Kirk Dewayne Franklin, born in Forth Worth, Texas, United States, on January 26, 1970, is an American choir director and a singer/rapper. He is the leading stone of the Urban Contemporary Gospel. He played a major role in building the Urban Contemporary Gospel the way it is today.
The Family, God’s Property, and One Nation Crew (1NC) are some of the choirs which he assembled. He also has his organization which runs by the name Franklin Imagine Group.
Franklin never had a golden spoon in his mouth. Being abandoned by his mother as a baby, his aunt Gertrude raised him, who used to recycle aluminum cans. With the money earned by recycling cans, he used to learn piano. Franklin was a gifted child, and he could produce music by playing by ear.
At the age of 11, he joined Mt. Rose Church Choir and became the music director of the choir. He attended Oscar Dean Wyatt High School, where he learned music and Singing Chaparrals.
After witnessing his friend’s death, he again joined a church choir and founded The Humble Hearts, a gospel group. He gained the attention of the Georgia Mass Choir with the music he recorded with the help of The Humble Hearts.
After this, he earned the lead position at DFW Mass Choir. In 1990 he got hired by Biggham to lead the Gospel Music Workshop of America’s choir.
His Achievements
He won his award, GMA Dove Award, (which is given to achievers in the Christmas Music Industry) for Kirk Franklin and The Family in the category Traditional Gospel Album of the Year in the year 1993. After this, there is no stopping back for him.
His first grammy was in the year 1997 for Whatcha Lookin’ 4, and in the year 2020, his album Long Live Love won Best Gospel Album Grammy. He also won 2006’s American Music Awards for Favourite Contemporary Artist.
Relationship Status
Kirk Franklin married Tammy Collins twenty-seven years ago, on January 20, 1996. Tammy Collins is a make-up artist who retired to give her family time after her marriage.
Before their marriage, both had a child with their previous partners. Kirk has a son Kerrion whereas Tammy has a girl, Carrington. After their marriage, they became parents to two children, both sons Kennedy and Caziah.
What Happened to Him?
On 13th March 2021, Kerrion, Kirk’s son from his previous partner, released an audio clip on his Instagram story in which he and his father are fighting and are using profanities. Kirk ended the call by warning him never to disrespect him; otherwise, he would break his neck. In the story, Kerrion mentioned that he doesn’t feel safe around him.
Kirk’s apology video for his fans worked as fuel in between their feud. In the video, he said that his relationship with his son is toxic and also apologized for his choice of words and also for losing his temper.
It is not the first time that Kerrion has mentioned this. In the year 2018, via Instagram, he told the public that he was not saved and his dad was trying to kill him, though the post has been deleted.
On June 16, Kirk, in an interview with DJ Envy at The Breakfast Club, opened up about his relationship with his son Kerrion, and he also mentioned how he handled the drama which his son caused via an Instagram story. In that interview, they also discussed Maverick City Music Group.
He also mentioned that he loves his son and have many done all he can do to help him, but all are not the same and have different wiring.
“My son recently was incarcerated, so we knew, and we’ve been watching it for years,” said Kirk Franklin. “This is my boy. I know my son. I’ve known everything. Right now, I am proud of him because I think he is — we are privately trying to address some of those things.
And I have to realize, Envy, that he may never be able to understand the gravity of what he did. For me, I may have to live with that and put his well-being before what he did.” Kirk further said in his interview with DJ Envy. Due to all this, Kirk Franklin’s reputation is at stake. The career which he created after so much struggle is now in jeopardy.