{"id":583449,"date":"2026-02-12T00:49:14","date_gmt":"2026-02-12T00:49:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/583449\/"},"modified":"2026-02-12T00:49:14","modified_gmt":"2026-02-12T00:49:14","slug":"20-time-grammy-winner-fort-worth-native-kirk-franklin-honored-by-city-council","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/583449\/","title":{"rendered":"20-time Grammy winner, Fort Worth native Kirk Franklin honored by City Council"},"content":{"rendered":"

by Marissa Greene, Fort Worth Report
February 11, 2026<\/p>\n

Nationally renowned gospel music icon Kirk Franklin considers himself \u201cdeep Fort Worth.\u201d<\/p>\n

Growing up, he bought his Easter clothes from the Salvation Army on East Lancaster Avenue. While no longer in business, the Tandy Center, Jolly Time Skating Rink and the Stripling & Cox department store were all staples during his upbringing, he told attendees at the Feb. 10 City Council meeting.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cFort Worth is my home, and there is no other place I\u2019d rather be,\u201d Franklin said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Fort Worth council members recognized Franklin during a Feb. 10 meeting and honored him as a \u201cBiblical, Black historic figure in modern gospel music,\u201d Chris Nettles said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The 20-time Grammy Award<\/a>-winning artist, songwriter and producer is one of the biggest names in gospel music.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Council members Deborah Peoples, Mia Hall and Nettles presented the recognition to Franklin Tuesday evening, sharing how the singer\u2019s musical origin story began in Fort Worth.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Franklin was born to teenage parents and adopted by a relative at the age of 4. When he was just 11, he became the music director for New Mount Rose Missionary Baptist Church\u2019s adult choir in the Morningside neighborhood, Peoples said.<\/p>\n

As a student at O.D. Wyatt High School, he studied music with the Singing Chaparrals and Jewel Kelly, a renowned Fort Worth educator and gospel music director. At 15, he also co-founded a gospel group called the Humble Hearts.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"Gospel singer Kirk Franklin acknowledges a person in the crowd as Fort Worth City Council honors him with a recognition. (Drew Shaw | Fort Worth City Council) <\/p>\n

Franklin\u2019s \u201ccommitment to nurturing talent and uplifting communities\u201d is evident through initiatives such as Camp Lotus, a weeklong music camp for high schoolers.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cKirk Franklin remains a trailblazer whose impact transcends music,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n

Franklin thanked the council for the recognition.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is really kind of y\u2019all,\u201d he said. \u201cI love Fort Worth, and this is a beautiful moment to remind me that Fort Worth loves me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Marissa Greene is a Report for America corps member, covering faith for the Fort Worth Report. You can contact her at marissa.greene@fortworthreport.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n

At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This <a target=”_blank” href=”https:\/\/fortworthreport.org\/2026\/02\/11\/20-time-grammy-winner-fort-worth-native-kirk-franklin-honored-by-city-council\/”>article<\/a> first appeared on <a target=”_blank” href=”https:\/\/fortworthreport.org”>Fort Worth Report<\/a> and is republished here under a <a target=”_blank” href=”https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nd\/4.0\/”>Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License<\/a>.<img src=”https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/fortworthreport.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/cropped-favicon.png?resize=150%2C150&amp;quality=80&amp;ssl=1″ style=”width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;”><\/p>\n

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