Brandon Lake Is Leading a New Wave of Christian Music

Before the Grammy wins. Before the sold-out arenas. Before “Gratitude” echoed through stadiums and “Praise” topped the Christian Airplay charts — Brandon Lake was just a young worship leader in Charleston, South Carolina, with a dream and a wild idea.

“I’ll tattoo your name on my leg if you help me fund my first record,” he promised. That GoFundMe campaign led to 22 names etched into his thigh and the 2016 release of Closer, the album that started it all. It wasn’t a typical beginning, but Brandon Lake has never been one for doing things the usual way.

Over the years, Lake’s career has exploded — not just because of his powerhouse vocals or authentic songwriting, but because of his fearlessness in breaking down walls within the contemporary Christian music (CCM) world. His raw sound, emotional honesty, and collaborations with both sacred and secular artists have helped usher in a fresh wave of interest in faith-based music.

In 2023, his song “Praise,” with Elevation Worship, ruled Billboard’s Hot Christian Songs chart for 31 weeks. That same year, “Gratitude” became a defining anthem, spending 28 weeks at No. 1. These weren’t just hits — they were moments of spiritual connection for millions.

And yet, Brandon hasn’t stopped growing. In November 2024, he reached a new milestone when “Hard Fought Hallelujah,” a deeply personal ballad about faith refined through hardship, debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 — a rare feat for a Christian song. He soon teamed up with genre-bending country star Jelly Roll for a powerful duet version. What started as a song born from Lake’s own struggles found new resonance in Jelly Roll’s journey. Their performance at CMA Fest in June 2025 went viral, earning millions of views in days and introducing Brandon’s music to an even broader audience.

“We’re all broken,” Lake shared. “Some of us are just better at hiding it. But everyone’s on a journey. That’s why this music matters.”

The timing couldn’t be better. CCM is in the midst of a massive cultural surge. Songs like “Hard Fought Hallelujah” and Forrest Frank’s “Your Way’s Better” made history this year by charting on the Billboard Hot 100 together — a first for non-holiday Christian songs in over a decade. Streaming and consumption of Christian music are on the rise globally, and collaborations with mainstream artists are helping to dissolve old boundaries.

Brandon is at the forefront of this movement — a leader among a new generation of CCM artists who aren’t afraid to color outside the lines. Whether it’s incorporating blues, rock, country, or gospel into his worship sound, Lake brings an authenticity that resonates across musical tastes and faith backgrounds.

Released on June 13, 2025, his latest album King of Hearts reflects that bold spirit. It’s a genre-spanning project that dives into gospel (“I Know a Name” with CeCe Winans), country (“Daddy’s DNA,” “Spare Change”), and heavy rock (“Sevens”) while staying rooted in Lake’s signature worship themes. Much of it was recorded in a cozy three-room Charleston studio with longtime collaborator Micah Nichols. You can still hear the demo vocals on the final recordings — an intentional choice that captures the urgency and raw emotion behind each song.

“I’m not chasing a sound anymore,” Lake explains. “I’m chasing a feeling. I want people to feel what I felt when we wrote it — to experience something real.”

Community has always been at the center of his journey. Early co-writes with artists like Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Nate Moore, and Elevation Worship helped shape his sound and identity. In 2019, he co-wrote Cobbs Leonard’s Grammy-nominated “This Is a Move,” a breakthrough moment that opened new doors. Since then, he’s collaborated with Phil Wickham, Maverick City Music, and countless others. In fact, before he had a manager, Lake kept track of his gigs in the Notes app on his phone — a framed relic today that symbolizes just how far he’s come.

In early 2025, he joined forces with some of CCM’s most influential voices to form the supergroup Sons of Sunday. Featuring Lake, Steven Furtick, Nate Moore, Pat Barrett, Chris Brown, and Leeland Mooring, the group debuted four songs on Billboard’s Hot Christian Songs chart and released a self-titled album that hit No. 3 on the Top Christian Albums chart in May.

Despite his growing fame, Lake remains grounded. He lives with his wife, Brittany, and their three sons on a rural property outside Charleston, surrounded by dogs, mini donkeys, and cows. Rather than relocate to Nashville, he’s stayed rooted in the community that nurtured him, often returning to Seacoast Church — the place where it all began — to lead worship or close out tours.

In fact, he structures his King of Hearts tour to protect his health and family rhythm: four shows a week, Thursday through Sunday. It’s a boundary that reflects his hard-earned wisdom about balance, rest, and longevity.

That wisdom was born from hard experiences. After a season of rapid success, Lake fell into a dark place. The adrenaline wore off, and anxiety and depression set in. The 2022 album Help! was born from that valley — an honest reflection of mental health struggles and healing.

Today, he’s equipped with more than just a mic. A health coach, a performance coach, and a strong support system help him navigate the challenges of touring and leadership.

As King of Hearts continues to make waves, Lake’s mission is unchanged: “Every concert, every song — it’s not about the lights or production. I want people to walk away from this tour and say, ‘My life was changed.’ That’s what matters most.”

Adapted and paraphrased from an article by Jessica Nicholson for Billboard.
https://www.billboard.com/music/features/brandon-lake-king-of-hearts-billboard-cover-story-1236000296/