Kim Walker Smith

Kimberlee Dawn Walker, known professionally as Kim Walker-Smith, was born on December 19, 1981, in Albany, Oregon. She developed an interest in music from an early age, participating in musical theater starting at three years old. Her family moved frequently during her childhood, contributing to a shy and withdrawn demeanor. At eighteen, Walker-Smith committed her life to God, a turning point that would shape her future. She later moved to Redding, California, to attend a Christian college. During this period of her life, she experienced a profound spiritual encounter at a 24-hour prayer house recently established by Bethel Church. This experience led her to leave traditional university after a year and enroll in the Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry (BSSM). After completing the two-year program at BSSM and two additional years, she was hired by Bethel Church as a worship pastor.

Walker-Smith’s musical career began to gain wider recognition in 2005 when she won a “So You Want to Be a Star” competition, securing a $25,000 cash prize. In 2008, she released her first solo album, “Here Is My Song,” through the Jesus Culture record label. A significant collaboration began when she married worship leader Skyler William Smith in 2009, leading to her releasing music under the name Kim Walker-Smith. Together, they released their first joint album, “Home,” in 2013. Walker-Smith has been a foundational member of the Jesus Culture band, which originated as a youth worship group at Bethel Church and has since grown to host numerous worship conferences annually, producing a live record each year and regularly leading worship at Bethel. Her rendition of John Mark McMillan’s “How He Loves” has garnered over 27 million views on YouTube, and her interpretation of Brian Johnson’s and Jon Mohr’s “Where You Go I Go” has exceeded 11 million views.

In 2017, Walker-Smith released her solo album, “On My Side,” which debuted at number one on Billboard’s Top Christian Albums Chart. She continued to release music, including the live album “Wild Heart” in 2020 which peaked at No. 12 on the Top Christian Albums chart, and “Revival Nights” in 2021. In 2018, the Jesus Culture band, with Walker-Smith as a leading voice, was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album for their work on the album “Living With a Fire.” Throughout her career, Kim Walker-Smith has expressed a desire for her music to transcend the boundaries of the Christian community, aiming to advocate for social justice and elevate the standard of arts and creativity.