Moriah

Moriah Smallbone (who performs mononymously as MŌRIAH, and formerly as Moriah Peters) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and producer.Hailing from Southern California and now based in Nashville, Tennessee, she has carved out a unique space bridging contemporary Christian music, pop, and Latin country.Renowned for her rich storytelling, cultural pride, and versatile artistry, she has captured audiences through both her melodic soundscapes and notable acting roles on stage and screen.

Emerging into the public eye in her late teens, Moriah quickly transitioned from early independent recordings to signing with a major Nashville label, releasing critically praised records that climbed the Billboard charts.Beyond her solo music career, she is widely recognized for her multimedia projects, her cinematic and television acting credits including the biblical series The Chosen, and collaborative creative ventures alongside her husband, GRAMMY-winning artist Joel Smallbone.

Quick Facts

Early Life and Background

Moriah Castillo Peters was born in Pomona and raised in the Inland Empire cities of Chino and Ontario, California.Growing up in a vibrant Mexican-American household with deep roots extending to Texas and Mexico, she was surrounded by traditional music, family gatherings, and rich cultural experiences.With a father who worked as a jazz bass player, her early household exposure to melody was diverse, spanning classic soul, jazz, and regional styles.She began writing songs and playing guitar at a young age, developing a profound personal faith during her early adolescence that would eventually steer the thematic core of her creative work.

How Her Music Career Started

Moriah’s path into the professional music industry began unexpectedly as a teenager when she auditioned for a major television singing competition. Though judges critiqued her wholesome personal values at the time, the televised exposure touched a stranger who connected her with a professional demo producer.This led to the creation of a three-song demo that caught the attention of Nashville executives, resulting in her signing with Reunion Records in 2011. She released her debut studio album, I Choose Jesus, in 2012, introducing her distinct vocal tone and earnest lyricism to the contemporary Christian market.

Career and Breakthrough

Her sophomore album, Brave (2014), marked a major commercial breakthrough, climbing to the upper tiers of the Billboard Christian Albums charts and featuring collaborations with prominent artists like Andy Mineo. As her career evolved, Moriah expanded her artistic boundaries beyond conventional Christian pop. In recent years, she embraced her cultural heritage by pioneering a fresh Latin country sound, blending traditional Mexican mariachi instrumentation with Nashville production styles on releases like her bilingual single “Hasta Mañana” and subsequent EPs.

Musical Style and Influences

Moriah’s musical identity bridges multiple worlds, reflecting her upbringing and multicultural identity.While her earlier catalog leaned heavily into uplifting pop-rock and acoustic worship, her modern work explores Latin country—seamlessly weaving dusty mariachi horns and acoustic nylon strings with contemporary country rhythms.Her lyrics focus on themes of identity, cultural celebration, emotional healing, and faith.

Notable Songs and Albums

• “I Choose Jesus”
• “Brave”
• “You Carry Me”
• “Hasta Mañana”
• “Sombrero”
• Album:I Choose Jesus
• Album:Brave

Personal Life

Moriah married Joel Smallbone, co-founder of the GRAMMY-winning duo for KING & COUNTRY, on July 7, 2013. The couple resides in Nashville, Tennessee.Alongside her music career, Moriah has stepped into film and television production, co-producing cinematic projects and co-hosting creative media podcasts alongside her husband.

Current Career / Recent Activities

Moriah has successfully expanded her artistic footprint into acting and screen production.Since 2023, she has appeared as Queen Bathsheba in the critically acclaimed streaming television series The Chosen and starred in the cinematic musical Journey to Bethlehem.Musically, she continues to release cross-cultural projects, combining her love for storytelling, Hispanic heritage, and modern country production.