Gospel Star and founding pastor of Hill City Church in California, Deitrick Haddon, posted a follow up video responding to the backlash he received after he criticize the BET Awards for awarding rapper, Glo-Rilla, the Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award at the 2025 BET Awards on Monday, June 9, 2025.
The 25-year-old artist, whose real name is Gloria Hallelujah Woods, was honored with the 2025 award for her song “Rain Down on Me,” which features gospel icons Kirk Franklin and Maverick City Music.
In the original video, Haddon says in the viral video that the gospel industry needs an overhaul after the Memphis rapper received the award. She states that he has no disrespect for Glo-Rilla, but she’s not in the gospel spaces. He proposed an idea for someone in the gospel spaces to be in those rooms when it comes to the award selection.
His follow up video posted on June 13th, standing by his truth. The 52-year-old said that her winning the award take away the hard work from other gospel artist who been in the industry for years in a industry that’s already declining.
He said that Glo-Rilla have the right to give God praise and collaborate with other artists but feel that the artist who put their blood, sweat, and tears in the industry deserves their recognition, even at the expense of being called a cry baby and jealous.
GloRilla beat out Common & Pete Rock feat. Jennifer Hudson (A God – There Is), Pastor Mike Jr. (Amen), Friday’s (“Better” Days) Yolanda Adams feat. Sir The Baptist & Donald Lawrence (Church Doors — Terry Hunter Remix), Maverick City Music, Jordin Sparks, Chandler Moore & Anthony Gargiula (Constant), Tamela Mann (Deserve to Win), and Rapsody (Faith).
The BET Awards Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award, established in 2001 as the Best Gospel Artist, recognizes an urban contemporary gospel artist. The award was subsequently renamed to its current title in 2017.
The award is inspired by the “Bobby Jones Gospel,” a long-standing television program on BET, which was hosted and executive produced by Dr. Bobby Jones.
The series premiered on January 27, 1980, and achieved the distinction of being BET’s longest-running program, concluding its impressive 35-year run on July 31, 2016.
