“I'm a Safe Place For You, Bro”: Forrest Frank Just Dropped the Perfect Response to the Jelly Roll Drama

Zach Bryan and Gavin Adcock, take note.

Forrest Frank just showed everyone the perfect way to squash beef, with the Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) hitmaker sharing a new video addressing Jelly Roll's comments about Forrest's decision not to attend the 2025 DOVE and GRAMMY Awards.

Last week, Forrest hopped on Instagram to explain why he felt convicted to steer clear of awards ceremonies for the foreseeable future, because he it didn't sit right with him to receive glory for making music that is “from Jesus and for Jesus”.

Jelly responded in the comments, questioning whether Forrest's decision is hypocritical if the ‘GOOD DAY’ singer-songwriter receives “millions” in profits from his music.

Then, during Jelly's acceptance speech at the 2025 DOVE Awards, after winning Song of the Year for ‘Hard Fought Hallelujah’ with Brandon Lake, the Nashville native seemingly sent a barb in the direction of Forrest, remarking, “I'm so glad I could see the the forest for the trees”. Jelly's turn-of-phrase certainly felt pointed.

Forrest initially responded by commenting simply, “Congrats bro!! Keep going for Jesus”, but now, the genre-blurring chart-topper has shared a lengthier reply to the furore.

In doing so, Forrest has provided a stellar example of how to respond to criticism and antagonism, with the ‘SELAH’ songsmith showing nothing but love towards Jelly. He even goes so far as to thank Jelly for questioning his decision, and stresses that he hopes to always serve as a “safe place” for Jelly in his faith journey.

Forrest begins, “So I wasn't going to respond to this comment, because I didn't want to bring any unnecessary drama. I posted my personal conviction, it triggered a lot of people. I had no idea that was going to happen. But now Fox News has brought it up and People magazine [too], so I feel like I'm inclined to speak on it”.

He goes on, “All I'm going to say to you, Jelly, is, ‘I love this question’. This is the question that kept me from making Christian music for so many years, because I didn't want to make a business out of worship music. I didn't want to make a business out of Jesus. So I actually didn't participate. And then, one day, I felt like God was telling me to release...my ‘Quiet Time’ song, and I did. Here's the thing, legally, it was self-produced and self-written. So legally, that money comes to me. What I do with that money after it legally comes to me, I'm never going to tell anybody, because your left hand isn't supposed to know from your right hand”.

This phrase stems from a popular Bible verse that we find in Matthew 6:3, where it's outlined that you should remain quiet and humble about your charitable actions, shown through the hyperbolic example of not letting your left hand see what your right hand is doing. It suggests we shouldn't seek praise for charity.

He muses, “I might give 90% of my money away, I might give 10% of my money away, somewhere in between, but y'all are never going to know that because that's my relationship with Jesus. But I love this conversation, and I'm willing to be refined in any area”.

Forrest concludes on a note of heartwarming compassion and empathy, emphasising to Jelly that he is always only a phone-call away, “Anyways, I'm just stoked by this comment. This is something that I would love to figure out. And in the meantime, I'm a safe place for you, bro. Whether that's on the phone or on here on social media. I'm for you, bro. God is for you. He has a plan for your life”.

Rather than airing out their dirty laundry across social media and missing the opportunity for genuine, heart-to-heart communication, Forrest decided to go straight to the source and speak with Jelly before muddying the waters via social media.

It's a refreshingly love-oriented, considerate approach that many in the modern country music landscape could no doubt learn a thing or two from. It often feels like there are new beefs and feuds arising on a weekly basis, whether it's Zach Bryan vs Gavin Adcock, Nate Smith vs Zach Bryan or Gavin Adcock vs Charley Crockett.

It's worth pointing out that Adcock or Bryan - or both - appear to be involved in all the most prominent country face-offs this year. But either way, perhaps they should take a leaf out of Forrest's book, and sit down with one another for a sincere conversation before continuing to escalate things online and spread more anger.

When Forrest was being mocked by a fellow CCM artist, Cory Asbury, he again took a stance of love and sat down with Cory, with the latter ultimately apologising. They're now buddies, and even teamed up for an infectious duet, ‘MISUNDERSTOOD’.

We hope Forrest and Jelly's blossoming friendship could pave the way for a blockbuster collaboration, particularly as Jelly ventures deeper into the world of spirit-led music.

For more on Forrest Frank, see below: