Daddy's DNA

"Daddy's DNA"
Promotional single by Brandon Lake
from the album King of Hearts
Released	April 29, 2025
Length	4:30
Label	Provident Label Group Sony Records
Songwriter(s)	Brandon Lake Hank Bentley Jacob Scooter
Composer(s)	Brandon Lake Elizabeth Hashley Hank Bentley Jacob Scooter Leon Gregory Solo Ray Zak Dillon
Producer(s)	Hank Bentley Jacob Scooter
Brandon Lake singles chronology
"I Know a Name" (2025) "Daddy's DNA" (2025) "Sevens" (2025)
Music video
"Daddy's DNA" on YouTube

"Daddy's DNA" is a song by American musician Brandon Lake. The song was released on April 29, 2025, as the second promotional single from Lake's fifth studio album, King of Hearts . ^[1] The single includes the two previously released songs "Hard Fought Hallelujah" and "That's Who I Praise", both of which went on to top the Billboard Hot Christian Songs chart. ^{[2] [3]}

Background

"Daddy's DNA" was released on April 29, 2025, as a promotional single. ^[4] Upon release, it debuted at No. 1 on the iTunes store across all genres. ^[5] Lyrically the song is based off of the parable of the prodigal son. ^{[1] [6]} At American Idol Season 23, the song was performed by Lake and Breanna Nix as a non-competitive performance. ^{[7] [8]}

Lake shared the song was "maybe my favourite song I've ever written". ^[9] The song was praised by Jelly Roll, who called it "song of the year". ^[10] The song was written by Brandon Lake, Hank Bentley, and Jacob Scooter. Bentley and Scooter acted as producer. Lake, Bentley, Scooter, Elizabeth Hashley, Leon Gregory, Solo Ray, and Zak Dillon acted as composer. ^[11]

Commercial performance

"Daddy's DNA" peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot Christian Songs chart and No. 34 on the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart. ^{[12] [13]} The song also charted at No. 4 on the Christian Digital Song Sales chart, No. 10 on the Christian Streaming Songs chart, and No. 4 on the Rock Digital Song Sales chart. ^{[14] [15] [16]} On the Hot Rock Songs chart, the song hit No. 25. ^[17]

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Daddy's DNA"	Brandon Lake Hank Bentley Jacob Scooter	Hank Bentley Jacob Scooter	4:30
2.	"Hard Fought Hallelujah" (with Jelly Roll)	Brandon Lake Steven Furtick Benjamin William Hastings Chris Brown Jason Bradley DeFord Rodrick Simmons	Micah Nichols	5:16
3.	"That's Who I Praise"	Lake Steven Furtick Benjamin William Hastings Micah Nichols Zac Lawson Jake Lawson	Micah Nichols	3:48
Total length:				13:35

Personnel

Adapted from Tidal. ^[11]

• Brandon Lake – main artist, writer, composer
• Daniel Mackenzie – editor
• Elizabeth Hasley – composer
• Hank Bentley – producer, writer, composer, acoustic guitar, bass, recording engineer, resonator guitar
• Holly Zabka – executive producer
• Jacob Scooter – producer, writer, keyboards, recording engineer, steel guitar
• Leon Gregory – composer
• Matt Huber – mixing
• Pete Mol – background vocals, editor, keyboards, organ
• Sam Moses – masterer
• Solo Ray – composer
• Zak Dillon – composer

Charts

Weekly chart performance for "Daddy's DNA"

Chart (2025)	Peak position
US Hot Christian Songs ( Billboard ) [18]	6
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs ( Billboard ) [19]	34

References

1. Longs, Herb (April 29, 2025). "Brandon Lake Debuts "Daddy's DNA" Single & Music Video". The Christian Beat. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
2. "Hot Christian Songs". Billboard . November 23, 2024. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
3. "Hot Christian Songs". Billboard . October 19, 2024. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
4. Yap, Timothy (April 30, 2025). "Here Are Lyrics to Brandon Lake's "Daddy's DNA"". Jubilee Cast. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
5. DeKraker, Kayla (May 5, 2025). "Brandon Lake's Latest Hit Tops Charts as He Reminds Fans of This…". Movie Guide. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
6. Hurt, Melonee (May 20, 2025). "Brandon Lake expands Christian music beyond its typical boundaries with 'Idol' and 'Kimmel' appearances". The Tennessean . Retrieved June 5, 2025.
7. Benutty, John; Davidson, Denton (May 18, 2025). "'American Idol' Season 23 finale: Who took the crown — John Foster, Breanna Nix, or Jamal Roberts?". Gold Derby . Retrieved June 5, 2025.
8. "Brandon Lake and Breanna Nix Get Emotional on 'Daddy's DNA'". ACB News . May 18, 2025. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
9. Houde, Colleen (April 29, 2025). "Brandon Lake drops surprise single ahead of new album". CHVN-FM . Retrieved April 30, 2025.
10. Mower, Maxim (April 25, 2025). ""Bubba, that's gonna be song of the year"". Holler. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
11. "Daddy's DNA / Brandon Lake / Credits". Tidal . May 18, 2025. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
12. "Hot Christian Songs". Billboard . May 17, 2025. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
13. "Hot Rock & Alternative Songs". Billboard . May 17, 2025. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
14. "Christian Digital Song Sales". Billboard . May 10, 2025. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
15. "Christian Streaming Songs". Billboard . May 17, 2025. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
16. "Rock Digital Song Sales". Billboard . May 10, 2025. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
17. "Hot Rock Songs". Billboard . May 17, 2025. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
18. "Brandon Lake Chart History (Hot Christian Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 13, 2025.
19. "Brandon Lake Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 14, 2025.