Artist

Kirk Franklin

Wins

Nominations

Biography

"When I was taught truth, that's when I got my freedom."

Born Jan. 26, 1970, in Fort Worth, Texas
Kirk Franklin got his start with Kirk Franklin & The Family, and their 1993 self-titled debut reached No. 1 on Billboard's Top Gospel Albums chart. His 2002 solo album, The Rebirth Of Kirk Franklin, landed at No. 4 on the Billboard 200.
Franklin won his first GRAMMY for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album for 1996 for Whatcha Lookin' 4. He made his GRAMMY stage debut at the 41st GRAMMY Awards in 1999, performing "Lean On Me" with Nu Nation, Mary J. Blige, Gerald Levert, Bono, and Crystal Lewis.
Thanks to his aunt collecting aluminum cans, Franklin was able to take piano lessons at age 4. He showed instant talent, and was offered a recording deal at age 7, but his aunt turned it down.
In 2009 Franklin convened a group of gospel music artists, including BeBe Winans and CeCe Winans, to record "Are You Listening," with proceeds from the song donated to charities involved with Haiti relief efforts.

2026 • 68th Annual GRAMMY® Awards

2025 • 67th Annual GRAMMY® Awards

2024 • 66th Annual GRAMMY® Awards

2023 • 65th Annual GRAMMY® Awards

Best Gospel Performance/Song

Kingdom. Jonathan Jay, Chandler Moore, Jacob Poole
Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song

Fear Is Not My Future. Nicole Hannel, Jonathan Jay, Brandon Lake, Hannah Shackelford
Best Gospel Album

Kingdom Book One Deluxe. Maverick City Music, Kirk Franklin

2022 • 64th Annual GRAMMY® Awards

Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song

We Win. Kirk Franklin, Dominique Armani Jones, Cynthia Nunn, Just Blaze

2021 • 63rd Annual GRAMMY® Awards

Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song

Sunday Morning. Lecrae, Kirk Franklin, Denisia Andrews, Terry Jones, Saint Bodhi, Rafael X. Brown, Brittany Coney, Lasanna Harris, Sham Joseph, Stuart Lowery, Nathanael Saint-Fleur

2020 • 62nd Annual GRAMMY® Awards

2019 • 61st Annual GRAMMY® Awards

2017 • 59th Annual GRAMMY® Awards

Best Melodic Rap Performance

Ultralight Beam. Kanye West, Chancelor Bennett, Kelly Price, Kirk Franklin, Terius "The Dream" Nash
Best Gospel Performance/Song

God Provides. Tamela Mann, Kirk Franklin
Best Gospel Album

Losing My Religion. Kirk Franklin
Best Rap Song

Ultralight Beam. Chancelor Bennett, Swizz Beatz, Mike Dean, Kirk Franklin, Noah Goldstein, Samuel Griesemer, Terius "The Dream" Nash, Jerome Potter, Kelly Price, Nico "Donnie Trumpet" Segal, Derek Watkins, Kanye West, Cydel Young, Malik Yusef Jones

2016 • 58th Annual GRAMMY® Awards

2015 • 57th Annual GRAMMY® Awards

2012 • 54th Annual GRAMMY® Awards

2009 • 51st Annual GRAMMY® Awards

2007 • 49th Annual GRAMMY® Awards

2006 • 48th Annual GRAMMY® Awards

Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance

Looking For You. Kirk Franklin

1999 • 41st Annual GRAMMY® Awards

R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals

Lean On Me (Track). Kirk Franklin, Mary J. Blige, R. Kelly, Bono, Crystal Lewis
Song Of The Year

Lean On Me (Track). Kirk Franklin
Best R&B Song

Lean On Me (Track). Kirk Franklin
Contemporary R&B Gospel Album

The Nu Nation Project. Kirk Franklin

1998 • 40th Annual GRAMMY® Awards

Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical

Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical. Kirk Franklin
Best Gospel Choir Or Chorus Album

God's Property From Kirk Franklin's Nu Nation. Myron Butler, Kirk Franklin, Robert Searight II
R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals

Stomp (Track). Kirk Franklin
Best R&B Song

Stomp (Track). George Clinton Jr., Kirk Franklin, Walter Morrison, Garry M. Shider