Jelly Roll and Brandon Lake Bring “Hard Fought Hallelujah” to the World Stage

Brandon Lake’s powerful single “Hard Fought Hallelujah” has reached new heights with a 2025 collaboration featuring country star Jelly Roll. Originally released in 2024, the worship anthem gained a fresh wave of attention when Lake invited Jelly Roll to join the project earlier this year.

In an interview with KLOVE, Lake explained his decision:

“I wanted to share this song with somebody that had a really beautiful and hard-fought story, and the first person that came to mind was Jelly.”

Jelly Roll’s journey is one of redemption and transformation. Once incarcerated as a teenager for selling drugs and later charged with armed robbery, he has turned his life around to become one of the most influential artists in the world. Today, he stands as a living example that change is possible.

Speaking about the collaboration, Jelly Roll shared:

“I’m honored that I was the call. I’m a Brandon Lake fan… What he’s doing for Christian music — even outside of Christian music — he’s taking it further than I’ve seen anybody take it in a long time.”

Since its release, the duo has performed “Hard Fought Hallelujah” on some of the biggest stages worldwide, including the Grand Ole Opry and American Idol, bringing their message of hope, faith, and perseverance to a global audience.

Jelly Roll and Brandon Lake Turn Stagecoach Into a Night of Worship

The 2025 Stagecoach Festival in Indio, California — held from April 25th to April 27th — was filled with unforgettable performances from the biggest names in country music. This year’s headliners included Zach Bryan, Jelly Roll, and Luke Combs, alongside surprise sets from Mumford & Sons and supporting acts like Brothers Osborne, Lana Del Rey, Sturgill Simpson, Nelly, and Midland.

But one of the most talked-about moments of the weekend came when Jelly Roll turned the festival into a powerful worship experience.

As the headliner, Jelly Roll brought several special guests to the stage, including Machine Gun Kelly (MGK), Lana Del Rey, and Christian artist Brandon Lake. When Lake joined him to perform their gospel collaboration “Hard Fought Hallelujah,” something unexpected happened — the entire crowd sang along to the Christian hit.

Brandon Lake was visibly moved. He later posted a TikTok recap, saying:

“WHAT JUST HAPPENED?!!! 🤯🤯🤯 I don’t even know how to process all that just went down. Something wild is happening I wish I could tell each of you about. God’s so kind. As unforgettable as the moments on stage were, I’m thankful mostly for all the profound convos backstage. Hoping we get the invite back after how you all responded to last night. That was wild!!!”

Not only did Jelly Roll perform the song, but he also shared the Gospel through the set — something one TikTok account noted by saying, “He made the whole set about Jesus.”

From a desert festival to a worship-filled night, Jelly Roll and Brandon Lake proved that faith and music can unite thousands in a truly unforgettable way.

@dayynaa JELLY ROLL MAKING HIS WHOLE SET ABOUT JESUS🥹❤️ @Brandon Lake @BOOZEY @Bunnie Xo 🪄 #jellyroll #stagecoach #christian #christiantiktok #relatable ♬ original sound – Dayna marie

In an interview, Jelly Roll shared that he might not be what you expect a “Christian” to be, but he is “all about Jesus.”

“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.”