Latest news with #HardFoughtHallelujah
New York Post
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Christian, ‘tradpop' music making ‘a comeback' as conservative ideals become more popular: report
Faith-based and 'traditional' pop hits are surging on the music charts this year, as noted in a recent report. Alex Warren's 'Ordinary,' 'a folksy melodramatic ballad about faith and love,' according to Semafor, was the No. 1 song in the country this week and has been on Billboard's Hot 100 for the past 20 weeks. The song's popularity isn't an oddity. Several Christian and country artists have also ranked high on the music charts this year, the report said, indicating a 'political vibe shift' in American pop music since President Donald Trump took office. It stands in stark contrast to the 2024 'brat summer' trend, embraced by former Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign, where boundary-pushing female pop stars Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan and Charli XCX dominated the music scene, Semafor reported. Christian artists Brandon Lake and Forrest Frank have also enjoyed more mainstream success. Lake's 'Hard Fought Hallelujah' is now in its 19th week on the Billboard Hot 100 and Frank's 'Your Way's Better' hit its 10th week on the chart. 'Christian music is making a serious comeback,' Billboard reported in May after the two Christian songs became the first faith-based hits in 11 years to make it on the Hot 100 chart. 4 Several Christian and country artists have ranked high on the music charts this year. Getty Images 4 It stands in stark contrast to the 2024 'brat summer' trend, embraced by former Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign. Brandon Lake performs at the CMA Fest 2025. Getty Images for CMA Country star Morgan Wallen is also wildly popular, having several hits on the Hot 100. His recently released album, 'I'm the Problem,' broke streaming records in May. Thomas Rhett, Jelly Roll and Shaboozey also have country-pop hits topping the charts. On 'American Idol' this season, several contestants were open about their faith. The show also hosted a three-hour 'Songs of Faith' special on Easter Sunday where contestants and judges performed gospel and worship music. 4 Christian artists Brandon Lake and Forrest Frank (pictured) have also enjoyed more mainstream success. Getty Images Pop music seems to be reflecting a broader cultural shift toward traditional and conservative ideals, Semafor reported. As conservative voices and positions become more influential with Trump's return to office, companies and institutions have responded in kind by ditching Pride Month campaigns and DEI priorities, the report noted. It can also be seen in the online 'trad wife' trend, where young women embrace marriage and traditional values. 4 Lake's (right) 'Hard Fought Hallelujah' is now in its 19th week on the Billboard Hot 100. WireImage Several Gen Z women who spoke to Fox News Digital at a Turning Point USA conference this year said it was important to them to defend strong traditional values that were grounded in faith and femininity. 'Holding up values, traditional values that come from the Bible and be able to carry those throughout every aspect of life, to be able to create a foundation for yourself and your family that carries out the Lord's message,' Grace from Florida told Fox about what it means to be a conservative.
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Rising Triple-Threat JayDon Is Helping L.A. Reid & Usher Bring Real R&B Back: ‘I'm an Artist of All Realms'
When JayDon springs into the Billboard offices in late May, there's an unmistakable bounce in his step. At just 17, the wiry triple-threat appears taller than expected — his spry frame helping explain the explosive dance moves that have the R&B world buzzing. As soon as the elevator doors part, he launches into performance mode. With no mic and zero hesitation, he starts crooning with such clarity and control that his voice slices through the office walls, prompting staffers to pop their heads out and ask, 'Who's that?' That kind of chutzpah is what landed JayDon a coveted spot with Mega, the newly minted label helmed by L.A. Reid and Usher. More from Billboard The Ultimate Latin Playlist For a Feel-Good Summer 2025: Listen Jelly Roll & Brandon Lake's 'Hard Fought Hallelujah' Collab Certified Platinum Nick Cannon Forgets Two of His 12 Kids' Names While Trying to List Them: 'I Usually Get in Trouble' 'Being with Mega — L.A. Reid, Usher, and that whole camp — helped me develop as an artist substantially,' JayDon tells Billboard weeks later during his June Rookie of the Month interview. 'I've learned the ins and outs of stardom — what to look for, what to pay attention to, and studio etiquette. That was my first time being in the studio every day, back-to-back-to-back for months. Like six months straight. Twelve to fifteen hours a day. From two to four A.M., just singing a lot of songs.' Now, JayDon has the R&B sphere abuzz with his undeniable skill set. Drenched in '90s and early-2000s R&B nostalgia, tracks like 'I'll Be Good' and 'Lullaby' have both Gen Z fans and millennials swooning. And when he's not melting hearts with buttery vocals, it's his hypnotic dance moves — reminiscent of a young Chris Brown or Omarion — that are filling timelines and turning heads. 'I still want to be authentic and brand new at the same time,' he says. 'As I keep going forward, I can't stop. I want to be the best version of me –and keep doing what I've always dreamed of doing.' Today (June 20), JayDon keeps the momentum going with the release of 'Bougie Baby,' a fast-paced collaboration with social media standout Zeddy Will. The track marks a stylistic shift, showcasing Jaydon's ability to push the tempo without losing his soulful edge. Check out our conversation with June's R&B Rookie of the Month, JayDon, below. Do you remember when you wrote your first song? On the writing side, I was 12 years old. I really got into it 12, 13. The summer of last year, I ended up being with Mega and working with different writers — being in the studio everyday. That's what got my pen working. [The first song I wrote] was called 'Text You.' Shout-out my cousin Chuck Heat. He's a producer, writer, overall musician — dope. My own family does music. I got a beat from Chuck Heat and you know, I been recording music since I was eight years old, but this was my first time actually sitting down by myself with my phone. I used to write in my notebook — I have it somewhere — and I wrote the whole song. I was inspired by by [starts singing 'Girlfriend' by Heavyweight]. I wanted to make a song like that or [starts singing 'Jennifer' by Trinidad Cardona]. This was 2020 and that's when the songs were resurfacing. I wanted a song like that. Real R&B smooth. It's actually dope. I still listen to it to this day. When did your family first discover that you had a talent for music? About six years old. I was already dancing. My family doesn't really dance. My grandpa taught me how to do Michael Jackson [moves] and everything like that. Him and my Uncle Robert. They showed me a little bit of how to dance. That was kind of it. Around that time, I was learning how to dance like Chris Brown. I was teaching myself things. They saw that I really wanted it. That's what it was. They were already molding me to be a singer and a musician because I already had music around me. It's a family thing, but when it comes to the entertainment, that's when they were like, 'He wants it.' You're morphing into this incredible triple-threat in real-time with being a singer, dancer and actor. How would you rank your talents from top-to-bottom? My talents? What would I rank from top-to-bottom [laughs]? Why can't they all just be at the top? I'm not mad at that. Talk your sh-t. Right now, I'm dialed in on the music. So, of course, that's my forefront, but I'm an entertainer and artist of all realms. Cats from your generation don't dance like how they used to back in my day. How important was it for you to incorporate the choreography into what you're doing on the music side, especially in something like your 'I'll Be Good' music video? Man, I just want to show what I'm already am: dancing, being fun and doing it all in a way that I love. Every with all the movies that I've been in, I've been able to dance and sing or [solely] sing in 'em. So I love tying everything into one knot and definitely being able to show that in 'I'll Be Good' was the goal. The video was giving and vibes with how heavily involved the dancing elements were. Was that intentional? Absolutely! With all my videos, I wanna do something different. Whether it's 'I'll Be Good' or 'Lullaby,' your music has some '90s and '00s influence to it. How important was it sonically to include that kind of music into your foundation? It's already an authentic thing for me. There's some other artists that I've seen out here trying to purposefully attach their name to that like, 'I'm a '90s R&B artist from today.' They're trying to do that. That's definitely a piece of my music and what I want to bring to the table, but that's just who I am. I feel like if you put me back in time, I'd belong there. It's a natural thing for me. The first comment I saw when watching 'I'll Be Good' was along the lines of 'this guy is a fusion of Chris Brown, Mario and Omarion.' As you continue to build your artistry, how often do you look into some of your R&B heroes and try to infuse them into your style? I'm not gonna act like I'm not inspired, man. I'm inspired by so many different artists, different times. From back in the day to old school R&B to the founders of it like Sam Cooke and Donnie Hathaway to all the way to Chris Brown, Usher and Miguel. Different artists, man. I love to study. I definitely take pieces from everybody. So if you see a move and it looks like it was for Chris Brown, it probably was. 'I'll Be Good' samples Usher's 'How Do I Say.' Was there hesitation on your end to sample a record like that knowing that your boss made it? Man, shout-out Sweata. He produced the track and everything. He wrote it with me. Great, amazing writer. Y'all go check him out. He's also signed to Mega. It just felt right for that type of vibe that we was on that day being in the studio. We just wanted to capture something [good]. It was actually his idea. He came to me with the track and played it for me and everything. He said, 'Let's go for this feel' and we wrote it together. It definitely combined well. What was Usher's reaction to the record when he first heard it? He loved it, man. I never played it for him in person, but I've seen some of his reactions. I've talked to him and everything. He loves it and I appreciate him for blessing me with the sample. Let's pivot to the acting. You were in and played Simba in the . How did acting better prepare you for the music world? [Learning] to be comfortable in front of a camera. Definitely that. Being able to connect and when you're shooting music videos or preparing yourself for that. Being an actor and having experience with that, it definitely helps to put that emotion in your face and show what you're singing about. I feel like I'm already a little developed there. We're seeing a lot more double-threats from the acting and music side like Coco Jones and Chloe Bailey. Do you plan to further pursue acting as you continue to step into music? Absolutely. Right now, my launch pad and my focus is on the music and everything that I have coming forward. It's definitely that, but I'll never let go of acting, man. I really want to pick it up [again]. I don't wanna put no time-stamp or limitations, but I love acting, man. If the role is right, if the time is right, I'll be there. You have a great relationship with your dad. How do you maintain that father-son bond and keep it sacred without stardom getting in the way? Man, you trying to hype my head up. I ain't even famous like that yet. [Laughs.] I know you go outside and the girls see you. I do get spotted, though. That's really the crazy part. When I was in New York, there was a bunch of people [coming up to me]. But the relationship between me and my dad, it's more brotherly, honestly. That's my dog. Whatever I go through, he's gonna understand me. He wants to see me win. There's nothing that's going to come between us. Do we have a tape dropping? The tape is coming. Got an EP on the way. Y'all keep y'all eyes peeled. Do we have a name and date? I'm thinking Me, My Songs and I. I wanna name my album Jaydon. When I come with an album, I do want it to be self-titled. This one, I think it just represents what it is: It's Me, My Songs and I. It's my spirit in music. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jelly Roll & Brandon Lake's ‘Hard Fought Hallelujah' Collab Certified Platinum
CCM singer Brandon Lake recently surprised his 'Hard Fought Hallelujah' collaborator Jelly Roll with some stellar news about their hit collab. In a video he shared on Instagram on June 20, Lake surprised Jelly Roll with a plaque commemorating that 'Hard Fought Hallelujah' had been certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), for sales of at least one million units. More from Billboard Bunnie XO Shares She & Jelly Roll Had a 'Huge Win' in Their IVF Journey: 'Praise Jesus' Nicole Scherzinger Gives Surprise 'Buttons' Performance at Broadway Bares Live Aid to Be Re-Broadcast for 40th Anniversary on U.K. Radio The song, which is featured on Lake's June 13-released album King of Hearts, was certified Platinum before the album was even released. In the video, Jelly Roll says, 'We were just talking about this like six months ago,' and later adding, 'This might be my favorite plaque I've ever had.' Their collaborative version of 'Hard Fought Hallelujah' cracked the top 40 on Billboard's all-genre Hot 100, while also reaching the top 15 on the Hot Country Songs chart. 'I released [the solo version of] this song, and then I felt like, 'This is too special to not share this song with somebody,'' Lake recently told Billboard of bringing in Jelly Roll to record the song with him. 'Thinking about the lyrics, I was like, 'Man, I think Jelly Roll would resonate with the story of this song.' I've been so inspired by his story, the things he's overcome. I remember seeing him sing 'Believe' with Brooks & Dunn [at the 2024 CMA Awards], and I just bawled my eyes out. It gave me all the faith to reach out. The craziest part of that is he had already heard the song on TikTok and loved it. 'We hopped on the phone, and we didn't talk music for the first hour. We just instantly became like brothers and talked about life, parenting, touring, family. It was a real friendship off the bat. There's a reason why he is on top of the world right now, and it's not just because his songs are amazing — it's because he's amazing,' Lake added. See the video below: Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Christian Music Is Surging on Billboard's Charts, Thanks to These Two Artists
Say your prayers: Christian music is making a serious comeback. On the Billboard Hot 100, dated May 10, two Christian songs are making waves: Brandon Lake's 'Hard Fought Hallelujah' ranks at No. 44 in its 11th week on the chart (after reaching No. 40 last week) and Forrest Frank's 'Your Way's Better' jumps from No. 72 to No. 62 in its second week. More from Billboard Twenty One Pilots Fans Jumped Into Veronica Mars Mode After Someone Took Off With One of Josh Dun's Bespoke Drums Palm Tree Festival to Debut in St. Tropez With Headliners A$AP Rocky & Swedish House Mafia Kelly Clarkson Doesn't Care What HR Says, She's Totally Open to Comments on Her Weight Loss: 'I Want You to Say 'Damn!' Lake and Frank have both emerged as breakout stars in the Christian music world, thanks in part to their growing popularity across social media platforms like TikTok. Lake has charted 42 songs on the Hot Christian Songs chart, all since 2019. Nine of those reached the top 10 and six hit No. 1. Three of those hits, including 'Hard Fought Hallelujah,' spent 20-plus weeks on top. Frank, meanwhile, first broke onto Billboard's charts in 2020 as half of the pop duo Surfaces (alongside Colin Padalecki), thanks to their viral hit 'Sunday Best.' The TikTok-friendly song climbed to No. 19 on the Hot 100 and even found success at radio, reaching the top 10 of Pop Airplay. Since then, Frank has pivoted to Christian music and quickly became a force in the genre. He's logged 34 entries on the Hot Christian Songs chart, including six top 10s: 'Good Day' (No. 2 peak in 2024); 'Up!,' with Connor Price (No. 8, 2024); 'Never Get Used to This,' with JVKE (No. 6, 2024); 'The Present' (No. 9, January); 'Nothing Else,' with Thomas Rhett (No. 4, March); and 'Your Way's Better.' No other artist has charted more songs on the ranking since the beginning of 2022. He also finished 2024 as Billboard's No. 1 top new Christian artist. Frank's album Child of God has also dominated the Top Christian Albums chart, spending 34 weeks and counting at No. 1, making it the fifth-longest-leading No. 1 album this century. He released the set's follow-up, Child of God II, Friday (May 9). Christian music has historically had a limited presence on the Hot 100. Dating to when Billboard's Hot Christian Songs chart adopted its current multimetric methodology on Dec. 7, 2013 — blending U.S. streams, radio airplay and sales — 52 Christian songs have charted on both the Hot 100 and Hot Christian Songs. But there are some important caveats. Of those 52 songs, 34 were by Kanye West from his albums Jesus Is King or Donda and one was by DJ Khaled featuring West and Eminem ('Use This Gospel [Remix]') — both were, of course, already long-established hip-hop acts with a core fanbase outside of Christian music. Another six were religious-themed holiday songs (Carrie Underwood's 'Silent Night,' for example). That leaves us with just 11 Christian songs that are not tied to the holidays or crossover rap acts: Artist, Title, Peak Year on the Hot 100: Carrie Underwood, 'Something in the Water,' 2014Craig Wayne Boyd, 'The Old Rugged Cross,' 2014Hillsong UNITED, 'Oceans (Where Feet May Fail),' 2014Jordan Smith, 'Great Is Thy Faithfulness,' 2015NEEDTOBREATHE feat. Gavin DeGraw, 'Brother,' 2015Jordan Smith, 'Mary Did You Know,' 2016Avril Lavigne, 'Head Above Water,' 2018NF, 'Let You Down,' 2018Lauren Daigle, 'You Say,' 2019Brandon Lake, 'Hard Fought Hallelujah,' 2025Forrest Frank, 'Your Way's Better,' 2025 And there may be more on the way. Two additional Christian tracks are climbing Billboard's Bubbling Under Hot 100 ranking — which lists the 25 songs just below the Hot 100 that haven't yet debuted: Elevation Worship's 'Praise,' featuring Brandon Lake, Chris Brown and Chandler Moore (No. 20; currently No. 3 on Hot Christian Songs) and Forrest Frank's 'Good Day' (No. 23; peaked at No. 2 on Hot Christian Songs last year). What makes this specific chart week extra notable for Christian music, though, is that it's just the second time (since 2013) that two Christian songs are charting simultaneously. It only happened once before on Dec. 27, 2014, when Underwood's 'Something in the Water' and Boyd's 'The Old Rugged Cross' charted together. The latter song, however, spent a week on the chart before dropping off. Unlike that week, Lake's hit has significant longevity and Frank's is still on the rise. For Provident Label Group, which finished 2024 as Billboard's No. 1 Top Christian Label and whose roster included Lake and genre powerhouse Elevation Worship, pivoting their marketing efforts to younger demographics has been key to their success. 'Over the past few years, we've focused on investing in the future of the genre instead of just seeking to repeat past successes,' said marketing & brand strategy vp Mat Anderson. 'For Christian music to thrive in the next 5-10 years, we must attract younger audiences seeking sonically diverse music that authentically reflects their faith and life experiences. We've partnered with young artists who offer unique perspectives, enabling them to shape the genre's future rather than molding them to fit its past. This approach by Provident and others has been highly successful, as the genre's rapid growth over the past three years demonstrates that Christian music is resonating with new audiences and reengaging previous ones.' Christian music has, in fact, been rising — and it's part of a broader trend. According to Luminate's 2024 year-end report, Christian/Gospel is one of the fastest-growing genres among young audiences in the U.S., with the average listener is spending 19% more time with Christian/Gospel music than in 2022. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Four Decades of 'Madonna': A Look Back at the Queen of Pop's Debut Album on the Charts Chart Rewind: In 1990, Madonna Was in 'Vogue' Atop the Hot 100
USA Today
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
'The Voice' Season 27 finale: Did Michael Bublé or Kelsea Ballerini come out on top?
'The Voice' Season 27 finale: Did Michael Bublé or Kelsea Ballerini come out on top? Show Caption Hide Caption Did Gwen Stefani accuse a 'Voice' contestant of lip syncing? Camila Cabello was ready to buy concert tickets and Gwen Stefani thought a contestant was lip syncing on the latest episode of NBC's "The Voice." Entertain This!, USA TODAY It's more than beginner's luck. Team Bublé is a two-for-two winning force now. Adam David was crowned the winner of "The Voice" Season 27 during the competition show's live finale on May 20. David, one of two of coach Michael Bublé's singers, received the grand prize of a recording contract. This marks Bublé's second victory in a row on the NBC show following his Season 26 win. Hot on David's heels was Jaelen Johnston, a member of Kelsea Ballerini's team who came in second place. Team Legend's Renzo came in third, while Lucia Flores-Wiseman, from Adam Levine's team, and Team Bublé's Jadyn Cree rounded out the finale bunch in fourth and fifth place, respectively. As red and white confetti cascaded from above, David — who turned to music as a "steady anchor" amid his recovery from addiction — received a warm hug from Bublé after his win. His fellow contestants also swarmed the stage for congratulations. David won over "Voice" viewers on May 19 with knockout performances of "Hard Fought Hallelujah" by Brandon Lake and Joe Cocker's "You Are So Beautiful." For his finale performance, David took the stage with Bublé for a rockin' rendition of "The Weight" by the Band. Who won 'The Voice' last season? Sofronio Vasquez from Team Bublé, a 32-year-old from the Philippines, was crowned the victor of "The Voice" Season 26 in December 2024. This marked the first win for Bublé, who, as with Season 27, was the only coach with two contestants in the top five. "Your mentorship is a blessing to me, my family and to all the dreamers out there. You have opened up so many doors," Vasquez told Bublé in the Season 26 finale last year. The show's other recent winners include Asher HaVon from Team Reba McEntire; Huntley and Gina Miles from Team Niall Horan; Bryce Leatherwood from Team Blake Shelton; and Girl Named Tom, from Team Kelly Clarkson. When is 'The Voice' coming back? The next season of "The Voice" is set to premiere in the fall. Bublé will be back as a coach alongside returning coaches Snoop Dogg, Reba McEntire and Niall Horan. Snoop Dogg and McEntire were both most recently coaches in Season 26, while Horan was last on the panel in Season 24. Contributing: Melina Khan and Anthony Robledo
