Forrest Frank Speaks Out on Dove Awards Controversy: "I’m Willing to Be Refined"
Michael Foust
Audio By Carbonatix
By Michael Foust, Crosswalk.com
Singer Forrest Frank is addressing the pushback against his decision not to attend the Dove Awards, saying he's "willing to be refined" on the matter and recently spoke with Jelly Roll, who had criticized Frank's position.
"We serve a God of unity & forgiveness," Frank wrote on his Instagram on Tuesday. "His name is Jesus."
The controversy began the day before the Dove Awards, when Frank posted a video saying he felt convicted not to attend the show and believes it's wrong to "receive a trophy for something that is from Jesus, and for Jesus." Frank had been nominated for seven Dove Awards and won Artist of the Year.
That stance mainly drew measured responses from fellow CCM artists, who said they respected his conviction but felt compelled to defend an awards show they view as gospel-centric and uplifting. Perhaps the most pointed response came from Jelly Roll, who won multiple Doves and wrote on social media, "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."
On Tuesday, Frank posted a video alongside a comment that revealed he and Jelly Roll had spoken.
"@jellyroll615 & 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," Frank wrote.
Meanwhile, Frank said he felt the need to address the controversy because of its wide reach in the media.
"I wasn't going to respond to this comment, because I didn't want to bring any unnecessary drama," he said of Jelly Roll's statement. "I posted my personal conviction. It triggered a lot of people. I had no idea that that was going to happen, but now Fox News has brought it up and People Magazine, so I feel like I'm inclined to speak."
"All I'm going to say to you, Jelly, is I love this question. This is the question that kept me from making Christian music for so many years, because I didn't want to make a business out of worship music. I didn't want to make a business out of Jesus, and so I actually didn't participate."
Frank, though, said he felt God leading him to make Christian music.
"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 going to tell anybody, because your left hand isn't supposed to know from your right hand. I might give 90 percent of my money away. I might give 10 percent of my money away [or] somewhere in between, but y'all are never gonna know that, because 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," Frank said, referencing Jelly Roll's 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 on here on social media, I'm for you, bro. God is for you. He has a plan for your life."
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
Listen to Michael's Podcast! He is the host of Crosswalk Talk, a podcast where he talks with Christian movie stars, musicians, directors, and more. Hear how famous Christian figures keep their faith a priority in Hollywood and discover the best Christian movies, books, television, and other entertainment. You can find Crosswalk Talk on LifeAudio.com, or subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an interview that will be sure to encourage your faith.
