Skillet's John Cooper has addressed criticism from some Christian fans who view their music as inherently tied to evil, reaffirming his identity as a 'Jesus freak' despite personal challenges and public scrutiny. The band released the new single 'Scream' and its accompanying music video, followed by the announcement of the 'After The Storm' EP and a fall 2026 US tour, while their hit track 'Monster' surpassed four billion streams. Meanwhile, Bad Wolves were removed from the tour after their guitarist quit over a controversial Dolly Parton cover.