by Ana Elise Lowe • 5 minutes
Pop culture has always had a way of revealing what society values. Whether it is the music that dominates the charts, the content from social media that floods our screens, or the podcasts we choose to listen to, culture is a mirror.
And right now, that mirror is reflecting something incredible—and quite honestly, inspiring. America is turning back to faith, family and freedom.
In a time when the cultural narrative usually suggests we’re growing more divided, more secular or cynical, the evidence that is being presented is telling a different story. Worship music in America is having a moment and it’s happening at the very center of mainstream culture.
Take a scroll through Billboards Top 100 or open TikTok’s top audio list and you’re bound to see names like Brandon Lake and Forrest Frank, among the most prominent worship artists today. Keep scrolling through the charts, and you’re bound to see dozens of up-and-coming worship artists as well.
Even Alex Warren, a prominent Catholic, has had a breakout single titled “Ordinary.” Though not labeled as a Christian song, the message is grounded in the values of faith, meaning and gratitude. The lyrics wrestle with feeling unworthy of love but also finding purpose and peace through it. It’s gone viral across all platforms, striking a chord with millions who are looking for something deeper than the typical pop song.
Then there’s the powerful and unexpected collaboration between Brandon Lake and country-rap star Jelly Roll. Their performance of “Hard Fought Hallelujah” blends worship and testimony, uniting two very different musical worlds around a shared message of redemption. Jelly Roll himself has spoken publicly about his faith journey, addiction and the transformation he’s experienced.
To add to that, Forrest Frank has redefined what modern Christian music can look like. His newest song, “Your Way is Better”, has created a very viral dance trend among TikTok. His style is fresh, bold, and unmistakenly Christ-centered. He’s racking up millions of streams and showing the next generation that you can be both relevant and radically faithful.
This year’s A Capitol Fourth celebration, a nationally televised event honoring Independence Day, featured Lauren Daigle singing her iconic song “Rescue”. Her message of divine deliverance echoed through the nation’s capital on a day meant to celebrate our freedom.
These artists and the massive response they’re receiving, are telling us something: Americans are hungry for faith and the foundational values that make our country the greatest on the planet.
Foundational values like family. Family is the leading value Americans say matters most. According to a recent Gallup poll, family remains in the top-ranked personal priority across all demographics. In fact, 43% surpassed any other value listed.
Following family, values like faith and freedom are consistently ranked as essential to the American identity. These ideals are foundational principles that continue to shape how people live, vote and engage with culture. And now, they are being echoed once again through the most influential cultural force of our time: music.
That’s no small thing.
It’s one thing for Christian music to thrive in niche spaces or Christian radio. It’s another for a song about God’s saving power to be sung a patriotic event watched by millions. In a country founded on the freedom to live out your faith, this moment feels like a return to our roots.
This cultural moment is not only about music, but also the meaning that comes with it.
For years, American culture seemed to be drifting away from its foundational values. The rise of isolation, anxiety and moral confusion left many wondering where to turn.
But pop culture is signaling something hopeful. We are returning to what matters most.
What’s especially encouraging about this cultural shift? Young Americans are searching for a deeper relationship with God. That trend among younger generations is something we haven’t seen in many decades.
Recent studies show that the younger generation of men are running to church at a higher rate than ever. “Among Gen Z men, commitment to Jesus jumped 15 percentage points between 2019 and 2025. Millennial men saw a similar spike of 19 percentage points,” according to Barna.
“For the first time in modern American history, young men are now more religious than their female peers. They attend services more often and are more likely to identify as religious,” The New York Times reported last fall.
From pews to playlists, culture is turning to the same values America once stood for.
Faith: People are yearning for purpose and spiritual truth and they’re finding it in music that points them to God.
Family: These songs aren’t crude or divisive. They’re uplifting. Parents are playing them in the car. Kids are singing them on social media and in school talent shows.
Freedom: These artists are publicly expressing their beliefs in a way that inspires others to do the same.
This country is singing a new tune. Or maybe rediscovering the old one.
From viral videos to national stages, worship music is reawakening something in the American spirit. It’s not just about the lyrics. It’s about longing. A longing for truth. For meaning. For something that’s divinely inspired.
This is more than a music trend. It’s a cultural pulse. The artists topping the charts today, whether they know it or not, are forging the way back to these American values. They are brining faith back into the heart of American life.
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