Brandon Lake & Jelly Roll, Hard Fought Hallelujah | Dazzling Duets

In the eighth edition of Dazzling Duets (2025), Brandon Lake and Jelly Roll collaborate on “Hard Fought Hallelujah.”

Sometimes, two is better than one! That is the case when it comes to Dazzling Duets! On Dazzling Duets, we highlight ear-catching songs performed by two artists collaborating. These duets can be from any musical style, making Dazzling Duets a flexible, versatile column on The Musical Hype. In the eighth edition of Dazzling Duets (2025), Brandon Lake and Jelly Roll collaborate on “Hard Fought Hallelujah”. Let the dazzle begin!

“I’ll bring my hard-fought heartfelt / Been-through-hell hallelujah / I’ll bring my storm-tossed, torn-sail / Story to tell, hallelujah.” Amen! Better yet, hallelujah! When it comes to religious music, more often than not, I gravitate towards gospel more than CCM (contemporary Christian music). I grew up with hymns and old-school traditional, southern, and black gospel.  Many times, CCM just hasn’t been my cup of tea. However, sometimes, it takes just one phenomenal song by a more innovative artist to pique my interests, cause me to give a neglected sub-genre another look. Brandon Lake is that artist, turning heads with his 2025 album, King of Hearts. Billboard describes the project as ‘more genre-defying than ever, folding in country, pop, hard rock, gospel and more, while still being strongly centered on his unflinchingly honest message of faith, healing and an unwavering belief in redemption’[i]. The song that moved me, as well as everybody else, is the fourth track from the album, “Hard Fought Hallelujah”, which he sings with the talented, widely popular country musician, Jelly Roll. Lake and Jelly Roll co-wrote “Hard Fought Hallelujah” with Steven Furtick, Benjamin William Hastings, and Chris Brown (of Elevation Worship). Micah Nichols and Rodrick Simmons produced the epic, high-flying CCM duet.  Lake earned his first entry on the pop charts.  “Hard Fought Hallelujah” reached number 40 on the Billboard Hot 100, a rare feat for a Christian or gospel single.

The musicianship is one of the things that stand out in this Christian song. There are numerous musical cues from various genres: country, rock, and gospel. Two key instruments are the guitar (you can’t have CCM without it) and the organ (a gospel must). Both instruments, as well as the rest of the band, give Lake and Jelly Roll a celestial backdrop. Lake takes first blood on this collaborative version of this song.  He sounds incredibly authentic in his performance, exhibiting gritty, nuanced, and incredibly powerful vocals.  Lake sounds as if he’s experienced his fair share of adversity and tribulation.  “There’s times when my hands go up freely / And times that it costs,” he sings, continuing, “There’s days when a praise comes out easy / And days when it takes all the strength I’ve got.” As a Christian, what he’s saying is relatable and spot on. Yes, ideally, that praise should come out in good and bad times without a hitch, but he’s honest that it’s not always the case.  We are imperfect – all sinners.

Lake follows up the first verse with the centerpiece, the chorus (excerpted earlier), which is chock-full of soul. He continues:

“God, You’ve been patient

God, You’ve been gracious

Faithful whatever I’m feeling or facing

So, I’ll bring my hard-fought, heartfelt

It is well, hallelujah

Woah-oh-oh-oh

Hallelujah, hallelujah.”

During the chorus, Lake gets great support from the chorus. Although he has a tough act to follow, Jelly Roll shines, too, elevating the spirit. He concludes the second verse, powerfully, “My head, heart, and hands are feeling heavy / And that’s when I lift them just a little higher.” Joined by the anointed choir, Jelly Roll sings the mighty chorus, which only grows more spirited with each iteration.  The bridge marks another stirring moment from Lake and Jelly Roll, who show tremendous vocal chemistry duetting.  The words are few, but this section transitions to the biggest, most moving chorus of them all, and the first where both artists sing together.  Lake and Jelly Roll cap things off with an outro, where, even after five-plus minutes, you don’t want “Hard Fought Hallelujah” to end.  A terrific, thoughtfully written and performed Christian record, “Hallelujah” is best experienced by listening rather than written analysis, letting it touch your heart and, most importantly, your soul.

[i] Atkinson, K., Bain, K., Brown, E. R., Daw, S., Denis, K., Diaz, A., DiGiacomo, F., Duffy, T., Flores, G., Green, Q., Grein, P., Lamarre, C., Leight, E., Lipshutz, J., Lynch, J., Mamo, H., Milzoff, R., Newman, M., Nicholson, J., … Wisneski, K. (2025, June 24). The 50 best albums of 2025 so far (staff picks). Billboard. https://www.billboard.com/lists/best-albums-2025-so-far/