The energy before the show even began was nothing short of spectacular. Celebs brought major heat:
- GloRilla served lace-up bustier chic.
- Doechii stunned in a whimsical Miu Miu two-piece with floral sandals.
- Ciara channeled street glam in a fringe mini and Atlanta Braves cap.
- Ashanti, Keke Palmer, Muni Long – each stepped out strong in bold, unforgettable ensembles .
Star-Studded Performances That Lit Up the Stage
The Peacock Theater transformed into a live wire of emotion and celebration:
- “106 & Park” Reunion – Ashanti, Mya, B2K, Bow Wow, and more kicked off the night with nostalgia and unity .
- GloRilla cooked up the crowd with a kitchen set performance of “Let Her Cook”—a moment that had us on our feet .
- Lil Wayne, Teyana Taylor, Playboi Carti, Leon Thomas III, and others brought fire energy like only the BET Awards can deliver
✨ Icon Honors & Tear‑jerking Moments
The ICON award segment was emotional and powerful:
- Jamie Foxx, moving recipient of the Ultimate Icon award, got emotional recounting his 2023 stroke recovery .
- Mariah Carey accepted her first BET Award—owning her journey with a message of self-acceptance .
- Snoop Dogg and Kirk Franklin reflected on legacy, purpose, and faith—bringing deep vibes to the stage
🔥 Tyler Perry’s Stand-Up‑For‑Us Moment
Before Ledisi’s tribute performance, Tyler Perry took the mic and went in, dropping some of the most profound lines of the night:
“They are removing our books from libraries, they are removing our stories … as if someone wants to erase our footprints. … But the truth of the matter, it’s impossible to erase our footprints because we left them on water.”
Then, in a mic drop moment:
“I have made more Black billionaires … than any studio in this city combined. … So if you have a dream, keep making footprints. Don’t let anybody stop you.” It was like he performed because we was outta our seat the entire time he spoke!
The Wins That Made History
Here are the moments that took home huge wins and spotlighted culture in action:
- Kendrick Lamar claimed 5 awards, including Album of the Year (GNX) and Video of the Year (“Not Like Us”) — cementing his place as a lyrical heavyweight who never misses.
- Doechii earned Best Female Hip Hop Artist—and shook the room with a fearless speech calling out Trump and standing strong for immigration and human rights.
- SZA took home Best Female R&B/Pop Artist and Best Collaboration with Kendrick for “Luther”—a testament to the power of vulnerability, soul, and sonic magic.
- Mariah Carey received the Ultimate Icon Award—and in a surprising twist, it was her first-ever BET Award. Her emotional acceptance reminded the world why she remains a timeless voice and a true legend in the game
In the end, BET Awards 2025 was one of the best! We saw it, we lived it, and we celebrated every look, every lyric, every legacy. The culture won—again!
