BET Awards winners LIVE updates: The 25th Black Entertainment Television Awards went live on Monday night from the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles. The musical affair especially served as a millennial resurgence with numerous showbiz icons from the late ’90s and early 2000s stealing the spotlight. Packing in nostalgia to the max, the show transported audiences back to the old golden days as Kevin Hart returned as host for the second time.

25th BET Awards become ‘Millennials’ night’

Kicking off the 2025 BET Awards, an Ashanti-opening act was followed by major appearances by Amerie, Jim Jones, Mya, Keyshia Cole and B2K. Even the retired icon T.I made an exception on Monday night by bringing back trap hits like “Bring Em Out” and “What You Know.”

The Y2K TV show 106 & Park co-hosts Terrence J, Free and Julissa Bermudez also hit the stage in a major reunion moment to celebrate Culture’s Biggest Night’s 25 years and its consequential role in boosting careers of many like them. Moreover, Babyface, Ludacris, Tank, Craig Robinson, Jennifer Hudson, Doug E Fresh and T-Pain made the night their own during a heartfelt sequence dedicated to Jamie Foxx.

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Two years after coming out healthy and well from his stroke and subsequent coma, the Hollywood superstar was presented the Ultimate Icon title by Stevie Wonder. Others to take home the same honour were Mariah Carey, Snoop Dogg and Kirk Franklin.

On the side of the nominations pool, Kendrick Lamar led the way with 10 nods, including Album of the Year and Best Male Hip Hop Artist. Doechii, Future, Drake and GloRilla come in after him with six nominations each, followed by Metro Boomin at five and The Weeknd and SZA at four each.

BET Awards speech: Doechii calls out Trump amid LA protests

As Doechii came out on top as the Best Female R&B/Pop Artist of the night, she used the platform to voice her thoughts on Los Angeles immigration protests and President Donald Trump.

Feeling a “responsibility as an artist,” she said during her acceptance speech, “I do want to address what’s happening right now, outside the building. These are ruthless attacks that are creating fear and chaos in our communities. In the name of law and order, Trump is using military forces to stop a protest, and I want you all to consider what kind of government it appears to be — when every time we exercise our democratic right to protest, the military is deployed against us.

She also took the chance to speak out for “all oppressed people, for Black people, for Latino people, for trans people, for the people in Gaza.” She went on to say, “What type of government is that? People are being swept up and torn from their families? We all deserve to live in hope and not in fear. And I hope we stand together my brothers and my sisters against hate and we protest against it.”

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2025 BET Awards winners list

  • Album of the Year: “GNX” by Kendrick Lamar
  • Best Female R&B/Pop Artist: SZA
  • Best Male R&B/Pop Artist: Chris Brown
  • Best Female Hip Hop Artist: Doechii
  • Best Male Hip Hop Artist: Kendrick Lamar
  • Best New Artist: Leon Thomas
  • Viewer’s Choice Award: “Residuals” by Chris Brown
  • Best International Act: Ajulicosta from Brazil
  • BET Her: “Heart of a Woman” by Summer Walker
  • Best Group: Future and Metro Boomin
  • Best Collaboration: “Luther” by Kendrick Lamar and SZA
  • Video of the Year: Dave Free and Kendrick Lamar
  • Dr Bobby Jones Best Gospel, Inspiration Award: GloRilla ft Kirk Franklin, Maverick City Music, Rain Down on Me
  • Best Movie: Luther: Never Too Much
  • Best Actor: Denzel Washington
  • Best Actress: Cynthia Erivo
  • Youngstars Award: Blue Ivy Carter
  • Sportsman of the Year: Jalen Hurts
  • Sportswoman of the Year: Angel Reese