Jelly Roll’s River-Tossed Phone Inspires Brandon Lake’s New Boundaries and Album

Christian singer Brandon Lake found inspiration in an unexpected place: country star Jelly Roll’s impulsive decision to chuck his phone into a Nashville river. The dramatic move, which went viral last December, struck a chord with Lake, prompting him to rethink his own boundaries. "I got a new phone number after that," Lake shared, explaining how Jelly Roll’s flip-phone simplicity pushed him to tighten his circle and focus on what matters.

Their collaboration on Lake’s new album, King of Hearts, released this month, deepened their bond. The album’s title track, Hard Fought Hallelujah, caught Jelly Roll’s ear on TikTok before Lake even pitched the duet. "He was already in love with it," Lake said, marveling at how the song’s raw lyrics resonated with the country star’s story of struggle and redemption. Their friendship, built on shared experiences as husbands and fathers, has since blossomed into something Lake calls brotherly.

But Lake’s journey hasn’t been all high notes. After his first tour, the pressures of success led to a mental health crash, culminating in a panic attack at Disney World—a place he jokingly called "hell on earth" at the time. "I was running on adrenaline fatigue," he admitted, describing how insecurities and dark thoughts overwhelmed him. Counseling, a health coach, and a move to a South Carolina farm have been game-changers. "Cutting grass, moving dirt, chainsawing trees—it’s healing," Lake said, emphasizing the therapeutic power of nature over pills.

Lake’s faith remains his anchor. While he won’t sing about drugs or fleeting thrills, he’s all in for songs about transformation and hope. "I want to sing about what changed my life and can change others’," he said. With Jelly Roll’s encouragement, Lake’s stepping onto bigger stages, grounded by a renewed sense of purpose and a tractor waiting back home.