www.whiskeyriff.com
Jelly Roll Questions Christian Artist, Forrest Frank, Saying He’s No Longer Attending Awards Shows: “You Also Make MILLIONS Doing That Same Thing”
This week, Frank Forrest, a Christian artist who was named Best New Artist at the 2024 Dove Awards last year, shared that he is drawing a line in the sand when it comes to award shows.
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.
You can watch his full video here:
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by forrest frank (@hiforrest)
Several Christian artists like CeCe Winans commented:
“Stay true to your convictions!!”
Christian musician Matt Gilman said:
“I love this so much!”
But country artist Jelly Roll, who is outspoken about his 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.”
“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. At the same time, Forrest is relatively new on the scene, not sure how many MILLIONS he’s stacking up right now. But that’s not really the point…
The official account for Kings Kaleidoscope, a Seattle-based Christian rock act fronted by Chadwick Gardner, also left a comment saying Frank should simply “not submit” his music for awards consideration, that way he has no chance to be nominated or win:
“A super clean way to do this is simply not submit your music to awards shows (ie Frank Ocean), then you have zero chance of winning. To be considered you have to submit your music, which it looks like you or your label/publisher have, why not just bypass that altogether? That’s what we’ve always done.”
It is true, for every major award show I know of, especially in country but it goes for things like the Grammys too, an artists team or label has to submit their work in the categories they want to be considered for. If you wanted to have no part in that, you would simply request that your work not be submitted, though I think any major label would likely have an issue with that.
I don’t know much, if anything, about Christian record labels specifically, so I don’t know if they would operate much differently, but I doubt it.
I’m not going to sit here and try to explain or defend anyone’s personal convictions, but obviously if you post that kind of video, you’re inviting other opinions and commentary. Either way, it sounds like you won’t be seeing Frank at any sort of awards show anytime soon, and that’s fine… at the end of the day, none of this conversation really matters that much. Nobody is coming to know Jesus, or growing in their faith, because Forrest did, or did not, attend an award show.The post Jelly Roll Questions Christian Artist, Forrest Frank, Saying He’s No Longer Attending Awards Shows: “You Also Make MILLIONS Doing That Same Thing” first appeared on Whiskey Riff.
New Posts (Home)
ChatBox
Popular Posts 
Game Zone
Top PodCasts
