BET announced today that entertainment legends Mariah Carey, the best-selling female artist of all time, Jamie Foxx, the Oscar, Grammy, Golden Globe, and BAFTA-winning entertainer, Kirk Franklin, gospel superstar and 20-time Grammy Award winner, and Snoop Dogg, the iconic rapper, producer, and entrepreneurwill all be honored with the BET Ultimate Icon Award, celebrating their decades of groundbreaking contributions to music, entertainment, advocacy, and community impact.
Hosted by Kevin Hart, Culture’s Biggest Night, “BET Awards” 2025, will air LIVE on Tuesday, June 10, at 01: 00am WAT on BET DStv Channel 129 and GOtv Channel 21.
Mariah Carey is an author, entrepreneur, philanthropist, producer, and multiple award-winning artist and songwriter.
She is the best-selling female artist of all time with more than 200 million albums sold to date and 19 Billboard Hot 100 #1 singles (18 of which are self-penned) – more than any solo artist in history.
With her distinct five-octave vocal range, prolific songwriting, and producing talent, Carey is truly the template of the modern pop performance.
The GRAMMY® Award winner recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of her iconic, multi-platinum 10th album, The Emancipation of Mimi. The 7x platinum #1 album includes her hits like “Don’t Forget About Us,” “Circles,” “Say Somethin’,” “Your Girl,” and “We Belong Together.”
Jamie Foxx is an award-winning actor, singer, and comedian. Foxx most recently starred in Back in Action opposite Cameron Diaz. The film has reached top 10 most popular of all time for Netflix.
Additionally, his highly anticipated Netflix special, What Had Happened Was… debuted at #1 on the platform last December.
Foxx has turned his magnetic personality and unparalleled comedic instinct into a multimedia empire under his Foxxhole Productions banner with projects including Number One on the Call Sheet, a two-part documentary film event celebrating the groundbreaking Black artists of Hollywood, ALERT: Missing Persons Unit for Fox, plus unscripted projects Beat Shazam, with his daughter, Corinne Foxx, and We Are Family, with hosts Anthony Anderson and his mother, Doris.
A native of Fort Worth, Texas, Kirk Franklin is a 20-time GRAMMY® Award-winning artist, songwriter, producer, and music icon.
For over three decades, he has been a transformative force in contemporary Gospel Music, masterfully blending Gospel, R&B, Hip-Hop, and Pop to create a unique, enduring sound that resonates across generations.
Known as one of the most impactful and innovative figures in modern music, Franklin continues to expand the reach of Gospel Music, redefining its place in mainstream culture.
An entertainment industry mogul, Snoop Dogg has reigned for nearly three decades as an unparalleled force, consistently raising the bar as a globally recognized innovator.
Snoop is a multi-platinum rapper, singer, songwriter, actor, record producer, DJ, media personality, businessman, and icon.
Throughout his storied music career, Snoop has released 21 studio albums, sold more than 40 million albums worldwide, reached #1 countless times on Billboard charts internationally, and received 20 Grammy Award nominations.
In 2025, Snoop Dogg was recognized among the 100 Most Influential People by TIME Magazine.
Previous Ultimate Icon Award recipients include Janet Jackson (2015), Deborah L. Lee (2018), and Tyler Perry (2019).
As previously announced, Lil Wayne, Teyana Taylor, GloRilla, Playboi Carti, and Leon Thomas will perform at “BET Awards” 2025.
Kendrick Lamar leads “BET Awards” 2025 nominations with ten, Doechii, Drake, Future and GloRilla are tied with six nominations, Metro Boomin earned five nominations, and SZA and The Weeknd are tied with four nominations each.
BET also previously announced that it will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the legendary music video countdown show 106 & Park with a must-see tribute.
Beloved former hosts AJ Calloway, Free Marie Wright, Julissa Bermudez, Keshia Chanté, Rocsi Diaz, and Terrence J will reunite on stage for a nostalgic celebration.
The tribute will feature timeline-shattering performances from previous host and Mr. 106 & Park, Bow Wow, Amerie, B2K, Jim Jones, Mya, T.I., and more, bringing back the culture-defining energy, music, and moments of the history-making franchise.
Expect more exciting announcements, including more iconic performers in our star-studded lineup. Culture’s Biggest Week returns with BET Experience 2025 (BETX), two days of immersive fan-focused events on Thursday, June 7, and Sunday, June 8, ahead of “BET Awards” 2025.
