Brandon Lake Moves 90,000 People With Heavenly “Gratitude” at Charlie Kirk Memorial in State Farm Stadium

Brandon Lake’s unforgettable performance of “Gratitude” at the Charlie Kirk Memorial gathered nearly 100,000 people inside and outside State Farm Stadium, creating one of the largest worship services in American history.

A Worship Moment That Shook the Stadium

On a night filled with faith, remembrance, and unity, Brandon Lake turned a football arena into a house of worship. Performing his modern worship anthem “Gratitude”, Lake lifted more than 90,000 voices in unison during the Charlie Kirk Memorial, a five-hour service that blended gospel proclamation with a national revival atmosphere.

From the opening chords, the crowd was transfixed. As Lake’s raw and heartfelt vocals echoed through the stadium, hands rose to the heavens. Attendees described the sound as “what Heaven must be like.” Millions more tuned in online, experiencing a once-in-a-lifetime moment of worship that crossed boundaries of age, background, and denomination.

Brandon Lake’s Message of Surrender

Before the final chorus, Lake paused to speak directly to the audience:

“Can we sing this chorus one more time? … Nothing that you could do could ever make Him love you any less. Can we give Him 30 seconds of our undivided attention as we sing this chorus with our hands to the heavens today—surrendering everything that we’re feeling, that we’re facing, that we’re wrestling with—knowing that He is sovereign, He is higher, we can trust Him.”

What followed was a thunderous reprise of “Hallelujah”, voices swelling to the rafters of the NFL stadium. By the end, chants of “Holy, holy are you Lord God Almighty” filled the space, bringing both tears and standing ovations.

Erika Kirk’s Forgiveness and Trump’s Tribute

The service reached another emotional peak when Erika Kirk, Charlie’s widow, stunned mourners with her public act of forgiveness:

“I forgive him because it was what Christ did and is what Charlie would do.”

Her message of grace reflected her late husband’s mission to “revive the American family” and guide what he called “the lost boys of the West.” She also announced she would step into Charlie’s role as CEO of Turning Point USA.

Former President Donald Trump, who joined the service, praised Kirk’s influence on young conservatives and described the event as “like an old-time revival.”

Music as the Heartbeat of the Memorial

Music threaded through the entire service. Alongside Brandon Lake, performances included:

• Kari Jobe and Cody Carnes leading “The Blessing”

• Chris Tomlin and Phil Wickham delivering “Holy Forever” and “How Great Is Our God”

• Lee Greenwood singing “God Bless the USA”

• Bagpipes playing “Amazing Grace”

Pyrotechnics and lighting heightened the emotional peaks, making it both a worship service and a historic event.

Global Reactions to Brandon Lake’s “Gratitude”

Social media lit up with reactions from around the world:

• “If this is what a stadium of believers sounds like, imagine what Heaven will be like.”

• “I was an atheist for 46 years. Charlie did that. I will follow Jesus through Charlie.”

• “I cried like I haven’t cried in years. This was truly a once-in-a-lifetime revival.”

About Brandon Lake’s “Gratitude”

Released in 2020 on Lake’s House of Miracles album, “Gratitude” quickly became a global worship anthem. Its lyrics focus on surrender and thanksgiving, built around the refrain:

“So I throw up my hands, praise You again and again, ’cause all that I have is a Hallelujah.”

While the song has been performed worldwide, Lake’s rendition at the Charlie Kirk Memorial is already being called one of the most moving in history. By leading 90,000 people through grief and into collective worship, it became more than music—it became a spiritual milestone.

Legacy of the Memorial

The Charlie Kirk Memorial at State Farm Stadium marked history not only for its size but for its impact. With nearly 100,000 in attendance and millions online, it blended mourning with revival, forgiveness with worship, and grief with hope. Brandon Lake’s performance of “Gratitude” stood as the emotional centerpiece, reminding all present of the power of worship to unite, heal, and inspire.