Lainey Wilson and Brandon Lake Share a Faith-Filled Night in Nashville

Nashville is renowned as a hub that connects diverse artists and musical traditions—a point clearly illustrated by a recent moment at an awards ceremony. At Bridgestone Arena, country singer Lainey Wilson and Christian music artist Brandon Lake celebrated a win for their duet, which was honored by the Gospel Music Association as "Country Roots Recorded Song of the Year."

The award recognizes not only the recording itself but also the collaborative effort behind it. Wilson and Lake co-wrote the track alongside Emily Weisband and Luke Laird, bringing together artists from different musical backgrounds to convey a shared message of faith, inclusion, and connection.

Bridging Musical Worlds

While Wilson is associated with contemporary country music, Lake is known for his work in the Christian music genre. Their duet blends these two traditions, demonstrating how a song can simultaneously embrace the storytelling and sonic character of country music and explore profound spiritual themes.

The songwriting team—comprising Wilson, Lake, Weisband, and Laird—utilized a collaborative process common to both Nashville country and contemporary Christian music, where multiple writers contribute to a song’s lyrics or core concepts. In this instance, the collaboration resulted in a piece capable of reaching audiences who might not otherwise encounter these particular artists or musical styles. The Gospel Music Association honored the song in the “country-roots” category, situating the work within a broader musical landscape—one that bridges gospel themes with the sounds of country music.

A message for those who feel estranged from the church
Lake shares that one of his hopes in creating this song was to reach those who “have been hurt by the church or have a distorted view of Jesus.” This intention speaks to a larger challenge facing faith communities: some individuals may feel disconnected from religion due to painful experiences, disillusionment, or uncertainty regarding the true meaning of faith.

Music can offer a more accessible entry point into topics that are otherwise difficult to discuss. While a song cannot replace personal support or a tangible community, it can provide listeners with a language for reflection, while also offering an opportunity to view faith from a different perspective. As Lake’s reflections suggest, for him, the purpose of this song extends far beyond chart success or music awards.

Wilson and the effort to build bridges
Wilson also expressed her commitment to the mission behind the song. “We have the opportunity to be bridge-builders—and that is exactly what we need to do,” she shared.

The concept of “bridge-building” encapsulates the essence of this collaboration: artists from different musical backgrounds working together to convey a message aimed at connecting people, regardless of how varied their personal experiences with faith may be. This also reflects the broader role that musicians can play. Through storytelling and the sharing of personal perspectives, artists can help audiences find common ground—even when listeners come from diverse backgrounds or have varying relationships with religious institutions.

A moment of celebration—and a joke about… sheep
This victory marks a significant professional milestone, yet the celebration itself carried a lighthearted, humorous tone. Upon receiving the award, Lake joked that he and Wilson should buy each other “a few sheep.” The quip brought laughter to the evening, allowing the artists to truly savor the memorable moment.

This lighthearted remark complemented the more serious themes of the night: gratitude, collaboration, and the hope that the song might reach those who feel overlooked or disconnected.

Why does this recognition matter?

Awards do more than just draw attention to a piece of music and its creators; this win highlights the value of creative partnerships that bridge different musical communities. Wilson, Lake, Weisband, and Laird combined their unique perspectives to craft a song that was honored by the Gospel Music Association in the country-roots category.

For the audience, the story behind this award offers a new way to engage with the music. The song’s significance lies not in its genre or accolades, but in the artists’ heartfelt commitment: to convey a message that meets people exactly where they are, helping them feel a closer connection to their faith.