SZA, Chris Brown, and Doechii Among Night’s Big Winners as Denzel Washington and Cynthia Erivo Shine in Acting Categories
The 2025 BET Awards brought Hollywood and hip-hop’s brightest stars to Los Angeles’ Peacock Theater on Monday night, with comedian Kevin Hart keeping the energy high as host. Kendrick Lamar emerged as the evening’s biggest victor, taking home four awards—including Album of the Year for GNX and Video of the Year for his explosive diss track “Not Like Us.”
Lamar’s dominance didn’t stop there—he also claimed Best Male Hip-Hop Artist, tied for Video Director of the Year with Dave Free, and won Best Collaboration alongside SZA for “Luther.” SZA herself snagged Best Female R&B/Pop Artist, while Chris Brown continued his reign as Best Male R&B/Pop Artist. Rising stars also had their moment, with Doechii winning Best Female Hip-Hop Artist and Leon Thomas earning Best New Artist.
In the acting categories, legends Denzel Washington (Best Actor) and Cynthia Erivo (Best Actress) took top honors, while Angel Reese and Jalen Hurts triumphed in the sports categories. The night also celebrated fan favorites, with Chris Brown’s “Residuals” winning the Viewer’s Choice Award and GloRilla’s “Rain Down on Me” (featuring Kirk Franklin and Maverick City Music) claiming Best Gospel/Inspiration Award.
Full List of 2025 BET Awards Winners
Album of the Year
Kendrick Lamar – GNX (WINNER)
Drake & PartyNextDoor – $Some $Sexy $Songs 4 U
Chris Brown – 11:11 Deluxe
Doechii – Alligator Bites Never Heal
Beyoncé – Cowboy Carter
GloRilla – Glorious
The Weeknd – Hurry Up Tomorrow
Future & Metro Boomin – We Don’t Trust You
Best Female R&B/Pop Artist
SZA (WINNER)
Ari Lennox
Ayra Starr
Coco Jones
Kehlani
Muni Long
Summer Walker
Victoria Monét
Best Male R&B/Pop Artist
Chris Brown (WINNER)
Bruno Mars
Drake
Fridayy
Leon Thomas
Teddy Swims
The Weeknd
Usher
Best Group
Future & Metro Boomin (WINNER)
41
Common & Pete Rock
Drake & PartyNextDoor
FLO
Jaquees & Dej Loaf
Larry June, 2 Chainz & The Alchemist
Maverick City Music
Best Collaboration
Kendrick Lamar & SZA – “Luther” (WINNER)
SZA ft. Kendrick Lamar – “30 For 30”
Doechii ft. JT – “Alter Ego”
Teddy Swims ft. Giveon – “Are You Even Real”
Dee Billz ft. Kyle Richh, Kai Swervo, KJ Swervo & Beckham – “Bless”
Future, Metro Boomin & Kendrick Lamar – “Like That”
Tyler, The Creator ft. GloRilla, Sexxy Red & Lil Wayne – “Sticky”
The Weeknd ft. Playboi Carti – “Timeless”
Best Female Hip-Hop Artist
Doechii (WINNER)
Cardi B
Doja Cat
GloRilla
Latto
Megan Thee Stallion
Nicki Minaj
Rapsody
Sexxy Red
Best Male Hip-Hop Artist
Kendrick Lamar (WINNER)
BigXThaPlug
BossMan Dlow
Burna Boy
Drake
Future
Key Glock
Lil Wayne
Tyler, The Creator
Video of the Year
Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us” (WINNER)
Key Glock – “3AM in ToKEYo”
Shaboozey – “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”
Kehlani – “After Hours”
Doechii – “Denial is a River”
Drake – “Family Matters”
The Weeknd ft. Playboi Carti – “Timeless”
Future, Metro Boomin, Travis Scott & Playboi Carti – “Type Shit”
Video Director of the Year
Dave Free & Kendrick Lamar (WINNER)
Anderson .Paak
B Pace Productions & Jacquees
Benny Boom
Cactus Jack
Cole Bennett
Dave Meyers
Foggieraw
Tyler, The Creator
Best New Artist
Leon Thomas (WINNER)
41
Ayra Starr
BigXThaPlug
BossMan Dlow
Dee Billz
October London
Shaboozey
Teddy Swims
Best Gospel/Inspiration Award
GloRilla ft. Kirk Franklin & Maverick City Music – “Rain Down on Me” (WINNER)
Common & Pete Rock ft. Jennifer Hudson – “A God (There Is)”
Pastor Mike Jr. – “Amen”
Fridayy – “Better Days”
Yolanda Adams ft. Sir The Baptist & Donald Lawrence – “Church Doors (Terry Hunter Remix)”
Maverick City Music, Jordin Sparks, Chandler Moore & Anthony Gargiula – “Constant”
Tamela Mann – “Deserve to Win”
Rapsody – “Faith”
Viewer’s Choice Award
Chris Brown – “Residuals” (WINNER)
Doechii – “Denial is a River”
Drake – “Nokia”
Future & Metro Boomin ft. Kendrick Lamar – “Like That”
GloRilla – “TGIF”
Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us”
Kendrick Lamar & SZA – “Luther”
Latto – “Brokey”
BET Her
Summer Walker – “Heart of a Woman” (WINNER)
Mary J. Blige – “Beautiful People”
Beyoncé ft. Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy & Reyna Roberts – “Blackbird”
Doechii – “Bloom”
Tems – “Burning”
Cynthia Erivo ft. Ariana Grande – “Defying Gravity”
Tems – “Hold On”
FLO & GloRilla – “In My Bag”
Best Movie
Luther: Never Too Much (WINNER)
Bad Boys: Ride or Die
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F
Mufasa: The Lion King
One of Them Days
Rebel Ridge
The Piano Lesson
The Six Triple Eight
Best Actor
Denzel Washington (WINNER)
Aaron Pierre
Aldis Hodge
Anthony Mackie
Colman Domingo
Jamie Foxx
Joey Bada$$
Kevin Hart
Sterling K. Brown
Will Smith
Best Actress
Cynthia Erivo (WINNER)
Andra Day
Angela Bassett
Coco Jones
Keke Palmer
Kerry Washington
Quinta Brunson
Viola Davis
Zendaya
Youngstars Award
Blue Ivy Carter (WINNER)
Akira Akbar
Graceyn “Gracie” Hollingsworth
Heiress Harris
Melody Hurd
Thaddeus J. Mixson
Tyrik Johnson
VanVan
Sportswoman of the Year
Angel Reese (WINNER)
A’ja Wilson
Claressa Shields
Coco Gauff
Dawn Staley
Flau’Jae Johnson
Juju Watkins
Sha’Carri Richardson
Simone Biles
Sportsman of the Year
Jalen Hurts (WINNER)
Aaron Judge
Anthony Edwards
Deion Sanders
Jayson Tatum
LeBron James
Saquon Barkley
Stephen Curry
The 2025 BET Awards proved once again why it remains one of music and entertainment’s most electrifying nights—celebrating Black excellence across genres, generations, and industries.
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