future, and GloRilla, each earning six nominations. Metro Boomin received five nominations, while SZA and The Weeknd had four each. The energetic atmosphere was further heightened by the diversity of categories and the cross-section of musical genres, from R&B and hip hop to gospel and international acts.
Competitive Fields Across Music, Movies, and Sports
This year’s Album of the Year nominees featured notable projects including Chris Brown’s “11:11 (Deluxe),” Doechii’s “Alligator Bites Never Heal,” Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter,” GloRilla’s “Glorious,” The Weeknd’s “Hurry Up Tomorrow,” “Some Sexy Songs 4 U” by Drake and PartyNextDoor, and “We Don’t Trust You” from Future and Metro Boomin, in addition to Kendrick Lamar’s acclaimed “GNX.”
The video categories also showcased remarkable creativity. Video of the Year nominees included Key Glock’s “3AM in Tokeyo,” Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” Kehlani’s “After Hours,” Doechii’s “Denial Is a River,” Drake’s “Family Matters,” Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us,” The Weeknd featuring Playboi Carti’s “Timeless,” and “Type Shit” by Future and Metro Boomin with Travis Scott and Playboi Carti.
Viewer’s Choice, always a crowd favorite, offered entries like “Residuals” by Chris Brown, “Denial Is a River” by Doechii, “Nokia” from Drake, and collaborative efforts such as “Like That” by Future and Metro Boomin with Kendrick Lamar, and “Luther,” their joint project featuring SZA, plus fresh voices like Brokey by Latto and “TGIF” by GloRilla.
Celebrities Recognized for Collaborations and Artistic Direction
The BET Awards are known for spotlighting celebrated collaborations. Among the nominees for Best Collaboration were SZA with Kendrick Lamar on “30 for 30,” Doechii and JT on “Alter Ego,” Teddy Swims and Giveon for “Are You Even Real,” Dee Billz with Kyle Richh, Kai Swervo, and KJ Swervo for “Beckham,” and notable team-ups like Future and Metro Boomin with Kendrick Lamar for “Like That.” Other partnerships in consideration included “Luther” by Kendrick Lamar and SZA, “Sticky” with Tyler, the Creator, GloRilla, Sexyy Red, and Lil Wayne, and The Weeknd’s “Timeless” featuring Playboi Carti.
Video Director of the Year nominations reflected outstanding vision with contenders such as Anderson .Paak, B Pace Productions and Jacquees, Benny Boom, Cactus Jack, Cole Bennett, Dave Free and Kendrick Lamar, Dave Meyers, Foggieraw, and Tyler, the Creator.
Film and Acting Categories Highlight Diverse Talent
In film, the Best Movie category featured a varied lineup, from blockbusters to thoughtful dramas: “Bad Boys: Ride or Die,” “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F,” “Luther: Never Too Much,” Disney’s “Mufasa: The Lion King,” “One of Them Days,” “Rebel Ridge,” “The Piano Lesson,” and “The Six Triple Eight.”
The acting awards included a strong roster of talents. Best Actor nominees listed Aaron Pierre, Aldis Hodge, Anthony Mackie, Colman Domingo, Denzel Washington, Jamie Foxx, Joey Bada$$, Kevin Hart, Sterling K. Brown, and Will Smith, providing a field where both legends and rising stars stood side by side. In the Best Actress category, contenders were Andra Day, Angela Bassett, Coco Jones, Cynthia Erivo, Keke Palmer, Kerry Washington, Quinta Brunson, Viola Davis, and Zendaya.
More Honors Across Music, International Acts, and Sports
The awards encompassed a full range of genres and achievements. Best Male R&B/Pop Artist nominees included Bruno Mars, Chris Brown, Drake, Fridayy, Leon Thomas III, Teddy Swims, The Weeknd, and Usher. Best Female R&B/Pop Artist featured Ari Lennox, Ayra Starr, Coco Jones, Kehlani, Muni Long, Summer Walker, SZA, and Victoria Monét.
For hip hop, Doechii won the Best Female Hip Hop Artist award amidst competitors like Cardi B, Doja Cat, GloRilla, Latto, Megan Thee Stallion, Nicki Minaj, Rapsody, and Sexyy Red. The Best Male Hip Hop Artist lineup included BigXthaPlug, Bossman Dlow, Burna Boy, Drake, Future, Kendrick Lamar, Key Glock, Lil Wayne, and Tyler, the Creator.
Younger talent was uplifted as well, with the Young Stars Award considering Akira Akbar, Blue Ivy Carter, Graceyn “Gracie” Hollingsworth, Heiress Harris, Melody Hurd, Thaddeus J. Mixson, Tyrik Johnson, and Vanvan for their promising contributions in entertainment. Best New Artist nominees included 41, Ayra Starr, BigXthaPlug, Bossman Dlow, Dee Billz, Leon Thomas III, October London, Shaboozey, and Teddy Swims.
Globally, the Best International Act category included stars like Any Gabrielly of Brazil, Ayra Starr of Nigeria, Bashy and Ezra Collective from the United Kingdom, Black Sherif from Ghana, Joé Dwèt Filé from France, Mc Luanna from Brazil, Rema from Nigeria, Sdm from France, Tyla from South Africa, and Uncle Waffles from Swaziland.
Recognition in sports went to leading athletes with Sportsperson of the Year nominees like A’ja Wilson, Angel Reese, Claressa Shields, Coco Gauff, Dawn Staley, Flau’jae Johnson, JuJu Watkins, Sha’Carri Richardson, and Simone Biles among women, and Aaron Judge, Anthony Edwards, Deion Sanders, Jalen Hurts, Jayson Tatum, LeBron James, Saquon Barkley, and Stephen Curry among men.
Full List of 2025 BET Awards Winners and Nominees
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
11:11 (Deluxe) — Chris Brown
Alligator Bites Never Heal — Doechii
Cowboy Carter — Beyoncé
Glorious — GloRilla
GNX — Kendrick Lamar
Hurry Up Tomorrow — The Weeknd
Some Sexy Songs 4 U — Drake and PartyNextDoor
We Don’t Trust You — Future and Metro Boomin
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
Timeless — The Weeknd featuring Playboi Carti
Type Shit — Future and Metro Boomin featuring Travis Scott and Playboi Carti
VIEWER’S CHOICE AWARD
Residuals — Chris Brown
Denial Is a River — Doechii
Nokia — Drake
Like That — Future and Metro Boomin featuring Kendrick Lamar
TGIF — GloRilla
Not Like Us — Kendrick Lamar
Luther — Kendrick Lamar featuring SZA
Brokey — Latto
BEST COLLABORATION
30 for 30 — SZA featuring Kendrick Lamar
Alter Ego — Doechii featuring JT
Are You Even Real — Teddy Swims featuring Giveon
Beckham — Dee Billz featuring Kyle Richh, Kai Swervo and KJ Swervo
Bless — Lil Wayne, Wheezy and Young Thug
Like That — Future and Metro Boomin featuring Kendrick Lamar
Luther — Kendrick Lamar featuring SZA
Sticky — Tyler, the Creator featuring GloRilla, Sexyy Red and Lil Wayne
Timeless — The Weeknd featuring Playboi Carti
BEST MALE R&B/POP ARTIST
Bruno Mars
Chris Brown
Drake
Fridayy
Leon Thomas III
Teddy Swims
The Weeknd
Usher
BEST FEMALE R&B/POP ARTIST
Ari Lennox
Ayra Starr
Coco Jones
Kehlani
Muni Long
Summer Walker
SZA
Victoria Monét
BEST FEMALE HIP HOP ARTIST
Cardi B
[WINNER] — Doechii
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
Key Glock
Lil Wayne
Tyler, the Creator
BEST NEW ARTIST
41
Ayra Starr
BigXthaPlug
Bossman Dlow
Dee Billz
Leon Thomas III
October London
Shaboozey
Teddy Swims
BEST GROUP
41
Common and Pete Rock
Drake and PartyNextDoor
Flo
Future and Metro Boomin
Jacquees and Dej Loaf
Larry June, 2 Chainz and the Alchemist
Maverick City Music
BET HER AWARD
Beautiful People — Mary J. Blige
Blackbiird — Beyoncé
Bloom — Doechii
Defying Gravity — Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande
Heart of a Woman — Summer Walker
Hold On — Tems
In My Bag — Flo and GloRilla
VIDEO DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
Anderson .Paak
B Pace Productions and Jacquees
Benny Boom
Cactus Jack
Cole Bennett
Dave Free and Kendrick Lamar
Dave Meyers
Foggieraw
Tyler, the Creator
BEST GOSPEL/INSPIRATIONAL AWARD
A God (There Is) — Common and Pete Rock Feat. Jennifer Hudson
Amen — Pastor Mike Jr.
Better Days — Fridayy
Church Doors — Yolanda Adams Feat. Sir The Baptist and Donald Lawrence (Terry Hunter Remix)
Constant — Maverick City Music, Jordin Sparks, Chandler Moore and Anthony Gargiula
Deserve to Win — Tamela Mann
Faith — Rapsody
Rain Down on Me — Glorilla Feat. Kirk Franklin, Maverick City Music
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)
BEST MOVIE
Bad Boys: Ride or Die
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F
Luther: Never Too Much
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
Jamie Foxx
Joey Bada$$
Kevin Hart
Sterling K. Brown
Will Smith
BEST ACTRESS
Andra Day
Angela Bassett
Coco Jones
Cynthia Erivo
Keke Palmer
Kerry Washington
Quinta Brunson
Viola Davis
Zendaya
YOUNG STARS AWARD
Akira Akbar
Blue Ivy Carter
Graceyn “Gracie” Hollingsworth
Heiress Harris
Melody Hurd
Thaddeus J. Mixson
Tyrik Johnson
Vanvan
SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR
A’ja Wilson
Angel Reese
Claressa Shields
Coco Gauff
Dawn Staley
Flau’jae Johnson
JuJu Watkins
Sha’Carri Richardson
Simone Biles
SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR
Aaron Judge
Anthony Edwards
Deion Sanders
Jalen Hurts
Jayson Tatum
LeBron James
Saquon Barkley
Stephen Curry
The Legacy and Impact of the BET Awards
The 2025 BET Awards not only paid tribute to established stars like Jamie Foxx, who was honored with the BET Ultimate Icon Award, but also fostered the next generation of artists and athletes. Recognizing both achievement and cultural influence, the ceremony put a spotlight on the talents, stories, and communities shaping music, film, and sports today. With a diverse group of winners and nominees, and a host of meaningful collaborations, the BET Awards continue to play a vital role in uplifting and profiling Black creativity on a global stage. As this influential event returns each year, anticipation for new achievements and breakthroughs is sure to remain high.
