Praying

On July 6, 2017, Kesha released "Praying," the lead single from her third studio album, Rainbow. The song marked a sharp turn from her party-pop catalog into gospel-infused piano balladry. Minimal production, strings, cellos, backing vocals, drums, lets her raw vocal power take center stage. The track originated from a demo by Ryan Lewis, who co-wrote and produced it with Kesha, Ben Abraham, Andrew Joslyn, and Jon Castelli. Kesha has described the song as a message of hope, even for abusers, inspired by her own past suicidal thoughts. The vocal performance showcases her range, including a moment where she nearly screams at the top of her register.

Critics universally praised "Praying" for its emotional depth and departure from Kesha's earlier work. Some heard a song of forgiveness; others sensed anger beneath the surface. Commercially, it reached number 6 in Australia, number 11 in Canada and Hungary, number 13 in Scotland, number 22 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and number 26 in the UK. The RIAA certified it 5x platinum. It earned a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Solo Performance. The music video, directed by Jonas Åkerlund, was filmed at Salvation Mountain in California, blending Christian and Hindu imagery. It drew comparisons to Beyoncé's Lemonade and has amassed over 275 million YouTube views. Kesha performed the song on her Rainbow Tour, at the Grammy Awards, the iHeartRadio Music Festival, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and Good Morning America, earning acclaim for her live delivery.[edit]