Michael W. Smith facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Michael W. Smith
Smith in 2019
Born	Michael Whitaker Smith (1957-10-07) October 7, 1957 (age 67) Kenova, West Virginia, U.S.
Occupation	Musician actor worship leader pastor (formerly)
Spouse(s)	Deborah Kay Davis ​ (m. 1981)​
Children	5
Musical career
Origin	Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Genres	CCM Christian rock pop pop rock
Instruments	Vocals keyboard piano guitar
Years active	1983–present
Labels	Reunion Provident Capitol Rocketown
Associated acts	Amy Grant, Kathy Troccoli

Michael Whitaker Smith (born October 7, 1957) is a famous American musician. He is known for his Christian music and also for his mainstream pop songs. One of his biggest hits was "Place in This World" in 1991. That song reached number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Throughout his career, Michael W. Smith has sold over 18 million albums. He has won three Grammy Awards and many other honors. These include an American Music Award and 45 Dove Awards. In 1999, he received the "Golden Note" Award for his songwriting. He has also had 31 number 1 hit songs. Many of his albums have sold very well, with fourteen going gold and five going platinum. Besides music, he has acted in two movies and written 14 books.

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Michael Whitaker Smith was born in Kenova, West Virginia. His parents were Paul and Barbara Smith. His father worked at an oil refinery, and his mother was a caterer. Michael loved baseball, just like his father, who played in the minor leagues.

He discovered his love for music through his church. He started playing piano when he was very young. He also sang in the church choir. At age 10, he had a strong spiritual experience. This led him to become a dedicated Christian. He joined Bible study groups and made friends who shared his faith.

After high school, Michael faced some personal challenges. He attended Marshall University for a short time. During this period, he also played in local bands. A friend encouraged him to move to Nashville, Tennessee. Nashville is known as the Country Music capital.

In 1978, Michael moved to Nashville. He worked as a landscaper to support himself. He played with different bands in local clubs. After a difficult time in 1979, he decided to focus on his Christian faith again. The next day, he tried out for a new Christian music group called Higher Ground. He got the job as a keyboard player. While touring with Higher Ground, he was able to overcome his personal struggles.

Music Career Highlights

Early Success (1981–1989)

In 1981, Michael W. Smith began writing songs for Meadowgreen Music. He wrote many popular gospel songs for artists like Sandi Patty and Amy Grant. Some of these songs are now sung in churches. The next year, he toured as a keyboardist for Amy Grant.

He soon became Amy Grant's opening act. In 1983, he released his first solo album, The Michael W. Smith Project. This album was nominated for a Grammy. It included his famous song "Friends," which he wrote with his wife, Deborah. By 1984, with his second album Michael W. Smith 2, he was headlining his own tours. He released The Big Picture in 1986.

After his 1988 album, i 2 (EYE), he toured with Amy Grant again. In 1989, he released his first Christmas album, simply called Christmas.

Mainstream Hits and Pop Albums (1990–1999)

Michael W. Smith and TobyMac with evangelist Billy Graham in 1994

In 1990, Michael W. Smith released Go West Young Man. This album included his big mainstream hit "Place in This World." The song reached number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. In 1992, he released Change Your World. This album featured the number 1 adult contemporary hit "I Will Be Here for You."

In 1993, he released his first collection of songs, The Wonder Years. He also released his first greatest hits album, The First Decade (1983–1993). This album had two new songs, "Do You Dream of Me?" and "Kentucky Rose."

In 1995, Smith released I'll Lead You Home. This album mixed his pop style with a religious feel. Live the Life (1998) and This Is Your Time (1999) followed a similar style. He also released his second Christmas album, Christmastime, in 1998.

He worked with Jim Brickman on the song "Love of My Life" in 1999. This song reached number 9 on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart. Also in 1999, he was the first Christian artist to get the ASCAP "Golden Note" Award. This award honors a lifetime of achievement in songwriting.

Instrumental and Live Worship Albums (2000–2003)

Michael W. Smith often includes instrumental songs on his albums. In 2000, he released his first album with only instrumental music, Freedom. The next year, he released his first album of worship music, Worship, on September 11.

He followed this with a second worship album, Worship Again, in 2002. Both albums were recorded live during concerts. Worship Again included a song called "There She Stands." He wrote this song after the September 11, 2001 attacks. He performed it live at the 2004 Republican National Convention.

In 2002, a live concert DVD called Worship was released. It was filmed in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The DVD quickly became a top seller and earned gold status in the U.S. and Canada.

Michael W. Smith won the Male Vocalist of the Year award in 2003. That same year, he released his second greatest hits album, The Second Decade (1993–2003). It included a new song called "Signs."

Contemporary Christian Albums (2004–2010)

Michael W. Smith during a concert in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania in 2005

His album Healing Rain came out in 2004. It reached number 11 on the Billboard Hot 200 Chart. The main song from the album also hit number 1 on Christian radio charts. This album mixed pop music with a religious feel. It was also nominated for a Grammy Award.

In 2006, he released Stand. This album was similar to Healing Rain but had more Christian-themed songs. Also in 2006, he created the music for the movie The Second Chance, in which he also acted.

In October 2007, he released his third Christmas album, It's a Wonderful Christmas. On June 20, 2008, he recorded his third live worship album, A New Hallelujah, at Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas. It was released in October 2008. He also started a tour with Steven Curtis Chapman that month. In September 2010, he released Wonder. This album continued his contemporary Christian music style.

Orchestral, Hymns, and Studio Worship (2011–2016)

Michael W. Smith's second instrumental album, Glory, was released on November 22, 2011. This album featured a large 65-piece orchestra. The next year, he released his third collection of worship songs, Decades of Worship (2012).

In 2014, Michael W. Smith released three albums. Hymns was his first album of traditional hymns. It sold well and won a Dove Award for "Inspirational Album of the Year." Sovereign, released in May 2014, was his first studio worship album. It became his highest-charting album at the time, reaching number 10 on the Billboard 200.

Michael W. Smith performing in June 2014

The third album was The Spirit of Christmas, released in September 2014. This album featured duets with many famous artists like Carrie Underwood, Lady Antebellum, and Amy Grant. It also won a Dove Award for "Christmas Album of the Year."

In 2014, Michael W. Smith and Amy Grant were honored for their big influence on Christian music. In 2015, Michael and his son Tyler wrote music for the movie 90 Minutes in Heaven. Michael also had a small acting role in the film.

In November 2015, Michael W. Smith and Amy Grant started their annual Christmas tour again. His second hymns album, Hymns II – Shine on Us, was released in January 2016.

In June 2016, he released a new song called "He Will Never End." The music video for this song was filmed in Israel. Later in 2016, he released a Christmas musical project called Almost There – A Christmas Musical.

Recent Albums (2017–Present)

On August 11, 2017, Michael W. Smith released "A Million Lights." This song was the first single from his pop album of the same name, released on February 16, 2018. A week later, on February 23, 2018, he released Surrounded. This was his first live worship album in ten years. These two albums became his 30th and 31st top 10 albums on Billboard's Top Christian Albums chart.

In May 2018, Michael W. Smith started a new children's book series called Nurturing Steps. He created it with Mike Nawrocki, who co-created VeggieTales. The first book, Nighty Night and Good Night, came out on May 8. He also released his first children's album, Lullaby, to go with the book.

On August 30, 2018, he hosted a free event in Nashville called "Surrounded: A Night to Pray, Worship and Be Awakened." This event was broadcast worldwide. On February 22, 2019, he released Awaken: The Surrounded Experience, another live worship album.

In 2021, Michael W. Smith released Worship Forever. This live album celebrated the 20th anniversary of his original Worship album. In March 2024, he released his worship EP Worthy is the Lamb, recorded at Belmont University. In April 2025, he released the single "Arms Around the Sun."

Acting Career

Michael W. Smith has also acted in several films. In 1994, he made his acting debut as Billy Holden in Secret Adventures: "Shrug." In 2006, he played the main role of Ethan Jenkins in The Second Chance. He also helped create the music for this movie.

In 2015, he starred as Cliff McArdle in the movie 90 Minutes in Heaven. This film was based on a popular book. He and his son also worked on the music for this film.

Michael W. Smith also played James the disciple in The Passion. This was a live musical film that aired on FOX on March 20, 2016.

Other Activities

In 1994, Michael W. Smith opened a teen club called Rocketown in Nashville, Tennessee. In 2003, it moved to a new location. The club has a dance floor, an indoor skate park, and a café with live music.

In 1996, he started his own record label, Rocketown Records. The label was named after a song from his album The Big Picture. The first artist signed to the label was Chris Rice.

Michael W. Smith is also involved in volunteer work. He helps sponsor children through Compassion International. He has also been part of Billy Graham Crusades and Samaritan's Purse. He sang at Billy Graham's memorial service in 2018.

Personal Life

Michael W. Smith is married to Deborah "Debbie" Kay Davis. They have five children, including filmmaker Ryan Whitaker Smith. They live in the Nashville area.

He attended Belmont Church in Nashville and was mentored by its pastor, Don Finto. He was also the founding pastor of New River Fellowship Church in Franklin, Tennessee, from 2006 to 2008.

Michael W. Smith was a friend of former president George H. W. Bush and is a friend of his son, former president George W. Bush. He performed at George H. W. Bush's state funeral in 2018. He is also friends with U2 singer Bono and has worked with him on a Christmas album and the One Campaign.

In 1992, Alderson-Broaddus College gave him an honorary Doctorate of Music degree. In 1992, People magazine named him one of their "Most Beautiful People."

Works

Discography

Amy Grant (left) and Michael W. Smith (right) have gone on several concert tours together

Publications

Audio books

• The Gospels Come to Life. Irving, Texas: Gospels Come to Life, 2003.

Filmography

• Secret Adventures: Shrug (1994) as Billy Holden
• The Second Chance (2006) as Ethan Jenkins
• 90 Minutes in Heaven (2015) as Cliff McArdle

Awards and Honors

Grammy Awards

• 1984 Best Gospel Performance, Male for Michael W. Smith 2
• 1995 Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album for I'll Lead You Home
• 2002 Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album for Worship Again

Grammy nominations

• 1983 Best Gospel Performance, Male for Michael W. Smith Project
• 1986 Best Gospel Performance, Male for The Big Picture
• 1988 Best Gospel Performance, Male for I 2(Eye)
• 1989 Best Gospel Vocal Performance, Male for "Holy, Holy, Holy"
• 1990 Best Pop Gospel Album for Go West Young Man
• 1998 Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album for Live the Life
• 2000 Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album for This Is Your Time
• 2002 Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album for Worship
• 2006 Best Christian Pop Album for Healing Rain
• 2008 Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album for Stand
• 2019 Best Contemporary Christian Music Album for Surrounded

Dove Awards

• 1985 Songwriter of the Year
• 1987 Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year for The Big Picture (producer, artist)
• 1988 Long Form Music Video of the Year for "The Big Picture Tour Video" (artist)
• 1990 Short Form Music Video of the Year for "I Miss the Way" (artist)
• 1991 Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year for Go West Young Man (producer, artist)
• 1992 Choral Collection of the Year for The Michael W. Smith Collection (artist)
• 1992 Musical Album of the Year for Change Your World (artist)
• 1992 Song of the Year for "Place in this World" (artist)
• 1993 Praise and Worship Album of the Year for Songs from the Loft (artist)
• 1993 Recorded Music Packaging of the Year for The Wonder Years (artist)
• 1994 Musical Album of the Year for Living on the Edge (artist)
• 1996 Songwriter of the Year
• 1996 Special Event Album of the Year for My Utmost For His Highest (artist)
• 1997 Special Event Album of the Year for Tribute: The Songs of Andrae Crouch (artist)
• 1998 Children's Music Album of the Year for Sing Me to Sleep Daddy (artist)
• 1998 Special Event Album of the Year for God With Us: A Celebration of Christmas Carols and Classics (artist)
• 1998 Enhanced CD of the Year for Live the Life – Maxi Single (artist)
• 1999 Artist of the Year
• 1999 Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year for Live the Life (producer, artist)
• 1999 Producer of the Year
• 1999 Special Event Album of the Year for Exodus (artist)
• 2000 Short Form Music Video of the Year for "This is Your Time" (artist)
• 2000 Song of the Year for "This Is Your Time" (artist)
• 2000 Songwriter of the Year
• 2001 Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year for This is Your Time (producer, artist)
• 2001 Youth/Children's Musical Album of the Year for Friends 4 Ever (artist)
• 2002 Album of the Year for Worship (producer, artist)
• 2002 Artist of the Year
• 2002 Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year for "Above All" (artist)
• 2002 Instrumental Album of the Year for Freedom (producer, artist)
• 2003 Album of the Year for Worship Again (producer, artist)
• 2003 Artist of the Year
• 2003 Long Form Music Video of the Year for Worship DVD/Video (producer, artist)
• 2003 Male Vocalist of the Year
• 2008 Christmas Album of the Year for It's a Wonderful Christmas
• 2009 Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year for "A New Hallelujah"
• 2009 Praise & Worship Album of the Year for A New Hallelujah
• 2012 Best Instrumental Album of the Year for Glory
• 2014 Inspirational Album of the Year for Hymns
• 2015 Christmas Album of the Year for The Spirit of Christmas

American Music Awards

• 1992 Favorite New Adult Contemporary Artist

Gospel Music Hall of Fame

• 2008 Inductee

See also

In Spanish: Michael W. Smith para niños