Jelly Roll Teases Collab With Chart-Topping Christian Artist—and I'm Singing Hallelujah
Jelly Roll is lending his voice to contemporary Christian singer Brandon Lake's chart-topping hit, "Hard Fought Hallelujah."
Jelly Roll found meteoric success through a combination of grit, hard work, and faith. The “I Am Not Okay” singer has spoken openly about the ways he feels God has influenced his career. So it makes total sense that the Antioch, Tennessee-born artist would dip his toe into Christian music. Jelly recently announced a new collab with contemporary Christian hitmaker Brandon Lake.
In November, Brandon Lake notched his sixth No. 1 hit on the Hot Christian Songs chart with “Hard Fought Hallelujah.” The song’s crossover appeal also gave the Charleston, South Carolina-based pastor his first-ever entry on the Billboard Hot 100.
Taking to social media Tuesday (Jan. 21), Lake teased a brand-new version of “Hard Fought Hallelujah” featuring genre-bending sensation Jelly Roll.
The lyrics could have been ripped from a Jelly Roll hit: I’ll bring my hard-fought, heartfelt, been-through-hell hallelujah / And I’ll bring my storm-tossed, torn-sail / Story-to-tell hallelujah.
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The soulful, rock-tinged cover hits the airwaves Feb. 7. And that day can’t come soon enough for fans. “WHAT?! The mashup I didn’t know I needed in my life,” one fan wrote on X/Twitter. “This is amazing.”
Lake independently released his debut album, Closer, in 2016 after securing the funds through a GoFundMe crowdraising campaign. The 34-year-old signed with Bethel Music three years later, and has released three albums since then.
Lake’s music has earned him five Grammy Awards, most recently in 2023 for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album with Breathe. He is up for two awards at this year’s upcoming ceremony, including another Best Contemporary Christian Music Album nod for 2023’s Coat Of Many Colors.
[RELATED: Jelly Roll’s Impassioned Speech From a Nashville Prison Carries Life Lessons We Can All Learn From]
Jelly Roll has made no bones about his Christian faith since rising to stardom. In a particularly memorable acceptance speech, the singer, born Jason DeFord, called himself “God’s least likely messenger.”
“God never called the equipped. God always equipped the call. I think that I am a living manifestation of that,” he told Fox News.
In a recent interview, Brandon Lake praised the “Son of a Sinner” hitmaker’s love for the Lord.
“[We’ve] had some amazing conversations and I can’t wait for you to hear how this song means so much to him and the whole story,” Lake said. It’s just really cool, man! To God be all the glory.”
Featured image by John Salangsang/Shutterstock