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American gospel musician, singer, songwriter, and choir director who revolutionized contemporary gospel music.Born in Fort Worth, Texas. Debuted with 'Kirk Franklin & the Family' (1993). Won 19 Grammy Awards. Pioneered fusion of gospel with R&B, hip-hop, and pop. Sold over 10 million albums in the US alone.

• Abandoned by his mother at birth, raised by his strict aunt Gertrude who paid for piano lessons by collecting aluminum cans.
• Became a teenage father at age 15 while simultaneously serving as minister of music for a 250-member church choir.
• Overcame struggles with pornography addiction and marijuana use, later documenting these battles in his memoir 'The Blueprint'.
• Caused controversy within gospel communities for secular collaborations (with artists like Bono and R. Kelly) and hip-hop influences.
• Survived a near-fatal carjacking in 2016 where he was pistol-whipped and robbed in Dallas.