Brandon Lake

Michael Brandon Lake, professionally known as Brandon Lake, is an American Christian singer, songwriter, guitarist and worship pastor. Born on June 21, 1990, in Dallas, Texas, he grew up in Charleston, South Carolina, where he developed his musical and ministry career through Seacoast Church. He is known for contemporary worship music that combines emotionally direct songwriting with modern Christian pop and rock production. Songs such as “Gratitude,” “Praise,” “Hard Fought Hallelujah,” “That’s Who I Praise” and “This Is a Move” have made him one of the most prominent worship artists of his generation.

Lake first gained attention as a worship leader and songwriter before establishing himself as a successful solo recording artist. He has also been associated with Bethel Music and Maverick City Music, contributing to songs and projects that became influential in contemporary Christian music. His songwriting collaborations have included Elevation Worship, Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Cody Carnes, Phil Wickham, Matt Redman and others.

His career reached another level in the 2020s as songs such as “Gratitude” and “Praise” became major Christian music successes. In 2026, Lake won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song for “Hard Fought Hallelujah,” his collaboration with Jelly Roll, Chris Brown, Steven Furtick and Benjamin Hastings. He also received Grammy nominations for his album King of Hearts and the song “I Know A Name.”

Quick Facts

Early Life and Background

Although Brandon Lake was born in Dallas, Texas, he grew up in Charleston, South Carolina. His early musical development was closely connected to Seacoast Church, where he became involved in worship ministry as a young person. According to Air1, Lake had the opportunity to lead worship in the main church service at 16, an experience that strengthened his sense that music and ministry would be an important part of his future.

Lake’s upbringing at Seacoast exposed him to a church environment where contemporary worship was an important part of congregational life. He eventually developed into a worship leader and songwriter, building relationships with other musicians and songwriters in the Charleston Christian music community.

His connection with Seacoast also became important in his personal life. He met his future wife, Brittany, through the church community. The couple later settled in Charleston and have three sons.

Beginning of His Music Career

Lake began pursuing music professionally in the middle of the 2010s. In 2015, he used a crowdfunding campaign to finance the production of his first album. The project resulted in Closer, his independently released debut studio album in 2016.

The independent release gave Lake an opportunity to develop his identity as a recording artist while continuing his work as a worship leader. His early music established the combination of personal songwriting and congregational worship that would remain central to his career.

His career expanded considerably in 2019 when he joined Bethel Music. One of his first major projects with the collective was his recording of “This Is a Move,” a song originally associated with Tasha Cobbs Leonard. Lake also co-wrote the song, and the recording earned him a GMA Dove Award for Gospel Worship Recorded Song of the Year. It subsequently received a Grammy nomination.

Breakthrough and Rise to Prominence

Lake’s association with Bethel Music introduced his songwriting and worship leadership to a much larger international audience. He became involved in collaborations with Bethel artists as well as musicians from other major worship movements.

His solo career continued alongside this work. Albums such as House of Miracles, HELP! and Coat of Many Colors helped establish him as more than a songwriter behind other artists’ recordings.

One of his biggest breakthroughs came with “Gratitude,” a worship song from House of Miracles. The song became one of his signature recordings and was widely adopted by churches and Christian listeners. Its straightforward message of offering praise even when words seem inadequate helped make it particularly effective in congregational settings.

Lake’s growing profile also led to increasingly prominent collaborations. He became involved with Maverick City Music and worked with artists connected to Elevation Worship, Passion and other major contemporary Christian music organisations.

Musical Style and Influences

Lake’s music is rooted in contemporary Christian worship, but his arrangements often incorporate elements of pop, rock and modern alternative music. His songs tend to build gradually, moving from relatively restrained verses into large choruses designed for communal singing.

A central feature of his songwriting is emotional directness. Rather than relying on highly complicated theological language, Lake frequently builds songs around simple declarations of faith, gratitude, surrender and trust. This approach allows his music to function both as personal listening material and as congregational worship.

Live performance is also important to his sound. Like many contemporary worship leaders, Lake often leaves room for extended instrumental passages, repeated choruses and spontaneous sections. His recordings therefore retain some of the atmosphere of a worship gathering rather than sounding entirely like conventional studio pop.

His songwriting has also increasingly demonstrated an ability to communicate Christian themes in language accessible to listeners outside the traditional church music audience. This became particularly visible with “Hard Fought Hallelujah,” which brought his worship songwriting into collaboration with country and mainstream artist Jelly Roll.

Notable Songs and Albums

Lake’s discography includes several projects that have become important in contemporary Christian music. His debut album, Closer, was independently released in 2016. He later released House of Miracles in 2020, followed by HELP! in 2022 and Coat of Many Colors in 2023.

Among his best-known songs are “Gratitude,” “This Is a Move,” “Too Good to Not Believe,” “Graves into Gardens,” “Praise,” “That’s Who I Praise” and “Hard Fought Hallelujah.” Several of these songs were written or recorded through collaborations with other major worship artists.

“That’s Who I Praise” became one of Lake’s notable releases in 2024, while “Hard Fought Hallelujah” continued his movement toward a sound that could connect Christian worship with wider country and popular music audiences.

His album King of Hearts became another major milestone. The project received a Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards.

In June 2026, Lake released KING OF HEARTS – IN THE ROOM!, a 23-song live project that revisited the King of Hearts material in a live worship setting. The album was released on June 26, 2026, through Provident Label Group.

Collaborations and Awards

Collaboration has been a defining feature of Lake’s career. He has worked with artists and groups including Bethel Music, Maverick City Music, Elevation Worship, Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Cody Carnes, Phil Wickham and Matt Redman.

His songwriting and recording work has earned significant recognition. He won a GMA Dove Award for “This Is a Move” and received Grammy nominations for several collaborations before eventually winning his first Grammy in 2023 as part of the team behind “Fear Is Not My Future.” The song, performed by Kirk Franklin and Maverick City Music’s Kirk Franklin-led collaboration, was among Lake’s early Grammy-winning credits.

Lake’s Grammy record expanded considerably in 2026. He won Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song for “Hard Fought Hallelujah,” recorded with Jelly Roll, Chris Brown, Steven Furtick and Benjamin Hastings. He was also nominated for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album for King of Hearts and Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song for “I Know A Name” with Elevation Worship.

His success has extended into the country music world as well. In February 2025, Lake made his debut at the Grand Ole Opry, an important milestone for an artist whose career had traditionally been associated with contemporary Christian music.

Current Career and Legacy

Brandon Lake remains active as a recording artist, songwriter and worship leader. In 2026, he has continued touring with the King of Hearts era, including major arena performances across the United States. His official tour schedule also includes appearances at the Grand Ole Opry and other major venues later in the year.

His 2026 releases have expanded beyond the King of Hearts project, with songs including “Just Believe,” “When A Cowboy Prays,” “The Jesus I Know Now,” “The Author” and “How Good God Is.” His duet “Just Believe” with Bailey Zimmerman also became part of his growing connection with contemporary country music.

Lake’s importance to contemporary Christian music comes from his ability to work across several parts of the modern worship movement. He has contributed to Bethel Music and Maverick City Music, worked with Elevation Worship and major Christian songwriters, and developed a successful solo career at the same time.

His music has also helped demonstrate how contemporary Christian worship can move into wider musical spaces without losing its central message. Songs such as “Gratitude” remain closely connected to church worship, while collaborations such as “Hard Fought Hallelujah” have introduced his songwriting to audiences beyond the traditional Christian music market.

With a career built around songwriting, worship leadership and collaboration, Brandon Lake has become one of the defining contemporary worship artists of his generation. His Grammy success, growing presence in country music and continued influence on congregational worship have positioned him as an important figure in the continuing evolution of modern Christian music.