When it comes to Brandon Lake's music, what matters to the Contemporary Christian singer/songwriter more than anything are the messages he shares with fans and followers. Not the streams, not the sales, not the likes, and definitely not the celebrity.
"I'm not doing this to try to be a rock star," the five-time GRAMMY winner says. "I genuinely want to be a leader and a shepherd of people's hearts, and that's who Jesus was. He was after people's hearts … he was always a champion and a king of people's hearts."
That sentiment inspired — and is felt throughout — Lake's fifth album, the aptly titled King of Hearts. Across 16 tracks, he offers more of the heartfelt, motivational music that has made him a star, all while giving glory back to God. From pump-up songs like "SEVENS" to the pop-rock of "But God," and the gospel "I Know a Name" (a duet with 17-time GRAMMY winner CeCe Winans) to "Right in the Middle" featuring Christian hip-hop artist Hulvey, Lake asserts there is something for everyone's tastes.
The album's second single, "Hard Fought Hallelujah" has taken Lake's career to a new level, particularly thanks to a remix with GRAMMY-nominated country star Jelly Roll. Though it wasn't his first time tapping into his country influences (Lake collaborated with Thomas Rhett on a live version of "Talking to Jesus" in 2023), his latest collab offers a universal message so powerful that it's become a crossover hit, not just a staple on Christian radio.
Along with becoming Lake's first entry on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, "Hard Fought Hallelujah" has been leading the singer's success that's landed him two performances at the Grand Ole Opry, appearances on "American Idol," and sold-out arena shows around North America.
While Lake's appeal is in part due to his infectious positivity, it's also because of his genre-blending style; as "Hard Fought Hallelujah" suggests, King of Hearts incorporates rap, pop and rock into his gospel-driven, country-inspired sound. It furthers the relatability that Lake has displayed since his debut with 2016's Closer, and the impassioned faith that's been instilled in him since childhood.
The son of a pastor, Lake has made it his mission to spread God's word in his own way, even serving as the worship leader at Seacoast Church in his native Charleston, S.C., when he's not on the road. It's all led him to becoming one of Contemporary Christian music's most beloved acts in recent years. And, if "Hard Fought Hallelujah" is any indication, King of Hearts is sure to spread Lake's gospel to even more listeners in the months and years to come.
Lake talked with GRAMMY.com about faith, the universal sentiments on King of Hearts, staying grounded, and his deepening friendship with Jelly Roll.
This past February you were invited to step into the hallowed circle at The Grand Ole Opry. Talk about that experience.
Yeah, I got to do my Opry debut, which is just an incredible honor. I don't think I've ever been more nervous in my life than stepping into the circle, thinking about all of the legends that have been there before me … and sharing who I am, some of my songs, and what God is doing in my life. I was afraid nobody was going to know who I was, but when I stepped onto the stage, and they announced my name, luckily a lot of fans had shown up and the place just went crazy. By the middle of my set, everybody was on their feet with their hands in the air.
And, then, earlier this month, I got invited back to curate my own night and invite some of my friends. That evening was on another level. It went from something that I felt I did not deserve to do, to something that now oddly feels like home.
When I got to go back, I was like, Man, what an honor to feel like you belong somewhere where all your heroes have gone before you. It's hard to put into words the emotion and the energy of that place. There is a reverence and a respect there that I've never experienced before.
You are a Contemporary Christian worship singer/songwriter and you grew up the son of a pastor, but listening to the songs on King of Hearts it's clear you are influenced by a variety of genres.
I am the combination of a lot of things, but Christian and country music have formed me the most. I grew up listening to Christian radio, but I'd come home from school and watch CMT. God has been so kind to give me a journey where I've been able to collaborate with a lot of my heroes and that makes me who I am today. I'm a sponge, so I just try to steal the gold from all the people I've gotten to work and write with.
In a lot of ways, I feel like it's easy for a lot of my colleagues and fellow artists to celebrate what God is doing in my life because they know that their fingerprints are on my life and I've got to glean from all of those heroes and people I've created with. I would not be where I am today without an army of people that I've gotten to create and collaborate with. Even with Jelly Roll, as of late, and getting to collaborate with him … even more than the song, just falling in love with his heart; he's become like a brother to me and there's a real, true friendship between us. I believe that's why people are so drawn to this music.
How did the collaboration with Jelly Roll happen?
When I wrote "Hard Fought Hallelujah" with some friends of mine, I felt like the lyrics were something that would resonate with his story. I've been so inspired by his story. I've been watching and following him over the past few years and was just so proud of his journey.
When I reached out to him, I had no idea he had already heard the song on TikTok and had fallen in love with the song and was waiting for it to come out. I thought it might be a long shot, but he was an immediate yes.
We then got on the phone to talk about it. And, for the first hour we just talked about being fathers and husbands and touring life, trying to find balance — just real life stuff. We became friends immediately and he felt like family. At the end of the call, we were like, "We're doing this song!"
Now, we talk every few days to just catch up. He has shared so much wisdom with me and he's also been very honest about how much my influence has rubbed off on him and given him more confidence to talk about his relationship with God and his struggles.
Considering your upbringing, I'm guessing there were never any doubts that a life of service — in some way or form — was your calling?
Yes. I grew up in the church. A lot of people have had bad experiences with church, but I'm super grateful that my family always had a great relationship with the church and made it a safe place for me. It always felt like a home away from home where the community comes together and shares in everything that we have, and does life together, and encourages one another and lifts each other up, and prays for one another.
I wouldn't be here without that foundation of faith and a community that is cheering me on. To this day, I'm still on staff at my church and I get to sing there when I'm home. And, with everything that's going on in my life now, they are my biggest cheerleaders. It's rare to find a healthy church, but they do exist. I have found one and it has kept me grounded and been a source of health for me in this wild season that I'm in!
With all of the growing fame in what you just referred to as a "wild season," how do you stay grounded, find humility, and keep the hubris and ego away?
You have friends that are proud of you, but not impressed by you. Also, having a community that can champion you, but also ask you the hard questions and make sure that you're actually doing well and that your priorities are in the right place and you are taking care of your family, which should always come first … very simply, just have kids and it will keep you humble! [Laughs.]
I took my kids to an awards' show where I won, like, every award in the categories we were in. We walked away with four awards and the only thing my kids could ask me the whole night was if there was another artist that was going to be there!
Family keeps you humble, but it's really about surrounding yourself with the right people that remind you what real success is all about. That's how you're making an impact, not how many followers you have or how well your songs are streaming. That's all fun — and it is important and cool to celebrate — but the real thing we always measure our success on, or our influence by, is how many people we impact, helping them out, and pointing them to Jesus.
Speaking of influence and inspirations, where did the title King of Hearts come from?
I actually got that tattooed on my finger about two years ago — a little k and a heart — just to remind me that whether I'm on the stage or I'm at somebody's house, or wherever I am, that it's always about people. I'm not trying to do this to be famous. I genuinely want to be a leader and a shepherd of people's hearts, and that's who Jesus was. He was after people's hearts — and no matter what they did, where they've been, how long they've been running from him — he was always a champion and a king of people's hearts.
I want to be known as somebody that deeply cares about people. I thought it was cool, you know, I'm looking at my finger, and we start writing a song one day, and I'm like, we should write a song called "King of Hearts." We kind of stumbled into it, and then it just felt like the perfect title as an umbrella for all of these songs.
A lot of times we think about God being this massive being that's the King of creation, the King of the universe, and reigning this far off kingdom. And, all of those interpretations are important, but none is more important than Him being the king of our hearts. That's what He's after and that's why He created us, so that we could exist with Him and have a relationship with Him.
In that song I talk about the fact that He's also the King of the broken, the King of the lonely, the King of the hopeless, King of the misfits, and even the King of the critics. [God] was always about people and wanting to get a hold of their heart. That's what I want to remind people of with this record. No matter what you've done or how far you've gone, or how much you've turned away from Him, He still wants a relationship with you … He gave up his life so that He could have a relationship with you. It doesn't matter who you are, He wants to know you and loves you.
That is a powerful message. It's obviously resonating with people, considering your summer tour is sold out and you're embarking on a 50-city tour in support of King of Hearts this fall and into 2026.
We've been touring arenas the past two years now and it's been incredible; it's mind blowing that that many people show up. This time, we are even doing a few stadiums. I'm excited to get out there on the King of Hearts Tour and sing these new songs. There's just a different energy to them.
The best way I can explain it is, it's like a spiritual weightlifting session with other people. When I get in the gym by myself, there is a level I push myself to, but when you get in the room with somebody else, you always push yourself a little bit further. Then, there's just that crazy energy when you get thousands of people in the room.
What I tell people about our show is that it is not just entertainment … they are going to have a real encounter with God. That's what we are going after. And, my greatest prayer is that everybody who walks through those doors every night walks out better than they came in. We're here to lift people up and help them; I think they'll leave feeling inspired. There's going to be a whole lot of rock and roll mixed with country and beautiful melodic moments. I hope to make you laugh and make you cry.
It's probably not hard to reach fellow Christians who share your faith, but do you find you are now attracting a secular audience that loves your music and are not necessarily all-in on God's message?
Definitely. You don't have to be a believer to listen to and enjoy my music. I mean the proof that me and Jelly Roll are doing a song together and there are a lot of people that are like, "I don't believe what you believe, but man I love this song as it makes me feel something." That feeling is what people are going to hear on this record, and that's what I'm most proud of … that it's just great music. I just happen to be writing about something I really believe in and is the most important subject in the world, but sonically I'm also really proud of the way the record sounds.
You can come to a tour night and not believe, but belong. And, I want people to belong before they believe … anyone and everyone is welcome at my shows. I just want every single person to have an amazing time and be even inspired by the music alone. Because, I mean, listen, I've played with a lot of different people, and I'm getting to be in rooms with amazing musicians, and I still stand by the fact that I have the best band in the world. So, if you even don't want to come see me, you're going to come see an incredible band that's going to blow you away. I love that, even beyond the message, the music itself is moving and inspiring.
Any final thoughts on King of Hearts?
I'll just say there's a song for everybody. We've had a lot of professional baseball players reach out saying they are going to make the song "SEVENS" their walk-up song. I think the record is also going to resonate with families. I write a lot about my kids and the importance of family.
So, you know, even if you hear a song on my Instagram and you are like, "It's not necessarily my style," it's worth checking out the record, because there is everything from rap to country to rock and roll to pop, because I love it all and can't help that every time I chase another song sometimes it comes out a little different. I listen to everything and I just try to find Him.