'"[9] Smallbone attended Don Antonio Lugo High School in Chino and achieved a 4.1 grade point average which earned her a scholarship to Cal State-Fullerton.
[11] Because her dad is a jazz bass player, her musical influences are varied and include Chaka Khan, Stevie Wonder and Steely Dan.
[10] Smallbone auditioned for American Idol, but the judges—Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson, and Avril Lavigne—were harsh to her because of her wholesome image, telling her to experience life ("kiss a boy") before entering the music industry.
[11] Touched by the values she portrayed at the audition, a random stranger introduced Smallbone to Wendi Foy,[10] who helped her make a three-song demo to market to record labels in Nashville.
[15] Her inspiration for the album came from a myriad of places "including her family, her own relationship with Christ and experiences she's walked through with other young girls while leading her high school Bible study.
In 2023, Smallbone was cast as Queen Bathsheba, the wife of King David of Israel, in the streaming television series, The Chosen.
[4][20] Smallbone was on The Hurt & The Healer tour with MercyMe and fellow artist Chris August, where she was the opening act for the two.