Kirk Franklin

Kirk Franklin is an American songwriter, choir director, gospel singer, and rapper who is primarily known for his leadership of urban contemporary gospel and Christian R&B ensembles such as The Family, God's Property, and One Nation Crew (1NC). His work in the music industry dates back to 1992 when he organized "The Family," a 17-voice choir. His debut album "Kirk Franklin & The Family" spent almost two years on the gospel music charts and received platinum sales status.

Franklin has a long history of producing albums that top both Billboard's gospel and Christian charts, as well as frequently appearing in the Top 10 of the R&B/Hip Hop chart. His album "Whatcha Lookin' 4" was certified platinum and earned him his first Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album. "God's Property from Kirk Franklin's Nu Nation" album was No. 1 on the R&B Albums chart for five weeks and received 3× platinum certification. Throughout his career, he has won 20 Grammys and 22 Dove Awards.

Apart from his music, Franklin has made guest appearances on television sitcoms like "Sister, Sister." He has also been the host and co-executive producer of the BET series "Sunday Best" and the musical co-host of GSN's "The American Bible Challenge" with Jeff Foxworthy. In 2021, he was one of the inaugural inductees into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame. He is also the New York Times best-selling author of "The Blueprint: A Plan for Living Above Life's Storms."

Franklin has released multiple successful albums as a solo artist since 2001. He produced the soundtrack for the film Kingdom Come in 2001 and released albums like "The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin," "Hero," "The Fight of My Life," and "Hello Fear," all of which topped the Gospel Albums chart. His work has been acknowledged at the Grammy Awards and the NAACP Image Awards, to name a few. He released his thirteenth studio album, "Father's Day," in 2023. Franklin's songs have been recorded by artists like Whitney Houston and the Georgia Mass Choir, and he has collaborated with artists such as Tori Kelly and Lil Baby on various music projects.

Franklin operates Fo Yo Soul Entertainment, Inc., a full-service entertainment enterprise that he launched in 2004. This includes a record label, Franklin's solo recordings, his services as a record producer, Fo Yo Soul Productions, which manages Franklin's tours, speaking, and performance engagements, and The Franklin Imagine Group, Franklin's nonprofit. While managing these enterprises, Franklin continues to tour and has completed tours like the Gospel Comedy Tour with Steve Harvey in 2011 and the Live Nation-sponsored King's Men Tour in 2012.

Despite his celebrity status, Franklin remains connected to his audiences through his relatability and open discussions about his personal life. He shares openly about being abandoned by his parents as a child and his journey to meeting his father for the first time. In addition to his music career, Franklin has made appearances as a musical guest on shows like "The 700 Club," "The Oprah Winfrey Show," "Steve Harvey," "Steve," and "Tamron Hall."