Rapper GloRilla surprises audiences by winning the BET Award for Best Gospel/ Inspirational song- Is it time for a reset?
- Rodney Sanders
- Jun 14
- 2 min read
Memphis rapper, GloRilla, stunned audience by winning the Bobby Jones BET Award for Best Gospel/Inspirational song.
She won for the song “Rain Down on Me,” which featured Kirk Franklin and Maverick City Music. It was her first BET Award win.
After winning the gospel award, GloRilla thanked God "since it was for a gospel award."
In interviews, GloRilla revealed that she was raised in the church. Nevertheless, she's probably best known for provocative hits like “FNF, Let’s Go and "Tomorrow 2".
“Rain Down On Me” is a single off GloRilla’s debut album, Glorious, which dropped in 2024. She'd collaborated with a number of previous artists, including rappers Cardi B and Latto.
By winning, GloRilla beat out a number of notable gospel stalwarts, including Pastor Mike Jr., Yolanda Adams, Maverick City Music, and Tamela Mann.
Last year in 2024, Nigerian female Afrobeats singer/rapper, Tems, won for the BET Award for Best Gospel/Inspirational Song for "Me & U."
The current win by GloRilla and prior win by TEMS have unleashed a fierce debate concerning who is recognized and awarded for gospel music (and who is not).
The question becomes: Is there a musical "gentrification" by non-gospel artists, thereby displacing artists with a commitment to the genre and with a commitment to spreading the good news of Christ.
One of the issues is that when a non-gospel music artist features a gospel musician (like a Kirk Franklin), oftentimes, the non-gospel singer produces just one gospel single, never to return to the genre.
However, when a gospel artist features a non-gospel artist, he or she is able to expand his or her audience, while continuing his or her commitment to the genre and Christ-centric messaging.
Gospel music legend, Deitrick Haddon, has publicly taken issue with GloRilla's win.
In an Instagram post, Haddon stated that gospel music is in need of an "overhaul." He went on to lament, "After last night's show [the 2025 BET Awards show], it's an indicator that we just need a complete reset."
He went on to say, "It's hard for us to watch the Bobby Jones Gospel Award being given to somebody that's not in our space."
In this political environment where unfettered hate has been unleashed and empathy has been diminished, people are searching for and longing for God.
However, politicians embracing religion as a performance tactic to skirt questioning and justify reckless policies have heightened sensitivity around religious authenticity.
Gospel and Christian music remain the melodic art form by which artists communicate the good news of Christ. However, it comes as no surprise at this junction in time that people are beginning to question the motivates and source from which such music emanates.
The 2025 Stellar Gospel Music Award nominees have been announced! Check out who made the list!
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