{
  "id": 17246536,
  "title": "An introspective Kirk Franklin is no longer apologizing with ‘I Am What I Am’ album",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/30/an-introspective-kirk-franklin-is-no-longer-apologizing-with-i-am",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-30T15:41:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Winnipeg Free Press",
    "slug": "winnipeg-free-press",
    "url": "https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/entertainment/2026/10/30/an-introspective-kirk-franklin-is-no-longer-apologizing-with-i-am-what-i-am-album"
  },
  "original_language": "de",
  "account": "Gospel musician Kirk Franklin has grown weary of defending his musical choices. Described as a 20-time Grammy winner and 56-year-old individual, Franklin has faced scrutiny for his collaborations with artists who have explicit content in their music. Despite this, Franklin remains unapologetic for his decisions, particularly his decision to pray with R&B stars Chris Brown and Usher before a recent concert. He explained to The Associated Press that he doesn't understand the elitist, holier-than-thou attitude some within the gospel community hold towards him and his work.\n\nThe new album \"I Am What I Am,\" Franklin's first double album, features a mix of contemporary songs and live-recorded traditional selections. Collaborating with artists like Afrobeats superstar Davido, Jelly Roll, and GloRilla, the album marks a departure from Franklin's typical style. The single \"This Time\" by GloRilla helped extend Franklin's record-holding streak of 10 No. 1s on Billboard's hot gospel songs chart. The introspective nature of the album sees Franklin addressing his imperfections and challenges in his life, including a 2021 controversy involving a recording of his father threatening him.\n\nFranklin's journey from a rebellious high school dropout and teen father to a celebrated musician is a testament to his resilience and faith. Known for hits like \"Melodies From Heaven\" and \"Something About the Name Jesus,\" Franklin sees his work as a calling, not just entertainment. He believes gospel music can handle raw, unfiltered truths about life, and his recent work reflects this perspective.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "Kirk Franklin unapologetic about collaborations with artists having explicit content",
    "I Am What I Am album features contemporary and traditional songs",
    "Single \"This Time\" by GloRilla extends Franklin's No. 1 streak"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}