googly eyes x Joy Oladokun x Allison Ponthier – “Jesus and John Wayne” |Review

Some songs arrive like lifelines—gently, honestly, and right when you need them. “Jesus and John Wayne” is one of those rare tracks. Born from the pages of Kristin Kobes Du Mez’s explosive book of the same name, the song unpacks the painful intersection of faith, identity, and politics with striking vulnerability and nuance. googly eyes, Joy Oladokun, and Allison Ponthier bring their voices together to create something that feels at once intimate and monumental.

The production is soft and atmospheric, allowing the lyrics to take center stage—words that speak directly to anyone who’s felt abandoned by a religion they once trusted. googly eyes leads with graceful rawness, reflecting on the emotional dissonance of growing up in a faith community that couldn’t see her for who she was. Joy Oladokun and Allison Ponthier elevate that message with layered harmonies and deeply felt perspectives, both personal and spiritual.

This song is more than just a collaboration—it’s an act of reclamation. It redefines what faith can sound like: inclusive, expansive, and rooted in love rather than exclusion. As the first single from the All Things Go benefit compilation supporting The Ally Coalition, “Jesus and John Wayne” sets a powerful tone. It’s not afraid to confront the damage done by institutional religion, but it also holds space for healing, for community, and for the radical belief that love—true love—belongs to everyone.

For anyone navigating the complex layers of queerness, spirituality, and self-worth, this track offers comfort without compromise. It’s a hymn for the misfits, the doubters, and the believers still learning to believe in themselves again.