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 him

If 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 Markers
00:00 – Living in the Tension: Kirk Keeps It Real from the Start
02:24 – Has Gospel Music Gone Too Far?
04:30 – Authenticity, Trauma & Writing from the Middle of the Mess
06:48 – Same Kirk, Same Struggles — Just More Honest
08:25 – Writing Through Pain: “Jesus, Help My Emotions”
10:10 – Christmas with No Tree: Childhood Stories That Shaped the Man
15:09 – Where Kirk’s Relationship with Jesus Started
22:31 – The Church, Surrogacy, and Why So Many People Feel Controlled
25:44 – Can the Church Weaponize Good Things?
28:44 – Deconstruction vs. Destruction: What's Really Happening
33:02 – Why Kirk Started Studying Apologetics in His 30s
35:47 – The Roof, The Piano, and the Romantic Side of Faith
37:35 – Why He Became an Artist Without Ever Dreaming It
44:27 – What Maverick City Tour Meant for Him at 52
46:29 – “Imagine Me” & How Race Changes How We Worship
50:00 – A 360 Worship Experience: Black, White, Rich, Poor, Together
53:06 – Giving Voice to Vulnerability in Gospel Music
57:13 – Why Kirk Hid His Grammys in the Garage
59:57 – What Changed After the 1st Grammy Win
1:01:57 – Authentic Christianity Lives in the Tension
1:08:17 – The Church’s Fear of Grace — and Why We’re Losing People
1:13:40 – Why Success Feels Heavier Than Struggle
1:15:52 – Light vs. Dark: Why Kirk Still Does Collabs
1:20:16 – Why Kirk Said Yes to Kingdom
1:27:08 – Is Gospel Music Still Alive?
1:35:21 – Kirk’s Real Concerns About the Future of Christian Culture
1:38:07 – Closing: Authenticity Always Wins

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