“This is So Hard to Talk About”: Jelly Roll Gets Candid While Discussing New Collaboration with Brandon Lake, ‘Hard Fought Hallelujah’

In tandem with the arrival of their keenly anticipated new collaboration, ‘Hard Fought Hallelujah’, Jelly Roll has opened up in a touching conversation with Brandon Lake about his faith journey, and his experience of backlash from the Christian community.

With Brandon Lake being a Contemporary Christian artist, when it was revealed that Jelly Roll would be joining him for a reimagined version of the viral hit ‘Hard Fought Hallelujah’, which was originally released as a solo track back in 2024, some Christian listeners seemed to question whether Jelly was a suitable artist for Lake to link up with.

However, most responded overwhelmingly positively, recognising Jelly Roll's regular professions of faith and all the transformational charity work he carries out alongside his music. Given how the ‘Need a Favor’ hitmaker has become synonymous with his philanthropic efforts and his kind-hearted nature, it'll no doubt come as a surprise to many in the country music world that Jelly's appearance on ‘Hard Fought Hallelujah’ has been seen as a controversial move by a handful of fans.

In the clip, Jelly Roll movingly reflects, “This is so hard to talk about, because I've been called a ‘lukewarm’, a ‘fence-rider’, I've been called a ‘cussing Christian’. You know, I've had all these people...and I know that God's got a lot more to do with me. I know that. I know I got a long way to go, and I know that my heart was only to share the faith that changed my life”, before underlining that he chooses to express and explore his spirituality in his own way, “I might wear it a little different than other people, I might say things that other Christians don't think are right to say, but ultimately, I have a heart for God and I have a heart for Jesus”.

He goes on to praise Brandon Lake for not succumbing to outside expectations when deciding who to have as a guest on ‘Hard Fought Hallelujah’, “You are thinking so dangerously outside of the box, even with me, dude, you could have called anybody else in this town, and something a little less controversial”. Endearingly, Lake immediately responds by explaining why he chose Jelly, “Because I got his heart”.

Jelly Roll extends the sweet moment by again outlining his gratitude for Brandon Lake, “Thank you, brother, for picking me, man. I mean that. Thank you for picking me, brother.”

Earlier in the week, Jelly Roll gushed about the impact Brandon Lake's solo rendition of ‘Hard Fought Hallelujah’ has had on him, “The first time I heard ‘Hard Fought Hallelujah’, I haven't had a record touch me like that in so long. It's been years since I worshipped the way that I worshipped to that song. Because like I carry my faith with me, but I'm also struggling, and very honest and open about that. I've been so bitter and hurt by the church, and their dogma, that I created my own”.

He expanded, “I believe music meets us where we are. I needed that record when I heard it, but then to double-back and be like, ‘Yo, there's a chance you could work on this record’ with this guy, and I'm like, ‘Whoa. God sends me the record, and not only does he want me to listen to it and worship, he wants me to live with it and learn it’”.

‘Hard Fought Hallelujah’ is an inspiring, motivational battle-cry designed to offer encouragement to those who are struggling, with Lake and Jelly combining to highlight how they've leaned on their faith to overcome their own troubles and challenges.

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