Christian artist says no to award shows over faith convictions

Christian music star Forrest Frank has stepped off the red carpet in favor of a higher calling, as Breitbart reports.

Announcing that he will no longer attend major music awards shows like the GMA Dove Awards or the Grammys, Frank said he cannot receive human praise for work he insists belongs entirely to God.

The artist, best known for the hit “Your Way’s Better,” revealed last week that he has been wrestling with this decision for over a year—and has now firmly decided to take a stand, even at the height of his success.

Rejecting the Trophy in Favor of Testimony

Frank had been nominated for multiple Dove Awards this season, but posted on social media that he would not be attending Tuesday’s ceremony, citing a personal conviction that accepting a trophy for music dedicated to Jesus conflicts with his understanding of Christian humility.

“I don’t know if I even want to step on the stage,” Frank admitted. “I don’t know if I want to step into the room. And so I have decided to take a stance of non-participation. I will not be attending the Doves or the Grammys.”

His announcement triggered a series of conversations—and more than a few heated takes—across the Christian music world, with fellow artists weighing in both for and against his decision.

Lines Drawn Within the Faith Community

Frank’s explanation struck a nerve: “I’m convinced, personally, that a line I can draw is that I will not receive a trophy for something that is from Jesus and for Jesus.” In an age where self-promotion often masquerades as testimony, his words cut through the noise.

Yet critics weren't sold on the consistency of his convictions. Fellow musician Jelly Roll, who accepted the Dove Award for Song of the Year for “Hard Fought Hallelujah,” questioned Frank’s sincerity, remarking, “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.”

It’s an old debate with new faces—can artists live in the spotlight without becoming beholden to it? Or does true ministry reject the applause entirely?

Two Artists, Two Very Different Platforms

Forrest Frank’s stance isn’t about style or sound—he freely admits his look and music don't always follow traditional Christian formats. “As a Christian artist, I dress kind of like the world. I kind of look like the world. My music can kind of sound like the world. So where’s the line in the sand drawn?”

For Frank, receiving industry trophies crossed that line. Referencing the ultimate reward over earthly prizes, he said, “What good is a piece of metal going to do compared to that?” He pointed instead to spiritual recognition, describing it as a “trophy” already secured in the book of life.

The contrast with Jelly Roll was striking. While Frank made his exit from the stage literally, Jelly Roll used his moment in the spotlight to preach revival, urging fellow believers to stop waiting for permission and start living out their faith with bold action.

A Mixed Response from the Public

The response to Frank’s announcement was predictably divided. To some, his refusal to attend awards shows felt like an inspiring return to faith’s core. To others, it seemed out of step with the realities of the modern music platform.

Still, in a moment many would have used to defend or attack, Frank instead took the higher road and congratulated Jelly Roll on his win. “Congrats, bro!! Keep going for Jesus,” he wrote—showing that disagreement doesn’t have to mean division, at least not in his book.

His decision has forced a broader reflection: Is recognition always a compromise? Or can it be reimagined as a tool in the hands of the faithful?

Challenging the Industry’s Rituals, Not Relationships

Frank’s move may not change the awards culture overnight, but it has ignited real questions about the values behind it. For believers navigating a culture dead-set on virtue-signaling, this kind of convictional clarity is a breath of fresh air.

In an industry where many spend their careers chasing acclaim, Frank is stepping away from it to chase something—and Someone—greater. Love him or question him, at least he's drawing lines where far too many stay comfortably vague.

And that’s a kind of boldness many could learn from, long after the cameras stop rolling.