Fifteen miles south of Las Vegas, Brandon Lake sits backstage at a packed arena in Henderson, Nevada, hours before performing for thousands. He’s on tour for his latest album, “King of Hearts,” a Christian release that defies easy categorization by blending pop, rock, country, and hip-hop—a mix not typically associated with worship music.
This eclectic approach is connecting with a wide audience. The album peaked at No. 7 on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart, a significant achievement for a contemporary Christian music (CCM) release. It also secured Lake his first Top 40 hit with “Hard Fought Hallelujah,” a collaboration with country singer Jelly Roll.
“It’s the marriage of awesome production with an awesome message. A message of hope,” Lake explains. “There is strength that can be found, and hope that can be found, in the midst of the hell that you are walking through. And then you pair that with an awesome sound and it’s like, who’s not going to love that?”
This month, Lake earned three nominations for the 2025 Grammy Awards, adding to his five previous wins and 15 career nods. “Being recognized, to me, that’s recognizing the millions of people’s lives that have been impacted by this music and the message,” he says. “It’s definitely a pinch-me moment.”
His mainstream reach was further highlighted by his first-ever Country Music Association Award nomination for musical event of the year for “Hard Fought Hallelujah,” placing him in a category alongside secular artists.
“I think it is a crossover moment and I pray that it is,” Lake says. “I’m trying to cross over into any and every space that God will allow that is authentic to who I am. I grew up on country music; I grew up on Christian music. Quote-unquote Christian music, worship music… it doesn’t really make sense having a genre, because it’s what we do with our lives. It’s not a sound.”
This perspective reflects modern listening habits. Holly Zabka, president of the Sony-owned Christian music label Provident, notes that listeners no longer define their taste by genre. “She’ll go from a Luke Combs song to a Brandon Lake song to Harry Styles, that’s how she listens,” Zabka says of her daughter. “I think that’s where Christian music is finding its footing as well. It can exist alongside every other genre.”
Lake is a leading figure in a movement seeing Christian artists gain significant traction. According to a midyear report from industry data firm Luminate, streams of new Christian and gospel music have grown while other genres have seen slight declines. Luminate attributes this to a “younger, streaming-forward fanbase” that is 60% female and 30% millennial, with artists like Lake, Forrest Frank, and Elevation Worship leading the charge.
“I pray it’s just the beginning, and I pray that it takes over,” Lake says. “And not the genre of Christian music, but songs—whatever genre they are—that carry the message of the gospel.”
He believes the music’s growing popularity stems from a deeper need. “The reason why people are turning their ear towards those kinds of songs right now is because that’s what they were made for,” he explains. “Music doesn’t just have to be entertainment. They can have a spiritual experience… They can receive hope and life and faith.”
That message is particularly crucial in a divided world, Lake adds. “I think people are waking up—especially with the state of our world and all the craziness that’s going on—everyone’s like, ‘We need to choose love.’ Well, the greatest demonstration of love is the gospel.”
In September, Lake performed at a memorial service for conservative personality Charlie Kirk, who was shot and killed at a Utah college event. The invitation came as a surprise. “I didn’t know him at all,” Lake recalls. He says his team was told the Kirk family “listened to my music and, you know, it was a soundtrack of their faith.” After his wife urged him to go, he accepted without hesitation.
“We quickly said we are not going there to make a political statement. And there will be so much politics represented in the room,” he says. “We are going to minister to a widow.”
Reflecting on the service, he adds, “While the world was turning to violence, we watched millions of people turn to worship and choose to sing praise to God. Even though there was politics represented, the gospel was shared so many times… It was just such an incredible honor.”
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