Hot 100 First-Timers: Brandon Lake Arrives With Viral Hit ‘Hard Fought Hallelujah’

Brandon Lake is already a superstar in the Christian music space, amassing 38 career entries on Billboard’s Hot Christian Songs chart. But he reaches the Billboard Hot 100 for the first time this week with his new viral hit, “Hard Fought Hallelujah.”

Released Nov. 8 on Brandon Lake/Essential/Provident Label Group, the song debuts at No. 51 on the Hot 100 (dated Nov. 23) with 7 million official U.S. streams, 60,000 in airplay audience and 13,000 downloads sold in its first week, according to Luminate. Its sales sum is the largest among all songs this week, generating a No. 1 debut on the Digital Song Sales ranking, where it’s Lake’s first leader.

“Hard Fought Hallelujah” benefited from pre-release buzz on TikTok. Lake first teased the song on the platform on Sept. 3. Since then, audio from that clip has been used to soundtrack more than 30,000 TikToks. Many TikTok users have tied the song to experiences during difficult periods of their lives, and how they’ve turned to religion to overcome personal obstacles. Lake has shared some of those videos on his profile.

Lake has been a staple in the Christian music world since his chart debut in 2019. He first reached Hot Christian Songs in July 2019 with “This Is a Move,” which reached No. 36. He has charted eight top 10s, including six No. 1s through “Hard Fought Hallelujah” this week:

Title, Peak Date (Weeks at No. 1):

With 31 weeks spent at No. 1, “Praise” is the fourth-longest-leading hit in the 21-year history of Hot Christian Songs – and the longest-leading by a solo male. Overall, it trails only Lauren Daigle’s “You Say” (132 weeks at No. 1), Hillsong United’s “Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)” (61) and Hillsong Worship’s “What a Beautiful Name” (37). With 28 weeks, Lake’s “Gratitude” is the fifth-longest-leading No. 1.

Lake’s six No. 1s on Hot Christian Songs put him at a tie with Jeremy Camp, Daigle, Matthew West and Third Day for the fifth-most, after MercyMe (13), Casting Crowns (nine), Chris Tomlin and TobyMac (seven each).

Additionally, Lake claims the top three tracks on the Nov. 23-dated Hot Christian Songs chart, with “Hard Fought Hallelujah” followed by “That’s Who I Praise” at No. 2 and “Praise” at No. 3. Previously, only Ye (then billed as Kanye West) tripled up for 11 weeks in 2019-22 and Carrie Underwood, for four weeks in 2020-21.

Lake has also charted 21 songs on Christian Airplay, including six top 10s and three No. 1s: “Graves Into Gardens,” “Gratitude” and “Praise.”

On the Top Christian Albums chart, Lake has charted five titles, including one No. 1: Coat of Many Colors, in November 2023.

Earlier this year, Lake signed with UTA for booking representation. “We are wildly impressed with how Lake is changing the game for Christian artists and are thrilled to welcome him to the UTA family,” Matthew Morgan, co-head of UTA Nashville and a UTA partner, said in a statement at the time.