Scott Stapp paused Creed’s headlining set at Velocity Festival in Dyersville, Iowa, to share a personal message about faith and lead the audience in an a cappella rendition of Brandon Lake’s worship song “Gratitude.”
Creed closed the festival’s three day run on Sunday, September 6, at the Field of Dreams Movie Site. The official festival schedule placed Shinedown on Friday, Carrie Underwood on Saturday and Creed on Sunday, making Stapp’s worship moment part of the final headlining set of the weekend.
Before Creed played “What’s This Life For,” Stapp spoke about purpose, surrender and his belief that God had met him through his hardest years. According to ChurchLeaders, he urged people who felt damaged or unworthy not to treat their past as a barrier to faith.
“Don’t ever think you’re not good enough,” Stapp told the crowd.
Stapp also addressed his history with alcoholism. Instead of describing that history only as a source of shame, he framed his recovery as part of his testimony and said prayer and repentance remain part of his life. His remarks gave “What’s This Life For” an immediate personal context rooted in experiences he has discussed publicly for years.
The moment gained wider attention after Vice reported on footage from the Iowa show. After “What’s This Life For” ended, Stapp began singing “Gratitude” without instrumental accompaniment. Video from the festival showed members of the audience raising their hands and joining him.
Country Chord traced the circulating footage to a concertgoer and reported that the brief rendition gave way to Creed’s “Weathered,” returning the performance to the band’s catalog.
Brandon Lake originally released “Gratitude” on his 2020 album 'House of Miracles,' according to Apple Music. A separate radio version followed in 2022, and the song became one of Lake’s most widely recognized worship recordings.
Stapp’s comments were consistent with the way he has discussed sobriety and faith since Creed’s return. In a 2024 Recording Academy interview, he described recovery as an ongoing discipline and said reconnecting with the roots of his faith helped his life make sense.
He has also drawn a distinction between his beliefs and the band itself. Stapp told Christianity Today that he was a Christian but Creed was not a Christian band, even though faith and spiritual struggle have long appeared throughout his writing.
The Iowa worship moment unfolded inside a standard Creed festival performance rather than a separate Christian music set. The band continued with “Weathered,” and its Sunday appearance completed Velocity Festival’s September 4 through 6 schedule.
