Brandon Lake and Jelly Roll Deliver a Showstopping “Hard Fought Hallelujah” on American Idol!

For the first time ever, American Idol celebrated Easter Sunday with a full “Songs of Faith” special — and two of the biggest moments came when Brandon Lake teamed up with Jelly Roll, who’s also serving as the show’s first-ever Artist in Residence.

They joined forces to perform a powerful duet of Lake’s hit “Hard Fought Hallelujah,” sending chills across the stage. ✨
Brandon opened with his soaring vocals, pouring raw emotion into every word, before Jelly Roll jumped in with his gritty, heartfelt verse. When the two came together on the chorus, the whole arena felt like a revival — their voices blending perfectly, shaking the room with passion and faith. 🙌

🎶 “I’ll bring my hard-fought, heartfelt, been-through-hell hallelujah…” 🎶

The performance ended with a roaring standing ovation from Lionel Richie, Carrie Underwood, and Luke Bryan. 👏🔥
Carrie even shared that Brandon’s music is a “staple” in her house and car — and Brandon was clearly thrilled to meet his longtime idol too!

“Hard Fought Hallelujah” first dropped in late 2024 as a solo track, shooting straight to #1 on Billboard’s Digital Songs Chart. In early 2025, Brandon invited Jelly Roll to reimagine it as a duet — a collaboration that has touched fans everywhere.

🌟 Brandon Lake’s new album King of Hearts arrives June 13, 2025, and he’s hitting the road this fall with the King of Hearts Tour featuring Franni Cash!
📺 Plus, catch Brandon and Jelly Roll performing live again on Jimmy Kimmel Live! this April 24th!

This unforgettable Easter special also featured songs from Carrie Underwood, Lionel Richie, Luke Bryan, CeCe Winans, and the Idol Top 24 — marking the first time in Idol history that an entire episode was dedicated to songs of faith and hope.