Rebecca Jean Smallbone was born on July 26, 1977 in Sydney, Australia, to David and Helen Smallbone. She is the oldest of seven children, five boys and two girls.

When she was thirteen years old she was the lead vocalist at the Christian school that she was attending at the time. During that year, Carman asked her to open shows during his Australian tour. That same year she recorded her first album, "Refresh My Heart".