Brandon Lake has built up a successful career in Contemporary Christian Music over the past decade, and he’s recently been dipping in his toe into country music, teaming with Jelly Roll for the successful duet “Hard Fought Hallelujah” and Cody Johnson for the new song “When A Cowboy Prays.”
In a new interview with Ty Bentli, Lake revealed that those two collaborations inspired him to begin working on a full country album, sharing that “that’s where we’re headed.” Explaining his “mission statement for this next foreseeable future,” Lake shared that he’s “trying to reach the Bubbas.” The Texas native went on to explain that “Bubbas” are “the people that are like, they got dragged to church if even, but they got dragged to the church by their wife. They’re on the back row, and they’re trying to figure this thing out.”
“They’re getting side-eyed on Sunday,” he continued, adding, “They know the truth, but they’re just trying to figure it out and take one step forward after another.”
Lake went on to praise Jelly Roll for his “honesty” in sharing his faith journey, which Lake believes he “owns” in a way that says, “I’m not there yet, but I’m on my way.” “I just feel like too often we forget about that dude in the back row,” he said. “And so that’s what I’m hoping on this next record.”
Lake gave fans a peek into his upcoming album with a new social media video that features footage of himself with country stars like Lainey Wilson, HARDY, Thomas Rhett, Bailey Zimmerman and more working on new music, playing guitar together, recording in the studio and just laughing together. The clip ends with the words “To be continued,” and Lake explained in his caption that “God put a dream in my heart to start loving on and encouraging those leading in the country music space.”
The 35-year-old revealed that he and his team recently hosted over 25 country artists along with some of Lake’s “closest friends in the faith based music space” for a creative retreat where they wrote over 43 songs in just five days. “IDK what this next chapter looks like BUT I know it’s gonna be special because it was birthed from genuine love and friendship,” Lake wrote. “Praying God continues to allow me to love this community that’s blessed me so much and if He’s willing allow me to contribute a lil something of my own.”
Along with Wilson, HARDY, Rhett and Zimmerman, tagged accounts on the post also include Dan + Shay, Russell Dickerson, Christian artist Benjamin William Hastings, songwriter Trannie Anderson and Lake’s previous collaborators Micah Nichols, Hank Bentley and Jacob Sooter.
“Thank you to everyone who poured out your heart and poured into me over those special 5 days,” Lake’s caption concluded. “God bless Country & Christian Music!”
Lake’s new project could certainly follow in the footsteps of “Hard Fought Hallelujah,” which Went to No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Christian and Christian Airplay charts and became Billboard’s No. 1 Christian song of 2025. “When A Cowboy Prays” with Johnson is likely to see success as well, and Lake teased a song titled “The Jesus I Know Now” back in November that he wrote with Wilson, indicating that that collaboration could be arriving sooner rather than later.
