Gospel artist and pastor Deitrick Haddon is speaking out after rapper GloRilla was awarded the Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award at the 2025 BET Awards—a move that’s stirred up debate across the gospel and entertainment worlds.
The award, which recognizes outstanding gospel and inspirational music, was given to GloRilla for her track “Rain Down on Me,” a collaboration with gospel heavyweights Kirk Franklin and Maverick City Music. While the song has been praised for its creative fusion of gospel and hip-hop, Haddon expressed concern that the recognition of a mainstream rapper in a sacred category undermines the core values of the genre.
“We wonder why gospel music is dying,” Haddon said in a video posted on social media. “It’s because we’re doing things like this—giving gospel awards to mainstream rappers instead of honoring the people who commit to gospel music all year long.”
A longtime advocate for the integrity of gospel music, Haddon also called out the recurring trend of awarding the same few artists, suggesting it highlights a lack of broader industry support for gospel’s diverse talent pool.
“We’re tired of seeing the same people celebrated year after year, like there’s no one else in gospel,” he added. “There are hundreds of gifted artists who have been putting in the work—they deserve their moment too.”
His remarks quickly gained traction online, sparking mixed reactions. Some supported Haddon’s critique, agreeing that gospel music should prioritize and recognize its core contributors. Others saw GloRilla’s win as a step toward greater visibility for gospel music and a sign of its growing influence across genres.
This is the first time a female rapper has received a gospel award at the BET Awards. GloRilla, who’s known for her raw Memphis sound, noted that she was raised in church and felt honored to reconnect with her spiritual roots through the collaboration.
Still, Haddon insists the issue is bigger than one artist.
“This isn’t about GloRilla personally,” he clarified. “It’s about the message we’re sending to the next generation of gospel artists—that you’re only good enough if you cross over into the mainstream.”
As of now, BET has not issued an official response.
Source: GospelEmpireGh.Com