Brandon Lake Is Bringing His Faith to Country Music | Rolling Stone Nashville Now

Why It Matters

Lake’s crossover illustrates how faith‑based music can break into mainstream markets, driving new revenue streams and reshaping genre boundaries for artists and labels alike.

Key Takeaways

• Brandon Lake’s crossover hits blend Christian themes with country sound.
• TikTok propelled “Hard Fought Hallelujah” collaboration with Jelly Roll.
• New single “The Jesus I Know” features Lainey Wilson, releasing April 3.
• Lake credits community roots and genre‑blending collaborations for growth.
• Christian and country music share faith, family, and freedom foundations.

Summary

Rolling Stone’s Nashville Now featured Christian superstar Brandon Lake, who is actively crossing over into country music during his King of Hearts tour. The interview, recorded in the show’s Nashville cabin during Easter week, highlighted his recent collaborations with country artists like Lainey Wilson and his Grammy‑winning duet with Jelly Roll on “Hard Fought Hallelujah.”

Lake explained that contemporary Christian music is at an all‑time high because artists are raising production standards, taking sonic risks, and meeting a public hungry for hopeful messages. He credited TikTok for connecting him with Jelly Roll, noting that a short clip of “Hard Fought Hallelujah” sparked the partnership that later won a Grammy. He also announced the April 3 release of “The Jesus I Know,” a country‑flavored single with Wilson.

Among the anecdotes, Lake described his upbringing in a church‑plant community in Myrtle Beach, the “basketball church” that served as a local hub, and a spontaneous tattoo of a “king of hearts” symbol that inspired his latest album title. He said, “It’s never been about religion; it’s about an authentic relationship,” echoing the sentiment that both Christian and country audiences value faith, family, and freedom.

The conversation underscores a broader industry trend: Christian artists are leveraging country’s storytelling tradition and social‑media algorithms to reach wider, secular listeners. As genre lines blur, record labels and streaming platforms can expect increased crossover hits, expanding revenue streams and reshaping how faith‑based music is marketed.

Original Description

@brandonlakeofficial has made a name for himself as one of Christian music’s most successful stars. Now he’s setting his sights on country music and Nashville, teaming up with artists from Jelly Roll and Cody Johnson to Lainey Wilson. In this new episode of Rolling Stone’s Nashville Now, we ask Lake about the intersection between Christian music and country, if he’s worried about faith being exploited by politics, and if listeners of all faiths can have a seat at his table. #brandonlake

#country is here. #nashville is now. #countrymusic

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