2024 has been a remarkable year in the world of faith and entertainment, marked by profound losses, spiritual awakenings and the continued success of faith-driven content.

From the untimely passing of beloved gospel singer Mandisa, whose music and openness about mental health left a lasting legacy, to high-profile baptisms of Hollywood figures like Russell Brand and Denzel Washington, the interplay of faith and culture has captivated audiences around the globe.

This year also saw a controversial display during the Paris Olympics, sparking criticism from faith leaders, while “Duck Dynasty” patriarch Phil Robertson’s health struggles were revealed.

Meanwhile, faith-based programming such as “The Chosen,” “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” and “Unsung Hero” broke records, illustrating an undeniable hunger for uplifting, spiritually grounded stories.

Here are the five stories that defined the year in faith-based entertainment.

1. Mandisa’s Death, Legacy of Hope

The Christian music world mourned the loss of Grammy-winning artist Mandisa, whose chart-topping songs like “Overcomer” inspired millions.

On April 18, 2024, the Grammy Award-winning artist who appeared on season five of the reality TV singing competition “American Idol” in 2006, died at her home in Nashville, Tennessee, from obesity-related health issues. She was 47.

Known for her transparency about struggles with mental health and faith, Mandisa’s passing brought an outpouring of grief and gratitude.

Artist TobyMac collaborated on several songs with Mandisa and remembered her as an “authentic” Christian who wasn’t afraid to share her battles with a watching world.

“She was honest and authentic, but I always left her side feeling better,” he said. “She watched every act, every night on every tour, singing along with a smile that made you feel alive. … She saw us as a family. God’s family. In all our diversity. All flawed. And all in need of the love of a Good Father, a Heavenly Father.”

“Mandisa’s smile was like turning on sunshine,” said singer-songwriter Amy Grant on Instagram.

“Broke my heart when I heard the news!” wrote singer and actress Jennifer Hudson. “She was truly a woman of faith. A bright light that made such a powerful imprint on this world. Rest in heaven, Mandisa!”

In a 2022 interview with The Christian Post, Mandisa opened up about her struggles with depression and anxiety and how her faith sustained her, discovering that, in Scripture, “a lot of these people we read about wrestled with similar things.”

She cited as examples Elijah, “who one minute is calling down fire from the Heavens and defeating the prophets of Baal, and then the next moment sitting by a tree and asking God to let him die,” and David, “who is very honest throughout the Psalms about the pain he felt internally, and he was someone God called a man after His own heart.”

Mandisa said she found comfort in Psalm 13:1-6, which asks, “How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?” At the same time, the Bible verse declares, “my heart rejoices in your salvation,” and includes a vow to “sing to the LORD, for he has been good to me.”

2. High-Profile Baptisms: Russell Brand and Denzel Washington

Hollywood witnessed a notable spiritual shift this year as celebrities including Russell Brand and Denzel Washington made public declarations of their Christian faith.

Brand, a 48-year-old actor and comedian, was baptized earlier this year following a personal exploration of Christianity that lasted several years. He began baptizing others just five months after his own baptism.

Brand’s baptism was a turning point for the comedian and actor, who described it as “a moment of surrender.” Since then, he’s used his platform to publish videos about his spiritual journey.

“I know a lot of people are sort of cynical about the increasing interest in Christianity and the return to God, but to me, it’s obvious,” he said in an April video. “As meaning deteriorates in the modern world, as our value systems and institutions crumble, all of us become increasingly aware that there is this eerily familiar awakening and beckoning figure that we’ve all known all of our lives, within us and around us. And for me, it’s very exciting.”

Washington, a longtime believer and Academy-Award winner, reaffirmed his faith in a deeply personal ceremony: in December, the 69-year-old “Gladiator II” actor was baptized at The First Jurisdiction Church of God in Christ Eastern New York.

“In one week, I turn 70. It took a while, but I’m finally here,” he said at the time, adding that when he was 20, he was sitting in his mom’s beauty parlor when he encountered a woman named Ruth Green.

“She said, ‘Boy, you are going to travel the world and preach to millions of people,’” he recalled. “She wouldn’t even spell the word prophecy. My mother wrote the word prophecy … 50 years later, look at God. If He can do this for me, there’s nothing He can’t do for you. The sky literally is the limit and there’s no limit to the sky.”

In a November essay for Esquire, the actor said he was “unafraid” of the public’s reaction to his faith, adding, “I don’t care what anyone thinks.”

“See, talking about the fear part of it — you can’t talk like that and win Oscars,” he said at the time. “You can’t talk like that and party. You can’t say that in this town … I’m free now.”

3. ‘Blasphemous’ Paris Olympics Spark Controversy

While the Paris Olympics showcased athletic excellence, it was also marred by reports of widespread debauchery, drawing sharp criticism from faith leaders.

The opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Paris in July showed a ménage à trois and a depiction of The Last Supper with drag queens as Jesus’ disciples, among other symbols that rankled Christian viewers.

Abby Johnson, host of the “Politely Rude” podcast and former Planned Parenthood clinic director-turned-women’s advocate, rebuked the depiction of Jesus and His disciples, writing on X, “It’s crazy how they openly degrade and mock our beliefs then call us intolerant.”

Franklin Graham, CEO of Samaritan’s Purse, called the move “disrespectful to Christians everywhere,” adding: “Even more than being disrespectful to Christians, I would be concerned about being disrespectful to God. His Word tells us, ‘Be not deceived, God is not mocked’ (Galatians 6:7). It would be nice if President Biden, a Catholic, would issue a statement condemning this. Whether you’re Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, or Protestant, it is offensive.”

Actress Candace Cameron Bure lamented seeing “the opening ceremonies completely blasphemed and mock the Christian faith with their interpretation of ‘The Last Supper,’” describing the portrayal as “disgusting.”

Harrison Butker, a kicker for the Kansas City Chiefs, shared the Bible verse Galatians 6:7-8 in a post on X in response to what many dubbed a “blasphemous” display: “Be not deceived, God is not mocked. For what things a man shall sow, those also shall he reap. For he that soweth in his flesh, of the flesh also shall reap corruption. But he that soweth in the spirit, of the spirit shall reap life everlasting.”

Greg Laurie of Harvest Fellowship in California questioned on X, “Why go out of your way to insult billions of people who believe in Jesus Christ?” He wrote, “So how should we react to this? We redouble our efforts to bring the Gospel to a lost world. That’s it.”

In response to the growing backlash, Anne Deschamps, spokesperson for Paris 2024, stated, “Clearly there was never an intention to show disrespect to any religious group.” The opening ceremony, she added, “tried to celebrate community tolerance. … We believe this ambition was achieved. If people have taken any offence we are really sorry.”

4. Faith-Based Programming Thrives

Christian television and film continued to see significant success in 2024: faith-based productions outperformed expectations, highlighting a growing audience for content that inspires and uplifts.

“The Chosen,” now in its fifth season, reached new heights of popularity. Despite being available for free on its own streaming app, the latest season of the series, which follows the life of Jesus Christ and His followers, grossed more than $31 million at the box office.

This year, “The Chosen” ended its relationship with Angel Studios, and Jenkins, along with his newly formed 5&2 Studios, announced it was leveraging the momentum of the series to create a broader storytelling universe.

Projects in development include “The Chosen Adventures,” an animated series reimagining the story of Jesus for younger audiences with a voice cast featuring Paul Walter Hauser; “The Chosen in the Wild with Bear Grylls” and a three-season series centered on the life of Moses, poised to become his next flagship project.

Released in November, the Jenkins-directed movie “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” starring Judy Greer, Pete Holmes, Lauren Graham and several of “The Chosen” cast, surpassed expectations with a high audience score and positive reviews, boasting a domestic box office total exceeding $30 million.

Earlier this year, “Unsung Hero,” which tells the faith-fueled story of the Smallbone family, took the No. 2 spot at the box office for its opening weekend, grossing $7.8 million.

Faith-based streaming also saw incredible success.

In a recent interview with The Christian Post, President and CEO of Great American Media, Bill Abbott, revealed that while some networks saw steep declines in 2024, Great American Family experienced double-digit growth. In November alone, the network reported a 19% increase in household viewership and a 21% rise in viewers. The women 25-54 demographic also grew by 13%.

“In ‘mainstream’ entertainment, the portrayal of faith, family and country is often dismissive, caricatured or outright derisive,” he explained. “One of the qualifications that that content needs to have to air on our platforms is to be supportive and encouraging in regard to the traditions and values that are central to faith, family and country.”

5. Phil Robertson’s Health Struggles

In December, Phil Robertson’s family revealed the beloved 78-year-old “Duck Dynasty” patriarch is in the “early stages” of Alzheimer’s and battling another blood-related disease that is “causing problems with his entire body.”

“Phil’s not doing well. We were trying to figure out the diagnosis, but according to the doctors, they are sure that he has some sort of blood disease causing all kinds of problems,” Phil’s son, Jase, said on the “Unashamed with the Robertson Family” podcast.

Phil’s son, Willie, later explained that his father has a “blood disorder,” and “mental issues that could be early [on-set] Alzheimer’s … and probably some ministrokes because of his blood.”

“And so, it could be some stroke stuff happening, that has happened. So, we’re still checking on all that. But then he also has a back issue, he’s fractured his back and that’s where the pain’s at. So, he’s kind of battling many different things at the same time.”

Still, the family patriarch is “as sharp as ever” when it comes to his faith and knowledge of the Bible, according to his son.

“He goes right back to that, and so we find those are things that seem to comfort him,” Willie said. “He still quotes the Bible and still talks about his faith in God, so I think that’s been comforting and something that he hasn’t lost yet.

“He can’t speak like he used to and teach his class, and so he’s kind of taking a break from that and his podcast and stuff. But it’s still strong and vital to him, he just can’t always make the words and thoughts that I think that he wants to make.”

The Robertson household rose to fame through the hit A&E reality show “Duck Dynasty,” which ran from 2012 to 2017. The series chronicled the lives of the Robertsons and their business, Duck Commander, while highlighting the family’s faith and conservative values.

In a previous interview with The Christian Post, Phil Robertson reflected on how, in 2013, he was suspended from “Duck Dynasty” over his candid comments about homosexuality and religion in a GQ profile. He was swiftly condemned as a bigot by LGBT activist groups, including The Human Rights Campaign and GLAAD.

“Five or six years ago, a guy came up and asked me, did I believe homosexual behavior was a sin,” Robertson told CP. “I quoted 1 Corinthians 6:9-10: ‘Don’t be deceived. Neither the sexually immoral, the adulterers, the idolaters, the male prostitutes, the homosexual offenders, the thieves, the greedy drunks, they won’t inherit the Kingdom of God,’ Robertson said, citing [Paul’s letter] to the church at Corinth. ‘But you’ve been washed, you’ve been cleansed by the blood of Jesus,’” he added.

“I just simply quoted him a verse, a Bible verse, where God stated what it is,” he added. “So it took him two weeks to figure out all I did was quote a Bible verse. He asked me a question … and I just quoted [the Bible]. And when I quoted it, he took it and ran with it, because he thought I was just blowing smoke just off the top of my head.”

Though backlash from the secular media was swift, the father, grandfather and great-grandfather noted that as a result of his boldness, “a lot of good came forth.”

“We converted way more after that,” he said. “See what I’m saying? God works in mysterious ways.”

The film “The Blind,” released in 2023, delved into the Duck Commander’s backstory and Phil’s struggles with addiction and anger prior to his conversion to Christianity.

Willie previously told CP the family’s lives would look drastically different if it weren’t for an Arkansas pastor, who, in the 1970s, drove across state lines to share the Gospel with his father.

“After we came out with ‘The Blind’ last year about Phil and Kay’s life, I thought, ‘What if that hadn’t happened? What if that guy didn’t go up there and preach the Gospel out of fear?” Willie reflected.

“Dad had not become a Christian. He’d already kicked us out, so we knew where it was headed. It was heading towards divorce for sure, split up family. When you take that out of the mix, there would have been no Duck Commander, there would have been no company, there would have been no ‘Duck Dynasty.’ I don’t even know if I would be a believer today.”

“Every day of my life, someone has been impacted by what happened 50 years ago,” he continued. “Because of what was able to come out of that, when you start thinking about the television show that reached hundreds of millions of people, still does every day … all the books, the movies, the podcast, all the things that have pointed people in some way to the Gospel, to the light, I can trace all that back.”

Article written by Leah M. Klett, originally appearing on The Christian Post. Klett is a reporter for The Christian Post and can be reached at: leah.klett@christianpost.com