The 2026 BET Awards air this Sunday, June 28 - and with one of the strongest Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award lineups in years, there's no better time to look back at what this category has meant to faith and music since the very beginning.
1. It started in 2001 - and Donnie McClurkin won first.
Gospel legend Donnie McClurkin won the inaugural trophy in 2001, beating out Yolanda Adams, Kirk Franklin, Mary Mary, and Hezekiah Walker. He took it home again in 2005.
2. Kirk Franklin holds the all-time record - by a lot.
Kirk Franklin currently holds the record for this category with seven wins. He first won in 2006 and has continued winning across decades, making him the undisputed king of the gospel stage at the BET Awards.
3. Yolanda Adams is the most decorated woman in the category's history.
Yolanda Adams holds the record for most wins for a female artist in this category, with four - receiving her first in 2002 and earning two more the following consecutive years before winning again in 2012.
4. The award was renamed to honor a TV pioneer.
Originally called Best Gospel Artist from 2001 to 2016, the award was renamed in 2017 to the Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award, honoring the gospel television pioneer and broadening recognition to include inspirational works beyond strict gospel conventions.
5. Snoop Dogg won it - yes, really.
In 2019, West Coast rap legend Snoop Dogg earned the award for "Blessing Me Again," off his gospel album Bible of Love - marking his unexpected entry into the faith music space. Few moments in BET Awards history surprised gospel fans more.
6. The 2025 win sparked the biggest debate in the category's history.
GloRilla's 2025 win for "Rain Down on Me," featuring Kirk Franklin and Maverick City Music, marked a pivotal moment - she was the first non-traditional gospel artist to claim the honor, sparking an industry debate about genre boundaries that is still ongoing.
7. This Sunday's category may be the most competitive yet.
The 2026 nominees include Kirk Franklin's "Able" and "Do It Again," BeBe Winans' "All to Thee," CeCe Winans' "At the Cross," Tasha Cobbs Leonard's "Already Good (Tasha Slide)" and "Church" with John Legend, Darrel Walls, PJ Morton and Kim Burrell's "Able (Remix)," and Lecrae's "Headphones" with Killer Mike and T.I. - a field that spans gospel royalty, hip-hop crossover, and a historic first-time nomination from Christian rapper Miles Minnick.
The BET Awards air live Sunday, June 28 at 8 PM ET/PT on BET. Whoever takes the trophy, the gospel category has always been the moment that reminds everyone in that room - and watching at home - that faith and music were never meant to be separated.
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