Brandon Lake Sets Boundaries and Rediscovers Balance, Thanks to Jelly Roll’s Viral Phone Toss

Brandon Lake, the Grammy-nominated Christian worship artist behind the new album King of Hearts, recently opened up about a deeply personal transformation—and surprisingly, it all started with a viral moment from country star Jelly Roll.

Last December, Jelly Roll stunned fans when he threw his phone into a river after a sold-out show at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. While it might have seemed like a dramatic stunt, it left a lasting impression on Lake, who revealed in a new interview with Fox News Digital that it inspired him to re-evaluate his boundaries and reclaim his peace.

“He called me on a flip phone,” Lake recalled with a laugh. “That really got me thinking. Too many people had access to me. I needed to hit reset.”

Lake didn’t go as far as ditching smartphones altogether—but he did change his number, a symbolic and practical move to help shrink his inner circle and focus more intentionally on faith, family, and mental health.

From Viral Videos to Deep Friendship

Lake and Jelly Roll collaborated on the emotionally charged track “Hard Fought Hallelujah,” a standout on King of Hearts. The song first caught Jelly Roll’s attention on TikTok. Before Lake could even reach out, Jelly was already hooked.

“He was like, ‘I know that song—you don’t even have to ask, I’m in,’” Lake said. “And from there, we’ve just become brothers. We share a lot—faith, family, and figuring out how to balance this crazy life.”

The country rapper and the Christian singer may seem like an unlikely duo, but their bond is rooted in raw honesty and mutual respect. According to Lake, Jelly Roll’s encouragement has been crucial, especially as he navigates rising fame and personal challenges.

Fame, Faith, and Mental Health

Lake’s ascent in the music world hasn’t come without a cost. After his first tour, Lake suffered a panic attack during a family trip to Disney World. It was supposed to be a reward—celebrating dreams fulfilled. But instead, he found himself overwhelmed, burned out, and isolated.

“Everyone loves Disney, but to me, it felt like hell at that moment,” he admitted.

He eventually sought therapy, hired a performance coach, and began tracking his health more carefully. He changed his diet, started wearing an Oura ring to monitor sleep and stress, and leaned back into his spiritual roots.

“I realized I was trying to fill the void with even good things,” he said. “But my identity had gotten tangled in what I was doing, not who I was made to be.”

Rediscovering Peace on the Farm

Lake says one of the biggest game-changers has been moving to a farm outside Charleston, South Carolina. The contrast to stage life couldn’t be more stark.

“I bought a tractor, I cut the grass, I move dirt. We have cows and donkeys,” he said with a grin. “It’s dirty, simple, and healing.”

The artist now balances performances and tours with literal chainsawing and firewood-chopping—activities he says ground him far more than scrolling on a phone ever could.

Singing for the Soul

Despite his deep dive into mental health and rural peace, Lake remains devoted to his mission: to use music as a vehicle for healing and connection.

“I know what I want to sing about: faith, family, redemption,” he said. “I’m not interested in singing about drugs or things that don’t align with my values.”

With King of Hearts now out and “Hard Fought Hallelujah” gaining traction, Lake is proving that vulnerability, boundaries, and balance are not just compatible with success—they’re essential to sustaining it.

“This album isn’t just music,” he said. “It’s a reminder that ministry is about people. Loving people. Serving people. And sometimes, taking a step back to make sure I can keep doing that well.”