September 20th 2023.
Kirk Franklin recently released a documentary titled Father's Day that reveal a long-held secret - the same as his upcoming album. The film was premiered on the gospel singer's YouTube channel on Sept. 15. As the recording sessions started, Franklin realized that the man he thought was his father was not. To make things more complicated, the songwriter found out that the man responsible for bringing him into this world actually lived close to his hometown.
Growing up, Franklin had a difficult life as he was adopted by an older woman in his community after his young mother struggled to raise a child. Despite this, the singer believed for years that another man was his birth dad as both his parents were inconsistent figures in his life before he became famous.
After hiring a musician from his hometown, Franklin inadvertently discovered his birth father. The musician revealed the name of another man his mother had dated. He then asked this potential father, Richard Hubbard, to submit a DNA sample to confirm the parentage. This man happened to be a longtime member of the community in which the gospel singer was raised. The DNA test result confirmed that Hubbard was indeed his father, fulfilling a lifelong wish for Franklin to know his true identity.
When talking about his newfound father, Franklin expressed that he suffered so much as a young man without guidance. He said, "To live over half a century with somebody who lived in the same city as you…I struggled with love, intimacy, faith, identity. And to know that the answer was less than 10 minutes away".
Upon meeting Hubbard, Franklin referred to his dad as a "great guy" as he navigated beginning a new relationship with his half-siblings. The revelation also led Franklin to pursue a renewed relationship with his estranged son, Kerrion. Franklin is happy that three generations of his family will now be able to be there for one another as Black men. He shared, "He is beginning to reveal and testify to his struggles, his own battles with certain things that have at times cost him. I know many young Black men struggle with these same things, and as he continues to get help and healing, he's going to help so many. He has me and now his grandfather, that will be there to help in any way we can."
Father's Day, which provides more insight into Kirk Franklin's journey with faith, music, and parenthood, is now available to stream. The accompanying album will be released on Oct. 6.
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