Joel David Smallbone is an Australian singer and actor. He is a member of the Christian pop duo for King & Country along with his brother Luke Smallbone. He played the role of James Stevens in the 2016 film Priceless.
Joel Smallbone | |
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![]() Smallbone in 2016 | |
Born | June 5, 1984 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
Occupation | Singer, actor |
Spouse | Moriah Peters (m. 2013) |
Relatives | Luke Smallbone (brother) Rebecca St. James (sister) |
Smallbone was born in Sydney, but moved to Nashville, Tennessee in 1991.[1] He is the brother of Luke Smallbone and younger brother of Christian recording artist and speaker Rebecca St. James. Smallbone is also the brother-in-law of Jacob Fink, former bassist for the band Foster the People.[2]
Smallbone's father was a music promoter, and Joel recalls, "going to these rock concerts, sitting on my father's shoulders, plugging my ears...Honestly, in a lot of ways I feel like music chose me and as I grew older, I made a clear decision to fully lean into it."[3]
Smallbone did background vocals for his sister Rebecca as well as operating lights and managing the stage.[4] He collaborated with his brother Luke and in 2008 they released their first EP, A Tale of Two Towns, performing under the name Austoville.[1] The group was signed to Warner Bros. Records and later changed its name to For King & Country.[1]
Smallbone began his acting career in 2014 by playing King Xerxes in The Book of Esther and as Jake Reeson in Like a Country Song.[5] In 2016, Smallbone was cast in the leading role of James Stevens in the film Priceless.[6]
Smallbone won two Grammy awards in 2014 and was nominated for another Grammy in 2016[7][8]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
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2014 | The Book of Esther | King Xerxes | |
2014 | Like a Country Song | Jake Reeson | |
2016 | Priceless | James Stevens |