Thu Nov 20 04:10:00 UTC 2025: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jelly Roll’s CMA Performance of “Believe” Sparks Collaboration, Dove Award Win
Nashville, TN – Last year’s CMA Awards is still making waves for a moving performance of Brooks & Dunn’s “Believe” featuring Jelly Roll, a collaboration that has had a lasting impact on the musicians involved. The performance, described as “the most moving music collaboration” by one fan, left the audience in tears and on their feet.
The performance of the feel-good song, co-written by Ronnie Dunn and Craig Wiseman, resonated deeply, inspiring Christian singer Brandon Lake to reach out to Jelly Roll for a collaboration on his song “Hard Fought Hallelujah”.
“He didn’t know who I was, but was like, ‘This song rips. This thing is amazing,’” Lake told American Songwriter.
Despite initial perceptions, the pair discovered a shared connection. “I’m honored that I was the call,” Jelly Roll told K-Love. “I’m a Brandon Lake fan… What he’s doing for Christian music, even outside of Christian music — he’s taking it further than I’ve seen anybody take it in a long time.”
“Hard Fought Hallelujah” earned Jelly Roll his first Dove Award for Song of the Year and has now led to a CMA Award nomination for Musical Event of the Year. Jelly Roll is nominated for tonight’s CMA Award for Musical Event of the Year, also for “Hard Fought Hallelujah”.
First Piper 