Maybe We’re Not Losing the Culture — Maybe We’re Starting to Win It Back

Lesley A. Davis

By: Lesley A. Davis is a long-time advocate for women and children, an attorney, President and CEO of Mississippi Advocacy Group, Mississippi's Committeewoman to the RNC, and Vice Chair of the Mississippi Republican Party. 

For a long time, it felt like the left owned the culture in America. Faith was mocked, tradition sidelined, and if you dared to talk about God or morality in a public setting, you were dismissed as backward or out of touch.

But something is changing. And it’s not just in politics. It’s in the culture — the part we were told we lost for good.

Case in point: American Idol’s recent “night of worship.” On Easter Sunday, one of the biggest shows in pop culture history opened with a song praising Jesus, featured multiple worship performances, and even had Carrie Underwood singing about her faith in front of millions. The whole night felt more like church than a talent competition — and it wasn’t niche or corny. It was beautiful. It was bold. And it struck a nerve.

This is what cultural realignment looks like.

The Leftward Drift Has Hit a Wall 🚧

For years, American culture marched steadily leftward. Entertainment, academia, big business — all seemed captured by progressive ideology. Christian values were relegated to the sidelines. Traditional families were sneered at. The faith that built this country was treated as a private eccentricity, best kept quiet in polite society.

But that top-down pressure never fully reflected the values of everyday Americans. And now, after years of being told to keep quiet, people are finding their voices again. It’s not just political. It’s cultural. It’s spiritual. And it’s long overdue.

What we saw on American Idol wasn’t just entertainment. It was a signal. Americans are hungry for more than the moral confusion that has dominated the culture for too long. They’re tired of being told that faith doesn’t belong in the public square.

That night wasn’t angry or combative — it was joyful, reverent, and real. And it reminded people that worship isn’t just for Sunday mornings or private Facebook groups. It belongs right where people are — even on prime-time television.

This is why the cultural shift matters. We’re not just defending against bad ideas anymore. We’re creating good ones. We’re building culture again — and it’s resonating.

The Realignment Is Bigger Than Politics 🗳️

Some people think this “realignment” is just about politics — about voters moving from left to right, or coalitions reshuffling. But that’s only part of the story. What we’re seeing is something deeper: a rediscovery of the values that sustain a nation.

Hard work. Family. Faith. Community. Patriotism. These aren’t relics of the past. They’re foundations. And for too long, they’ve been treated as obstacles to progress rather than anchors in a storm.

Now, regular people — not celebrities or politicians — are reclaiming them. They’re starting classical schools. They’re homeschooling in massive numbers. They’re launching small businesses rooted in faith.

They’re sharing scripture on TikTok and filling stadiums to worship. And yes, they’re watching American Idol with tears in their eyes because it’s finally speaking to something deeper than celebrity.

Young People Are Leaning In 🙋‍♂️

Here’s something the media doesn’t want to admit: this isn’t just an old-person movement. A surprising number of young Americans — especially young men — are waking up to the emptiness of modern culture and looking for something more meaningful. They’re turning to faith. They’re embracing tradition.

We’ve seen videos where hundreds or thousands of students at college campuses across the country are saying they can’t do it alone and are being baptized in any body of water they can find.For years, we were told the next generation would be more liberal, more secular, more “progressive.” But that forecast is starting to look more like wishful thinking than reality.

This Is a Cultural Moment — Let’s Not Miss It ⏳

So what do we do with all this?

We keep going.

We support artists and shows that aren’t afraid to honor faith and family. We build institutions — schools, media outlets, churches, businesses — that reflect our values. We raise our kids to love truth and beauty, not just chase likes and trends. And we stop assuming we’re losing the culture, because we’re not.

If anything, we’re starting to win it back.

No, this doesn’t mean we’ll win every battle. There’s still hostility. There’s still mockery. But there’s also a growing awareness — even among those outside our circles — that the old scripts aren’t working. People want more. And we have something to offer.

The Easter episode of American Idol didn’t solve everything. But it reminded us what’s possible. That the sacred still moves hearts. That truth still speaks. And that maybe — just maybe — the cultural tide is turning.

We’re not here to burn the culture down. We’re here to redeem it.

And that work is just getting started.

Let's keep going!