Brandon Lake Responds to Backlash on “Hard Fought Hallelujah”

by Alaina Goode

August 4, 2025
3 minute read

When Brandon Lake released Hard Fought Hallelujah with country artist Jelly Roll, it resonated deeply with listeners and quickly went viral! However, some Christian music fans weren’t accepting of this collaboration, because Jelly Roll doesn’t label himself a Christian artist and is still openly figuring out his faith.

“I didn’t expect to get so much hate from Christians. Last time I checked, those who hold the light are supposed to walk toward the darkness.” | Brandon Lake

Brandon shared that this journey all started when he saw Jelly Roll lifting his hands and praising God during a Brooks & Dunn performance of Believe at a country concert. Something about that moment hit Brandon hard, so he reached out. You can hear more about this story in this video.

Before Brandon Lake sang this song at a recent show, he paused to address the backlash and dropped one of the most honest mini-sermons we’ve heard in a while.

@lyfeofluis Brandon Lake speaks on the Jelly Roll Controversy! #fypシ #foryou #christian #christianmusic #jellyroll #brandonlake #phoenix #phoenixarena #fyp #comcert #heartfoughthalleujah #PHXarena ♬ original sound – Luis

Brandon went on to remind the crowd that our faith isn’t about checking religious boxes: it was about real, one-on-one relationship with Jesus. The kind that meets you in green rooms, weird festivals, and all the places you didn’t think God would show up.

“We have a God who not only can meet us anywhere,” he said, “but actually wants to meet us anywhere and with anyone who calls on Him.”

Speaking of our faith showing up in ALL places, here’s a powerful moment of prayer that happened at Stagecoach, a country music mega-fest in the California desert. Right before his set, Jelly Roll turned to Brandon and said, “Hey, would you pray for the night?” So Brandon gathered some of the team and did exactly that:

@brandonlakemusic When @Jelly Roll asks you to pray over the night! Grateful that we have a God that not only CAN meet us anywhere, but actually WANTS to meet us anywhere and with anyone who calls on Him. One of my fav moments from @stagecoach ♬ original sound – Brandon Lake

Personally, I’ve had people in my life that I admire and trust that have disagreed with this collaboration. One family friend and I had very different opinions: I saw Hard Fought Hallelujah as a chance for people who may never hear a song about Jesus to encounter Him in an unexpected place. She was concerned that Jelly Roll’s public image didn’t represent Christ well.

But we talked. We wrestled with it. And through that honest, hard conversation, our faith grew deeper. We may not have landed in the same place, but we left more open-hearted than before.

“Ministry is messy. Worship is messy. Life is messy.” | Brandon Lake

The truth is, everyone’s in a different place in their faith. And Brandon Lake, as a worship leader and follower of Jesus, is modeling what it looks like to meet people where they are. Jesus was called a friend of sinners for a reason.

More good can come from this collaboration than if it had been shut down out of fear or judgment. God doesn’t need a perfect platform to do powerful work.

You might feel torn reading this. That’s okay. If this song sparks hard conversations with the people in your life, then maybe that’s exactly how God is using it.

Whether you’re worshipping in a church pew, at a country concert, or in your car stuck in traffic, your worship is welcome. God can work through celebrities, and He can work through you, too!

Brandon Lake and Jelly Roll Open Up About Church Hurt & Finding Worship Again | Hard Fought Hallelujah
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