Bella were formed in 2002 as Anam Cara (Celtic for "soul mate") in Newcastle as a country music trio by Kate Ballantyne Lyn Bowtell and Karen O'Shea.

[1][3][4] Ballantyne (born Katrina Aitken, February 1970, Newcastle), on guitar and vocals, had started performing professionally from 14 years-old and issued her debut single in 1991.

[4] Bowtell (born 1976 or 1977,[6] Kleinton, Queensland) on vocals and guitar, was a member of Southern Steel, which issued their debut album, Headed South, in 1996.

[7] Upon leaving secondary school O'Shea started her career in her home town, Darwin, Northern Territory, with a band the Sublimes.

They have won Golden Guitars for Vocal Group or Duo of the Year in 2004 and 2005 for the songs "Tumblin' Down" and "About a Girl" at the Country Music Awards of Australia.

[12] Bowtell's father died, and she studied a Bachelor of Music; Ballantyne became a school teacher; O'Shea and Skliros had married and moved to the Hunter Valley where they raised their two children.