When Forrest Frank posted last week about his decision to skip the Dove Awards—Christian music’s biggest night—because he felt conflicted over receiving awards for making Christian music, the backlash was swift. Among those who weighed in on his decision was country superstar Jelly Roll:
“Won’t receive [a] trophy for something from Jesus for Jesus but will take the profits from something from Jesus for Jesus. Maybe I’m missing something here lol.”
Now, Frank has replied, posting a video on Instagram where he addressed the backlash and Jelly Roll’s comment specifically.
“I wasn’t going to respond to this comment because I didn’t want to bring any unnecessary drama,” Frank said. “I posted my personal conviction. It triggered a lot of people. I had no idea that that was going to happen.”
Frank explained that his hesitation to engage in Christian industry events wasn’t about judgment or performance, but rather about staying faithful to a personal boundary he’s wrestled with for years.
“I didn’t want to make a business out of Jesus,” he said. “That’s actually what kept me from making Christian music for so many years.”
He shared that when he eventually released his first Christian song, “Call My Quiet Time,” it was only after feeling led by God. Because he wrote and produced the track himself, he said, the royalties legally go to him—but what he does with that money is between him and God.
“I might give 90% of my money away. I might give 10%—somewhere in between,” he said. “But y’all are never going to know that because that’s my relationship with Jesus.”
Despite the criticism, Frank ended his video with a willingness to continue the conversation.
“I love this conversation and I’m willing to be refined in any area,” he said.
Watch his full response here:
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