Black News Channel’s inaugural Summer Concert Series, in partnership with RCA Inspiration, featured performances from chart-topping gospel artists Koryn Hawthorne, Jonathan McReynolds, DOE, Le’Andria Johnson and last but not least, Kirk Franklin. 

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Start Your Day fill-in hosts Lauren McCoy and Shannon LaNier pay tribute to Johnson’s contributions to gospel music. McCoy mentioned Franklin’s song “I Smile” is one of her favorites, and LaNier joined in to shout the gospel singer’s praises. 

For a man with 12 studio albums full of No. 1 hits, it may be hard to believe, but Franklin told LaNier he has no clue of the success of outreach his music will bring—and anyone who says they do has a level of arrogance that causes great concern. 

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“I’m a person of faith. I believe that all things are already written and created by God himself and I’m just borrowing them, they’re just mine on loan,” he said. “But even with that, we don’t know what God’s will and agenda, and God’s goodness should never be quantified by numbers in the first place. That’s an automatic failure.” 

Franklin is no stranger to controversy and criticism, something he’s learned to deal with over the course of his career—and especially in light of personal ordeals. The gospel icon said he’s had to learn the difficult task of seeking the heart of Jesus Christ, which is to fight for compassion. 

“A lot of the people that may be the loudest, that may have the most anger and spew the most painful things, a lot of time to their defense they’re hurting as well,” he said. “So when they hear something bad, they themselves can attach themselves to it, because for some of them, that is their experience.” 

RELATED: Celebrating the Impact of Gospel: Jonathan McReynolds and Doe Jones 

To close out BNC’s Summer Concert Series, Franklin performed his 2011 hit single “I Smile,” his 1993 track “Silver and Gold” and 1997 single “My Life Is in Your Hands” inside the National Museum of African American Music in Nashville, Tennessee. 

As he approaches the 29th anniversary of his gospel career, the winner of 16 Grammys, more than 40 Stellar Awards, an NAACP Image Award and 16 Dove Awards, Franklin has so much more in store for his fans and critics alike.