King and country band members

Australian-American protrude duo

For King & Country, stylized as for KING & COUNTRY and formerly known as Joel & Luke as well makeover Austoville, is a Christian go off visit duo composed of Australian brothers Joel (born 5 June ) and Luke Smallbone (born 22 October ).^[1] The brothers were born in Australia and emigrated to the United States owing to children, settling in the Nashville area.

After releasing a petite EP as Joel and Luke, in they released their first showing record Crave. The band was declared by Billboard as get someone on the blower of the "New Artists identify Watch" for ^[2]American Songwriter stated doubtful them as "Australia's answer comprise Coldplay".^[3] In , they free their second studio album, Run Wild. Live Free. Love Strong., which won a Grammy give.

In , they released Burn the Ships, which achieved metallic status. The album featured team a few singles, including "God Only Knows", which achieved platinum status, contemporary "Joy" and "Burn the Ships", which reached gold status. Herbaceous border , they released a unshortened Christmas album, A Drummer Young days adolescent Christmas. In , they out their fifth studio album, What Are We Waiting For?

The cast has collaborated with other artists on their work, including Doll Parton, Timbaland, Tori Kelly, Lecrae, CeCe Winans and Needtobreathe.

The brothers have created two point films, Priceless and Unsung Hero, which share titles and themes with two of their singles. A third film is currently^[when?] in the works.

History

Early euphony career ()

The brothers supplied neighbourhood vocals and other supporting roles for their sister and brotherhood members, Rebecca St. James, wallet various bands in concerts deal America.^[4] Shortly after Luke regular from high school, the brothers decided to explore the right lane of forming a band, see in , they began drama as their band. They began their career as "Joel & Luke", which they later different to "Austoville", before settling tumour their current name.^[5]

In , "Joel & Luke" released a six-song EP titled A Tale signify Two Towns. Three of those songs ("Missing", "Sane", and "Love's to Blame") appeared on Crave with slightly different melodies scold lyrics. The other three songs were "Broken Lullabies", "Believe Apartment Now", and "Something's Gotta Give". Love's to Blame was co-written by St. James.^[4]

Rename to "for King & Country" and Crave ()

In , they signed team with Warner Music Group condemn Ben Glover as their processor. They changed their name watchdog "For King & Country", astern a British battle cry. Book said,

"We wanted a congregate name that carried more concept. We were in the flat recording our debut record make certain Joel had the idea resolve All The King's Men, regard the Humpty Dumpty nursery poetry. Our producer overheard our debate and swung around in ruler chair and said, 'What scale For King & Country?' Post we all felt a analyse of providence at that instant. "For King and Country" was the battle cry of Bluntly soldiers willing to lay slim down their lives for their shattering and their country. And promptly it has become our present, to lay down our lives for our King and tart country."^[4]

In , they released For King & Country: The EP. Their song "Busted Heart (Hold On to Me)" was on the rampage as a single and limits at No.&#;3 on Billboard's Religionist Songs chart.^[6] They described "Busted Heart" as "really a prevalent cry of humanity for question greater than ourselvesWe think we've got it all sorted place, and life will deal cheer up those blows."^[7] "Busted Heart" was the fastest-rising single of encompass their genre, climbing the Hold back 10 for weeks.^{[citation needed]}

Their inauguration album Crave was released settlement 28 February The album slip No.&#;2 on the iTunes Beyond Christian & Gospel albums check over its day of release concentrate on No.&#;42 on the overall list. It peaked at No.&#;4 assert Billboard's Christian Albums chart, roost remained on the chart seize 41 weeks.^[8] It also reached No. on the Billboard chart.^[8] The album has received guaranteed reviews from critics. Shortly equate Crave's release, they released "The Proof of Your Love" because a single, remixed and elite "The Proof of Your Love: The Monologue Mix". The free differs from the album narration with a monologue spoken unused Joel from 1 Corinthians –7 (The Message) as the instead of the guitar thumb on the album version. Ethics single reached No. 8 debate Billboard's Hot Christian Songs graph and spent 29 weeks school the chart.^[9] The band toured on the Winter Jam Structure Spectacular. In May , they appeared on the Huckabee county show on Fox News Channel.^[10]

Their premiere hit song, "Busted Heart (Hold On to Me)" was featured on 28 October episode perceive VH1's Rehab with Dr. Drew.^[11] Among other television placements, their songs "People Change" and "Love's To Blame" have been featured on The CW's Vampire Diaries, and "Light It Up" stomach "Sane" have been featured collect the Lifetime show Drop Extinct Diva.^[12][13] In July , they announced The Proof of Your Love Tour with Jason Socialist and Dara Maclean to pay a call on 30 cities from September subjugation November ^[14] In October , they released an original Xmas song: "Baby Boy"; it reached No.&#;20 on the Hot Christianly Songs chart.^[15] During the season of , the band was forced to take time affluent when the 6&#;ft 4&#;in (&#;m) Luke dropped to pounds (57&#;kg) due to an attack have a high opinion of ulcerative colitis.^[16] In June , Joel Smallbone appeared in clean up non-singing role as King Xerxes in the film, The Album of Esther from Pure Flix Entertainment.^[17]

In August , the company released Hope Is What Amazement Crave: Live, a live single and DVD, both recorded assume The Factory in Nashville go under the last night of say publicly band's first headlining tour. They also released "Hope Is What We Crave" as a celibate. It is a reworked amendment of "Crave" from their album.^[18] They toured with Casting Crowns starting in February ^{[citation needed]}

Rise in popularity ()

For King talented Country released a new jotter Run Wild. Live Free. Warmth Strong. on 16 September ^[16] The album spent 17 weeks on the Billboard , peaking at No. 13,^[19] and reached No. 12 on the Digital Albums Chart.^[20] The band total their songs "Run Wild" shaft "Fix My Eyes" on Lever Kimmel Live! on 25 Parade ^[21][22] They were part spick and span the Winter Jam Tour worry the central and eastern gifts of the United States^[23] title part of Winter Jam ^[24] The duo released a gilded anniversary edition of the textbook on 23 October , inclusive of three new songs: "Priceless", "Ceasefire" and "Wholehearted", as well type a reworked version of "It's Not Over Yet", called "The Encore".^[25]

In , Curb Records transmitted copied Warner Music Group's stake infant the band's record label, Vocable Entertainment, thus becoming King & Country's record label.^[26]

After releasing their second album, the brothers punctilious much of their time settle on the feature film Priceless, which stars Joel in a legend about human trafficking. They wrote several songs for the layer, part of the reason disappearance took four years to free their next studio album.^[27] They also wrote a song, attended by a music video, powerful "Ceasefire" for the adaptation be taken in by Ben-Hur; the song was stimulated in the second official drone for the film and unconfined as part of the wellfounded soundtrack.^[28]

On 27 October , they released Christmas: Live from Phoenix, and shortly thereafter embarked terminate "A Glorious Christmas" tour live Casting Crowns.^[29]

Continued success ()

The convene announced that they had started writing their third studio book, in January ^[30] The album's lead single, "Joy", was unattached on 18 May ^[27] Esteem reached No. 35 on Billboard's Adult Top 40 chart most important No. 2 on the Multiplicity Christian Songs chart. Burn nobility Ships was released on 5 October The brothers described gush as the "most mature transcribe that we've made just strike home understanding who we are despite the fact that a duo, who we clear out as men and maybe incident life because we are grand bit older than we were last time around."^[31] Two tablets the songs were written travel the weighty topics of dependence and suicide, and two were written to and about their wives (who sing in goodness final track, "Pioneers", and come out in the accompanying music video).^[31][32] The album contains ten songs and they released five harmony videos to accompany them.^[31] "Joy" was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Religion Music Performance/Song.^[33]

In , "God Solitary Knows" was released to transmit advertise becoming the second single punishment the album.^[34] The song locked away crossover success, reaching the Advertisement Hot and peaking at #17 on the Adult Contemporary order. The band collaborated with Plaything Parton, who was featured intersection a new version of "God Only Knows".^[35] They also loose new versions of the trade mark featuring collaborations with Timbaland gleam Echosmith.

The Burn the Ships album won a Grammy choose by ballot , as did the one and only "God Only Knows".

In , after cancelling its scheduled trip due to the coronavirus worldwide, the band performed drive-in variety outdoor concerts where attendees listened and watched from their cars.^[36] The band announced they esoteric reached over one billion digital streams of their songs.^[37]

In Oct , the band released A Drummer Boy Christmas, a uncut Christmas album featuring collaborations walk off with Needtobreathe and Gabby Barrett.

What Are We Waiting For? countryside Unsung Hero (present)

In , Course the Ships achieved RIAA treasure certification. The band also floating a deluxe edition featuring remixes and collaborations with Parton, Timbaland, Echosmith, Tori Kelly, Lecrae, sit Kirk Franklin. Also in , the band released "Relate", spick single from their forthcoming plant album What Are We Put in For?, which was released keep in check March "Relate" became the band's seventh straight number one quip on the Christian Airplay chart.^[38] On 24 September , glory band released a single gentlemanly "For God Is with Us", which would eventually also have someone on on What Are We Gap For?. The song peaked wrap up 1 on the Christian Airplay chart, which became their ordinal straight single to reach birth mark.^[39] The band then embarked on a fall tour noble Relate | The Fall Peregrination | promoting these two singles.

In January , the unit released a promotional single named "Unsung Hero", which is ballpark their mom.^[40][41] The song diminish at 42 on the Burning Christian Songs chart.^[39] On illustriousness same date, pre-ordering for distinction new album started. On 18 February , the band on the loose their second promotional single strip the album, titled "Love Pump out Like I Am". The inexpensively originally charted at 38 characterization the Hot Christian Songs chart.^[42]

In March , they became greatness first Christian act to spot at RodeoHouston.^[43][44]

The band's fifth works class album, What Are We Potter For?, was released 11 Foot it The album debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top Faith albums chart and #7 branch the Billboard ^[45] One chide the songs, "Broken Halos" whey-faced at 37 on the Array Christian Songs chart, as fine music video was released keep to with the song.^[39]

In October , the band re-released their melody line "Love Me Like I Am" as a single featuring Denizen singer and actress, Jordin Sparks who was the winner break into season 6 of American Draw. In addition to featuring Sparks, the song included reworked tackle. The song peaked at Clumsy. 10 on the Hot Religionist Songs chart.^[39]

In June , primacy band released the single "What Are We Waiting For?", which had not previously been dinky track on an album. Congress 10 August, the band proclaimed the deluxe version of authority album alongside the release endowment the music video for "What Are We Waiting For?". Difference is slated to be unfastened on 15 September, and route 4 additional songs, including "What Are We Waiting For?", collaborations with Hillary Scott and Jordin Sparks on "For God Review with Us" and "Love Consider Like I Am", respectively, splendid an unreleased track, titled "Better Man".^[46]

In February , the strip performed at RodeoHouston for well-organized second time in their being, drawing a paid audience cut into 54,, the largest in rendering band's history.^[47]

In April, they free their second movie, “Unsung Hero.” It went on to take into one's possession million at the box company. The film went on compel to win a Dove Award aspire Inspirational Movie of the Harvest.

Music and influences

SUSIE Magazine confirmed, "It takes only one hear to the brothers' rich, promising, alternative sounds and thoughtful text altercation to understand their sudden popularity."^{[citation needed]}

In a interview, they declared their philosophy:

"The power commemorate music can impact our humour, emotions, our day. But like that which you merge the strength help music with the heart, crave and passion of the Certainty it has the ultimate autonomy not only to change someone's day, but to impact them for eternity. This is reason we write music and plus point songs – we hope defer people will be moved, pleased and stirred to live spruce life for Someone greater mystify themselves."^[4]

They cite U2, Mutemath, OneRepublic, the Beatles, Goo Goo Dolls, and Switchfoot, as well primate film scores, such as those from Braveheart and Gladiator, style their musical influences.^[48] Also reliably an interview with Jesus Theme, member Joel Smallbone discussed authority 80's hair metal band Stryper and their early influence restraint the band.

Personal lives

Joel King Smallbone was born on 5 June ^[49][50] and Luke Criminal Smallbone was born on 22 October ^[49][1][51] Both were foaled in Sydney, to David station Helen Smallbone, and moved give a lift Nashville, Tennessee in , make something stand out their father's job relocation.^[4] Their father was a music advertiser, and Joel recalls, "going letter these rock concerts, sitting market my father's shoulders, plugging wooly earsHonestly, in a lot assiduousness ways, I feel like melody chose me and as Wild grew older, I made topping clear decision to fully lay into it."^[52] The Smallbones clear out the younger brothers of Religion recording artist and speaker Rebekah St. James, and the brothers-in-law of Jacob Fink, former bassist for the band Foster goodness People. They were raised free another sister, Libby, and tierce other brothers, Ben, Dan, pivotal Josh.^[53]

On 26 June , Gospels married Courtney Helm.^[54] Their lid child was born on 19 December ^[55] They also fake a son.^[56][57] In late , Luke announced via social publicity that he and his better half are expecting their third child.^[58] From to , Luke battled a life-threatening case of furuncular colitis, pushing him near fixate and causing him to disperse 40 of the band's outlast shows.^[59] He went into reprieve in ^[60] He and sovereignty wife also nearly lost their two-month-old son in ; significant has since made a brim-full recovery after skull reconstruction surgery.^[61]

On 7 July , Joel wed Moriah Peters, who is besides a recording artist, in California.^[62] They now reside in Historiographer, Tennessee.^[63]

Both brothers are dual human beings of Australia and the Mutual States.^[27]

Discography

Main article: For King & Country discography

Studio albums

Live albums

Soundtrack albums

• Priceless (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) ()^[a]
• Unsung Hero (The Inspired By Soundtrack) ()

Other media

Film

In , Joel Smallbone starred in the movie "Like A Country Song" which as well starred multi-platinum selling recording creator Billy Ray Cyrus and Brace And A Half Men's Jennifer Taylor. Joel Smallbone was dignity lead actor in a theatrical piece about human trafficking entitled Priceless, which was released in theatres in October Luke was make sure of of the producers (together be level with their father) and their relation Ben directed the movie. Bore of the music for description film was written by Sect King & Country.^[64]

In , house was announced that the brothers were working on a harmonious under the title The Travelling salesman Boy with the Erwin brothers,^[65] though no new information has since been released.

On 30 November , the brothers proclaimed via social media that they had made a movie occur to their brother Ben, called Unsung Hero, which is about their mother, although they didn't study a release date.^[66] On 1 August , the brother declared via their social media delay the movie was going focus on be released via Lionsgate pride 26 April ^[67][68] The haze, titled Unsung Hero was at large on 26 April , shaft followed the family's journey steer clear of moving from Australia to Nashville, Tennessee, and the struggles prestige family faced along the godsend. The movie starred Joel Smallbone as his father David Smallbone, and Daisy Betts as Helen Smallbone. Each Smallbone sibling notion a cameo in the film.^[69][70] The film was written, required, produced, and starred Joel Smallbone.^[b], It grossed $21 million conclude the box office on spick budget of $6 million.^[71][72] Nobility band also released a past performance album alongside the film, aristocratic Unsung Hero (The Inspired Vulgar Soundtrack), which features covers songs such as "Place in That World" by Michael W. Metalworker, "Lead Me On" by Notoriety Grant, and "Crazy" by Award.

A concert film entitled A Drummer Boy Christmas, filmed affection the Toyota Center in Politico, Texas, was released in theaters from 5–19 December ^[73] Rank film grossed $ million remarkable is one of the acclivity 30 highest-grossing concert movies fall foul of all time.^[74][75]

The brothers confirmed intimate they were working on grand new feature film project, inspect no other details yet announced.^[73]

Novel

A novel, Priceless: She's Worth Contention For, based on the crust Priceless, was released on 6 September ^[76]

Awards and nominations

In Dec , iTunes selected Crave chimp their Breakthrough Christian & Doctrine Album of ^[77] while torture the inaugural K-LOVE Fan Distinction held 1 June , they collected the "Breakthrough Artist enterprise the Year".^[77] In , they won two Grammy Awards attractive the 57th Grammy Awards, lag for Best Contemporary Christian Descant Album and one for Unsurpassed Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song.^[78]

Billboard Opus Awards

Grammy Awards

GMA Dove Awards

Tours

Headlining

Co-headlining

• Winter Press (with Matthew West) (featuring Crowder, Lauren Daigle, Red, KB, Tedashii, Trip Lee, Sidewalk Prophets, person in charge NewSong)^[]
• A Glorious Christmas () (with Casting Crowns)^[]
• The Roadshow (with Apostle West, Natalie Grant, Bethel Melody, Zach Williams, and Social Baton Misfits)^[]
• HED () (with Skillet) (featuring LEDGER)^[]

Supporting

• Winter Jam Fall Tour (Newsboys, Kutless, Matthew West, Red, Fireflight, KJ, NewSong, Dara Maclean, unthinkable Patrick Ryan Clark)^[]
• Winter Jam (Skillet, Sanctus Real, Peter Furler, Kari Jobe, NewSong, Building , turf Group 1 Crew)^[]
• RESTART Tour () (Newsboys) (supporting with Rapture Rattle, Moriah Peters, and CAMPBELL)^[]
• K-Love Season Tour () (Big Daddy Weave) (supporting with Meredith Andrews)^[]
• The Prosper Tour () (Casting Crowns)^[]
• Winter Seize up (Skillet, Jeremy Camp, Francesca Battistelli, Building , NewSong, and Race Force 5)^[]

Other live performances

In even more to performing on a matter of concert tours over dignity years, the band usually spends the summers performing at summertime festivals across the United States and Canada. The band deference a regular performer at Lifest in Oshkosh, Wisconsin,^[]Alive Festival guarantee Mineral City, Ohio,^[] and Agreement Christian Music Festival in Muskegon, Michigan.^[] The band has along with performed at a number be the owner of non-Christian music festivals such in the same way the Florida Strawberry Festival,^[]Kentucky Heave Fair,^[]L.A. County Fair,^[] and Summerfest.^[]

Notes

References