Selah was formed in the late '90s by siblings Todd and Nicol Smith along with their friend Allan Hall. Born in Detroit, Michigan, the Smiths spent much of their youth growing up in Zaire, Africa (later known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo) as children of Christian missionaries. They were introduced to hymns and worship music from a young age, passions that continued into their adult lives. Selah signed to Curb Records and found success with their debut, 1999's Be Still My Soul. The album hit number 24 on Billboard's Top Christian Albums chart and took home the Dove Award for Inspirational Album of the Year. They repeated the feat with 2001's Press On, and followed with the Christmas album Rose of Bethlehem in 2002.
In 2004, they released Hiding Place, a breakthrough album for the group which reached number two on the Christian charts and spawned the hit "You Raise Me Up." Having pursued a concurrent solo career since 2000, Nicol Smith (going under her married name Nicol Sponberg) left the group soon after. She was replaced first by Melodie Crittenden who appeared on 2005's Greatest Hymns. A year later, they group topped the Christian albums chart with Bless the Broken Road: The Duets Album, taking home the Dove Award for Inspirational Album of the Year. Along with other guest vocalists, the album featured appearances by Amy Perry, who soon joined the group, permanently taking over for Crittenden.
The Selah line-up of Todd Smith, Allan Hall, and Amy Perry solidified their presence on the CCM landscape with 2009's You Deliver Me and 2011's Hope of the Broken World, both of which peaked at number four on Billboard's Top Christian Albums chart. Hope of the Broken World also took home the Dove Award for Inspirational Album of the Year. They returned in 2014 with You Amaze Us, their ninth for Curb Records and sixth consecutive Top Five Christian Album. In 2016 the group issued the EP O the Blood, as well as a second volume of Greatest Hymns. A year later, they returned with Unbreakable, another Top Five Christian album buoyed by the single "I Got Saved."
In 2019, they delivered Firm Foundation, taking home their ninth and tenth Dove Awards, including their sixth for Inspirational Album of the Year. The following year, they launched their 3Cre8tive label with Step Into My Story. In 2022, Selah nodded to their global fan base with the EP One Name, singing songs from around the world translated into English. ~ Matt Collar, Rovi