Kirk Franklin: What Gospel Music Forgot to Say Out Loud
This one’s not for the surface-level listener. In this episode of Mavericks on the Mic, we sit down with Kirk Franklin — not just the artist, the icon, or the GOAT — but the man. The one who has been carrying the tension between calling and culture for over 30 years.We talked about it all:🎙️Faith that’s lived in tension, not perfection🎙️Wrestling with trauma while writing the soundtrack of a generation🎙️Deconstruction, father wounds, and learning how to stay grounded in truth🎙️Why gospel music isn’t dying, it’s shifting🎙️Why Kirk said yes to Maverick City, and what it cost himIf you’ve ever struggled with faith, questioned your place in the church, or wrestled with who God really is while trying to navigate real life, this conversation is for you.This is what happens when the legend pulls up, keeps it real, and holds nothing back.Chapter Markers00:00 – Living in the Tension: Kirk Keeps It Real from the Start02:24 – Has Gospel Music Gone Too Far?04:30 – Authenticity, Trauma & Writing from the Middle of the Mess06:48 – Same Kirk, Same Struggles — Just More Honest08:25 – Writing Through Pain: “Jesus, Help My Emotions”10:10 – Christmas with No Tree: Childhood Stories That Shaped the Man15:09 – Where Kirk’s Relationship with Jesus Started22:31 – The Church, Surrogacy, and Why So Many People Feel Controlled25:44 – Can the Church Weaponize Good Things?28:44 – Deconstruction vs. Destruction: What's Really Happening33:02 – Why Kirk Started Studying Apologetics in His 30s35:47 – The Roof, The Piano, and the Romantic Side of Faith37:35 – Why He Became an Artist Without Ever Dreaming It44:27 – What Maverick City Tour Meant for Him at 5246:29 – “Imagine Me” & How Race Changes How We Worship50:00 – A 360 Worship Experience: Black, White, Rich, Poor, Together53:06 – Giving Voice to Vulnerability in Gospel Music57:13 – Why Kirk Hid His Grammys in the Garage59:57 – What Changed After the 1st Grammy Win1:01:57 – Authentic Christianity Lives in the Tension1:08:17 – The Church’s Fear of Grace — and Why We’re Losing People1:13:40 – Why Success Feels Heavier Than Struggle1:15:52 – Light vs. Dark: Why Kirk Still Does Collabs1:20:16 – Why Kirk Said Yes to Kingdom1:27:08 – Is Gospel Music Still Alive?1:35:21 – Kirk’s Real Concerns About the Future of Christian Culture1:38:07 – Closing: Authenticity Always Wins#KirkFranklin #MavericksOnTheMic #FaithAndFame #GospelMusic #ChristianDeconstruction #AuthenticFaith #ChurchCulture #BlackFaithExperience #WrestlingWithFaith #KingdomTour #ChristianityInTension #MusicAndMinistry #ModernGospel #ChristianCulture #KirkFranklinInterview #MaverickCityMusic🔥 Drop a comment to let us know who you want to see on the Mic. 👉 Don’t forget to rate, share and subscribe 🎧 Want to watch the conversation? Watch on YouTube
USA