Jelly Roll made CMA Fest 2025 unforgettable on Friday night (June 6) with not one, but two surprise appearances that brought faith, worship, and raw emotion to the heart of Nashville. The genre-defying superstar stunned tens of thousands of fans with back-to-back performances that left the crowd cheering, crying, and raising their hands in worship.
Jelly Roll Joins Shaboozey for a Soul-Stirring “Amen” Performance
The night began with a high-energy surprise collaboration as Jelly Roll took the stage with viral sensation Shaboozey to perform their breakout hit “Amen” in front of a crowd of more than 70,000 fans.
The crowd erupted as the two launched into the emotionally honest anthem that wrestles with addiction, redemption, and the need for divine help:
“Somebody say a prayer for me / ’Cause the pills ran out and I still can’t sleep…”
“Amen” appears on the deluxe edition of Shaboozey’s acclaimed album Where I’ve Been, Isn’t Where I’m Going, released May 31, 2024. The song has already gained momentum after performances at Stagecoach, the ACM Awards, and now CMA Fest — and fans can’t seem to get enough of the duo’s chemistry and honesty.
Jelly Roll & Brandon Lake Bring Worship to CMA Fest
But Jelly wasn’t done. In a truly breathtaking moment, he returned to the stage alongside Christian artist Brandon Lake for their emotional duet “Hard Fought Hallelujah.”
As the two began to sing, a glowing cross appeared above the stage, and the atmosphere shifted from concert to revival. The audience lifted their hands, sang along, and many were moved to tears.
“We love you, Lord. Thank you for letting us testify tonight at the CMA Fest, Father God,” Jelly Roll declared, his voice trembling with emotion.
Brandon Lake later shared that he had specifically sought Jelly out for the collaboration because of Jelly’s powerful testimony of redemption.
“I wanted to share this song with somebody that had a really beautiful and hard-fought story,” Brandon told K-LOVE. “The first person I thought of was Jelly.”
From Incarceration to Impact: Jelly Roll’s Journey
Jelly Roll’s personal story has inspired millions. Once incarcerated for drug charges and armed robbery as a teenager, he has transformed his life and career into a platform for hope and healing.
“From a jail cell to a K-LOVE Award — that’s something only God can do,” Jelly shared during an emotional speech after the pair won Song of the Year at the K-LOVE Fan Awards for “Hard Fought Hallelujah.”
He added:
“Brandon, thank you for letting me be part of this record. Thank you to the fans for voting. And thank you, K-LOVE, for taking a chance on me. I don’t take this lightly.”
A Movement Bigger Than Music
In April 2025, Jelly and Brandon took “Hard Fought Hallelujah” to the Stagecoach Festival, performing in front of 75,000 fans in what Brandon described as one of the most spiritually intense moments of his life.
“WHAT JUST HAPPENED?!!! 🤯 God’s so kind,” Brandon posted after the event. “As unforgettable as the moments on stage were, I’m even more grateful for the profound conversations backstage.”
These performances are part of something bigger — a movement where faith and music collide, and testimonies take center stage.
Watch the Performance
Want to see it for yourself?
👉 Watch Jelly Roll and Brandon Lake’s unforgettable performance of “Hard Fought Hallelujah” at Stagecoach below.