Brandon Lake, the Grammy Award-winning Christian artist, and his wife Brittany recently seized a precious moment of solitude in New York City, leaving their three sons back home in South Carolina. For these busy parents, the first order of business was a relatable indulgence.
“We immediately ordered room service,” Brandon Lake shared with PEOPLE, chuckling. “Most of the time I’m traveling by myself, but we’re trying to live it up since we are getting to work together.” This trip wasn’t just a getaway; it was a working trip for the creative power couple who have recently unveiled their heartwarming children’s book, Little Lion Lungs. This book introduces readers to Levi, a young lion cub whose adventures gently unfold the significance of gratitude.
Brittany, 36, revealed that the seed for Little Lion Lungs had been germinating for over a year in Brandon’s creative mind. “Brandon has been talking about [writing this book] for over a year,” she explained in the PEOPLE interview. “I would catch him drawing Levi the Lion and just being so creative. And one day I was like, ‘I think you need to do it.'” She recounted how the storyline Brandon envisioned spurred her encouragement, leading to the project’s realization with his team’s support.
Brandon, 33, traced the book’s origins back to the resonating lyrics of his No. 1 hit, “Gratitude,” particularly the line “you’ve got a lion inside of your lungs.” This sparked the initial idea for a clothing line, but it evolved into something larger. “We’ve also always wanted to be a family that doesn’t just resource other families with music, but resources of all kinds that would help the family grow to be a worshiping family,” Brandon elaborated, highlighting the broader vision behind Little Lion Lungs as an extension of the Brandon Lake Family’s ministry.
Little Lion Lungs transcends the typical enchanting children’s book; it carries a profound message at its core. Brandon emphasizes, “This [book] actually has the potential to teach children that they were created to be worshipers.” He connects the book’s message to a deeper spiritual truth, noting, “The world distracts you and gets you to worship other things, but you are always created to worship God.” This resonates with the core values of the Brandon Lake family, aiming to instill faith and worship from a young age. This mission is further amplified by Brandon’s recent accolades at the 11th Annual K-LOVE Fan Awards, where he co-hosted with Sadie Robertson and received two awards, including male artist of the year and worship song of the year for “Praise You Anywhere.”
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(499×0:501×2)/brandon-lake35-04182024-af3b5240056a4cbcb95b46fa8f7278c8.jpg)
The creation of Little Lion Lungs became a special chapter for the Brandon Lake family, offering Brandon and Brittany valuable time working side-by-side. “Brittany is obviously queen of our home and sacrifices so much,” Brandon acknowledged. He lauded her multifaceted role, “She puts up with baby poop and dogs and animals everywhere and taking care of the cows, but she’s also always helping me with songs I’m working on and giving me great feedback. It’s definitely a family ministry for sure.” This collaborative spirit underscores the family-centric nature of their endeavors.
Indeed, the mention of cows wasn’t a slip. The Brandon Lake family has embraced farm life. “I went from ‘Metro Brandon’ to ‘Farmer Brandon’ this past year,” Brandon admitted, reflecting on his transition from city life to a more rural setting. He shared the charming anecdote of gifting Brittany a cow for her birthday, revealing, “We have a farm in our backyard and Billy the cow has basically become our farm baby. My goal in life now is just to be a full-on cowboy.” This lifestyle shift adds another layer to the Brandon Lake family narrative, showcasing their grounded values and appreciation for nature.
Brittany’s pride in Brandon’s accomplishments is palpable. “I think Brandon was made for this,” Brittany expressed. “I’m so proud of him. He stewards our family first. But that’s no surprise. I know that this is what he’s called to do, and I just love supporting him. He’s just so natural and just loves people so well.” Her words highlight the strong foundation of their relationship and her unwavering support for Brandon’s multifaceted career and passions.
This pride extends to their children, who are already experiencing the impact of Little Lion Lungs. Brittany recounted a heartwarming story, “Our 9-year old did a buddy reading day at school and he brought our book. He read it to a kindergartner, and he said that they read it twice because they loved it so much.” These anecdotes illustrate how deeply intertwined the Brandon Lake family is with their creative projects, and how their children are actively participating in and benefiting from their parents’ work.
With Little Lion Lungs now available, Brandon is eagerly anticipating quality family time before embarking on his Summer Worship Nights tour in August and the Tear Off the Roof Tour in October. Looking ahead, Brandon shared his priorities, “As a family, we’re going to go for a few weeks to the beach and I’m going to turn the phone off.” He concluded, “And then, I’m really excited about new songs. It’s what my heart burns for more than anything. This next season is really going to be about family and creativity … and farming.” This glimpse into the future reveals the Brandon Lake family’s commitment to balancing their thriving careers with cherished family moments and their continued dedication to creating impactful and faith-based content.
