The 2025 HBCU Honors Presented by BET is back Thanksgiving weekend, shining a national spotlight on the spirit of Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Premiering Sunday, November 30 at 8 PM ET/PT on BET and BET Her, the annual special will once again celebrate leadership, legacy, and culture — hosted by Emmy-nominated comedian and proud Fisk University alumna Kym Whitley.This year’s honorees — Pastor Shirley Caesar(Shaw University), David Banner (Southern University), and Janice Bryant Howroyd (North Carolina A&T State University) — embody the power and purpose of HBCU excellence.Banner will receive the Cultural Impact Awardfor his influential career as an artist, activist, and entrepreneur whose work amplifies authentic Black stories. Pastor Caesar, the legendary “First Lady of Gospel,” will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award for more than six decades of faith-driven artistry. Entrepreneur Janice Bryant Howroyd, the first Black woman to own a billion-dollar enterprise, will receive the Visionary Founder Award for her trailblazing leadership and global impact.
