Since Brandon Lake collaborated with Jelly Roll on Lake’s hit single “Hard Fought Hallelujah” in February, Lake has helped the Grammy Award-winning country music star, whose real name is Jason Bradley DeFord, put his faith journey on full display.
Jelly Roll previously spent two stints in prison for aggravated robbery and intent to distribute illegal drugs. In 2016, he married Alyssa DeFord, who left the sex industry in 2023. Jelly Roll and his wife have full custody of his two children from previous relationships.
In conversations between Jelly Roll and Lake to promote the song, Jelly Roll has been open about his faith and the struggles he has with the church.
The “Son of a Sinner” singer told Lake, “It’s been years since I worshiped the way that I worshiped” to “Hard Fought Hallelujah.” Jelly Roll added that he “needed that record when I heard it.”
During a recent interview with K-LOVE Morning Show’s Carlos, Lake, who is known for creating captivating worship songs, defended his collaboration with Jelly Roll. “I don’t know what Bible somebody’s reading that would hate on a collaboration like this,” he said.
Lake continued, “If you look at Jesus’ life, look who he spent time with. Even the 12 he called were jacked up—you know.”
“My favorite thing I hear is when people go, ‘But then he told them to go and sin no more.’ And I’m like, just like, you quit sinning, Susan,” Jelly Roll chimed in. “When he told you to quit—so you’ve never sinned again, Susan?”
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An emotional Jelly Roll told Carlos that when he and Lake started talking, Lake treated him in a way he had wished the church would have.
“[Lake] said to me on the phone everything that I wish the church would have,” Jelly Roll said. “The way he made me feel is like, man, if I felt this way on Sunday when I went to a couple of churches, God knows where my journey would be at right now.” He added, “Maybe the thing is that [if people weren’t] still mad at me for not being where they think I should be, maybe I’d already be there.”
After being asked what he believes the church has gotten wrong, Jelly Roll answered, “Patience.”
