Kirk Franklin, the famous Grammy-winning gospel singer, recently shared a fun and meaningful story about his family and holiday traditions.
In an interview at Little Big Town’s Christmas at the Opry event in Nashville, he opened up about the unique way he used to give gifts to his kids. When his children were young, Franklin would buy the same gifts for himself that he bought for them. This included a go-kart!
“It’s like I bought them a go-kart, and I bought me a go-kart,” Franklin laughed, adding that it might sound a bit crazy. But for him, it was a way to enjoy the holidays in a special way, especially since he didn’t have many material things growing up.
He explained that Christmas, for him, wasn’t just about presents—it was about the deeper, spiritual meaning of the holiday. He learned to focus on the purpose of Christmas, rather than on the gifts or the material side of things.
Franklin’s childhood wasn’t easy. He grew up facing financial struggles and didn’t always get to enjoy the kind of Christmas celebrations that other kids did. But this experience shaped how he views the holidays today. Instead of focusing on what he didn’t have, Franklin found strength in the spiritual side of the season.
In the same interview, Franklin also talked about the complicated relationship he had with his father. He didn’t meet his dad until he was 53, and their relationship is still a work in progress.
“He’s a beautiful soul,” Franklin said about his father. “It’s just something that you’re still having to get used to.” Franklin is taking his time to get to know his dad, understanding that this might be a long journey, but he’s open to it as long as they are on the journey together.
The singer also spoke about his son, Kerrion, with whom he had a difficult relationship. The two had a public falling out in 2021, but Franklin continues to pray for his son.
“I just continue to pray that he will fulfill all that God has him to be and get the healing and all the things that he deserves,” he shared, showing his deep love for his son despite their challenges.
Franklin’s marriage to Tammy, his wife since 1996, is also a source of joy. He calls her “an incredible woman” and is thankful for her and their children. Franklin mentioned that there is a lot of pressure in society to have “perfect” relationships, but he believes that people shouldn’t make their relationships the most important thing about their lives.
“There’s so much beautiful essence about you even before you get there,” he said, encouraging others to find value in themselves first.
