Kirk Dewayne Franklin, born on January 26, 1970, in Fort Worth, Texas, is a celebrated American gospel musician, songwriter and choir director.
Widely regarded as the Reigning King of Urban Gospel, Franklin has transformed the gospel music landscape by blending contemporary sounds like hip-hop and R&B with traditional spiritual messages.
With a career spanning over three decades, he has earned 20 Grammy Awards and is one of the best-selling gospel artists of all time.
Parents
Kirk’s early life was shaped by a complex family dynamic.
Born to teenage parents, Franklin was abandoned by his biological mother, Debra Jones, at the age of three. His father’s identity remained a mystery for much of his life.
After being relinquished by his mother, Franklin was adopted by his great-aunt, Gertrude Franklin, a devout Christian widow who raised him in the church.
Gertrude, along with her late husband Jack Franklin, whose surname Kirk took, provided a nurturing yet strict upbringing despite limited resources.
She famously collected aluminum cans to fund piano lessons for Kirk starting at age four, sparking his lifelong passion for music.
For over five decades, Franklin believed a man introduced to him by his mother at age six was his biological father.
This man reappeared sporadically in Franklin’s life, notably after his music career took off, but their relationship remained strained.
The man passed away in 2017, leaving Franklin to assume his paternal story had concluded.
However, a shocking revelation in 2023 upended this narrative.
While working on his album Father’s Day, Franklin learned through a chance encounter that Richard Hubbard, a man living just minutes away from him in Fort Worth, was his true biological father.
DNA tests confirmed a 99.9% match, proving Hubbard—unaware he had a son—was indeed Franklin’s father.
Despite this discovery, Franklin’s mother, Debra, adamantly denied the results, even after a second test, creating further tension in their already distant relationship.
This late reunion with Hubbard, captured in Franklin’s 2023 documentary Father’s Day: A Kirk Franklin Story, highlighted the emotional complexity of his parental ties.
Raised by Gertrude, estranged from Debra, and long unaware of Hubbard, Franklin’s journey reflects resilience amid abandonment and a search for identity.
Career
Franklin’s musical journey began in the church, where he joined the choir at Mount Rose Baptist Church in Fort Worth and became its director by age 11.
His talent shone early, earning him a recording contract at seven—an offer Gertrude declined.
After a rebellious teenage phase, including becoming a father at 17, Franklin recommitted to music and faith.
In 1992, he formed Kirk Franklin & The Family, a 17-voice choir that released their self-titled debut album in 1993.
The album, blending gospel with urban sounds, became the first gospel record to sell over a million copies, cementing Franklin’s place in the industry.
His career soared with hits like “Stomp” (1997), featuring Cheryl “Salt” James of Salt-N-Pepa, which topped R&B charts and gained mainstream traction via MTV.
Albums such as God’s Property from Kirk Franklin’s Nu Nation (1997) and The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin (2002) further showcased his innovative approach, earning multiple Grammys and platinum certifications.
Franklin’s collaborations with artists like Whitney Houston, Yolanda Adams, and Mary Mary expanded gospel’s reach, while his 2005 album Hero and 2011’s Hello Fear reinforced his chart-topping status.
In 2023, Franklin’s Father’s Day album and documentary intertwined his personal revelations with his music, offering fans an intimate look at his healing process.
Today, with a net worth estimated at $9 million and a legacy as a trailblazer, Franklin continues to inspire through his artistry and vulnerability, proving that his roots—however tangled—fuel his purpose.
