At CMA Fest 2025, amidst roaring crowds and flashing lights, one moment stood far above the rest: the soul-shaking duet between Brandon Lake and Jelly Roll, performing their now-iconic track, “Hard Fought Hallelujah.”
Backstage at the festival, Brandon Lake opened up in an emotional interview about how this viral collaboration came to life, the spiritual bond it created, and why Jelly Roll was always meant to be a part of it.
“I wrote this song with some friends last year. It was personal… raw,” Lake shared. “And I just kept thinking, man, this sounds like Jelly. It sounds like his story. It sounds like something he would feel in his bones.”
Unbeknownst to Lake, Jelly Roll had already heard the track on TikTok — just a week before throwing his phone away. When Lake’s team reached out, Jelly immediately responded with a wholehearted:
“100% yes. I love this song.”
From that moment, a brotherhood was born.
“The first time we spoke, we talked for over an hour — about being dads, being husbands, about faith and family,” Lake said. “He’s like a brother now. We talk all the time.”
When the two artists took the stage at Nissan Stadium, their duet brought the crowd to tears. A glowing hologram of the cross illuminated the stage as a choir joined in, creating one of the most emotionally gripping moments of the festival. Lake and Jelly’s raspy, powerful vocals blended into a raw worship experience that transcended genres.
“To share a song like this — something that lifts people, something that heals — with someone who truly lives it, it’s the greatest honor,” Lake reflected.
He also shared what means most in his career right now:
“Hearing how these songs impact the next generation… that’s it. That’s the moment I’m most proud of. Knowing that my music is not just touching strangers, but actually shaping my own children — nothing compares to that.”
Though Brandon Lake is known for his roots in Contemporary Christian music, his recent work has boldly crossed into country gospel, including his collaboration with Gabby Barrett earlier this year.
With the success of King of Hearts and this unforgettable performance at CMA Fest, fans are hoping this isn’t the last time Brandon Lake and Jelly Roll share a stage.
