www.whiskeyriff.com
Christian Artist, Forrest Frank, Says He Talked With Jelly Roll Following Dove Awards Attendance Debate: “We Are GOOD… I Love These Questions”
Sounds like they’re all good.
Last week, Frank Forrest, a Christian artist who was named Best New Artist at the 2024 Dove Awards last year, shared a video on Instagram explaining that he is drawing a line in the sand when it comes to award shows, and will no longer attend them.
The Texas native has had hits like “Your Way’s Better” and “Good Day,” but after attending and winning at the Dove Awards in 2024, Forrest shared a lengthy video on Instagram explaining he has been “convicted” not to receive any more trophies because the real “trophy is our salvation”:
“I feel a conviction to go even a step further and say, ‘I don’t know if I even want to step on the stage; I don’t know if I want to step in the room.’ I have decided to take a stance of non-participation. I will not be attending the Doves or the Grammys.
I hope to be an example to the youth that the trophy is our salvation. The trophy is that my name is listed in the book of life, and I get to have eternal life. What good is a piece of metal going to do compared to that?”
He also explained in the caption:
“As Christians, it’s hard to know where the line in the sand is between being in the world and not of the world. I’m convicted, personally, that a line that I can draw is that I will not receive a trophy for something that is from Jesus and for Jesus.
And I was wrestling with this last year. I even said that onstage at the Dove Awards. I said, ‘I’m still struggling with the concept of seeing this award, but all glory to Jesus, every name will fade away, including mine, except for one name.’”
Frank was nominated in six categories at the Gospel Music Association’s 2025 Dove Awards, and was also nominated for a Grammy last year for his solo debut, Child of God.
The video received a lot of positive feedback, but country artist Jelly Roll, who is also outspoken about his newly-found faith and has put out a song called “Hard Fought Hallelujah” with Christian artist Brandon Lake, seemed a little more skeptical about this move. He pointed out how he feels this decision is hypocritical by Frank because he’s still making “MILLIONS of dollars doing that same thing,” sharing the following comment on the post:
“Won’t receive 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.”
Jelly continued:
This is an interesting take – I dig it. How do you think this compares as profiting from the same music. I love that you said ‘I don’t want to get a trophy for something that’s from Jesus for Jesus,’ which is awesome – but also make MILLIONS of dollars doing that same thing that is From Jesus for Jesus.”
Some agreed with his take, while others pointed out they feel it’s different because the awards are about taking pride in something of the world, not supporting his own family:
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by forrest frank (@hiforrest)
Jelly’s comments became a pretty big news story, and last night, Forrest decided to share another video responding to Jelly’s comments directly, saying they have spoken the phone and “are good.” He also encouraged people asking those kinds of questions to believers:
“We serve a God of unity & forgiveness. His name is Jesus. Jelly Roll & I got to hop on the phone recently and we are GOOD. Actually, in my head we were never not good. I love these questions & I don’t think we should ever shy away from them as believers.”
Forrest went onto explain that Jelly’s question in particular about making money by making a “business out of Jesus” is what kept him from releasing worship music for so long.
He says that while the money from his music “legally” comes to him, that doesn’t necessarily mean he’s keeping it all for himself, though the general public will never know the specific details of that because it’s part of his personal relationship with Jesus:
“So I wasn’t gonna respond to this comment because I didn’t wanna bring any unnecessary drama. I posted my personal conviction, it triggered a lot of people, I had no idea that that was gonna happen. But now Fox News has brought it up, and People magazine, so I feel like I’m inclined to speak on it. All I’m gonna say to you Jelly is, I love this question.
This is the question that kept me for making Christian music for so many years, because I didn’t wanna make a business out of worship music. I didn’t wanna make a business out of Jesus. And so I actually didn’t participate, and then one day I felt like God was telling me to release, I call my ‘quiet time’ song, and I did. And here’s the thing. Legally, it was self produced and self written, so legally, that money comes to me.
What I do with that money after it legally comes to me, I’m never gonna tell anybody. Because your left hand isn’t supposed to know from your right hand. I might give 90% of my money away, I might give 10% of my money, somewhere between, but y’all are never gonna know that because that’s that’s my relationship with Jesus. But I love this conversation, and I’m willing to be refined in any area.
Anyways, I’m just stoked by this comment. This is something that I would love to figure out and in the meantime, I’m a safe place for you bro. Whether that’s on the phone, or here on social media. I’m for you, bro. God is for you. He has a plan for your life.”
Props to him for giving a classy, well thought out response, and not shying away from such a touchy subject on a very public platform. Forrest seems like such a genuinely great person who is just trying to follow his convictions and honor God. In the grand scheme of things, attending an awards show or not really isn’t all that important, but you can’t blame a man for following his own convictions.
You can watch the full video below:
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by forrest frank (@hiforrest)
The post Christian Artist, Forrest Frank, Says He Talked With Jelly Roll Following Dove Awards Attendance Debate: “We Are GOOD… I Love These Questions” first appeared on Whiskey Riff.
New Posts (Home)
ChatBox
Popular Posts 
Game Zone
Top PodCasts
