‘American Idol’ Easter Special: Jelly Roll and Brandon Lake Serve Up Redemption With “Hard Fought Hallelujah” Duet

Conquering the country music charts with songs like “Need a Favor” and “Liar,” Jelly Roll continues to expand his resume. The three-time 2025 ACM Award nominee is currently living out a lifelong dream as American Idol’s first-ever artist-in-residence. Aside from music and his family, the “Son of a Sinner” singer (born Jason DeFord) has publicly spoken about his faith. Taking the stage with Christian music hitmaker Brandon Lake during American Idol‘s “Songs of Faith” special, Jelly Roll delivered a characteristically fiery performance.

Jelly Roll, Brandon Lake Team Up For Easter Sunday Performance

Celebrating Easter Sunday, Idol contestants and celebrity guests performed faith-based songs as the season 23 hopefuls vied to stay in the competition one more week.

Alongside chart-topping Christian singer Brandon Lake, Jelly Roll took American Idol viewers to church with a soul-stirring performance of their recent collab, “Hard Fought Hallelujah.”

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Released last November, the song’s original version helped Lake gain entry onto Billboard Hot 200 for the first time. In February, he and Jelly Roll released their rock-tinged spin on “Hard Fought Hallelujah.”

Go ahead Brandon Lake and represent! #americanidol

— Danielle Patrice (@The1stlady09) April 21, 2025

“I haven’t had a record touch me like that in so long,” said the “I Am Not Okay” crooner, 40. “It’s been years since I worshipped the way that I worshipped to that song.”

[RELATED: Every Singer Performing on ‘American Idol’s First-Ever Easter Special]

How Carrie Underwood Inspired ‘American Idol’s’ First Easter Episode

In addition to Jelly Roll and Brandon Lake, American Idol judges Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, and Carrie Underwood each took the stage to perform during the “Songs of Faith” special. And Bryan largely credits his newest colleague for tonight’s theme. In fact, if you’ve noticed an influx of gospel and faith-based performances compared to seasons past, he told Billboard that the first-time judge also had “a little something to do with that.”

“She’s never shied away from her spirituality and her Christian beliefs and she’s done it through music and it’s been a part of her artistry and the kids this year have showed up with more of that maybe than in years past, and that’s been something really, really special to watch,” Bryan said. “I’m sure she probably thinks, ‘Am I making a difference?’ but it showed this year.”

Featured image by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Jelly Roll’s Goodnight Nashville