Michael W. Smith was born to Paul and Barbara Smith in Kenova, West Virginia. Michael developed a love of music through his church. He learned piano at an early age and sang in his church choir. At the age of thirteen, Michael had "an intense spiritual experience" that led to his becoming a devout Christian. "I wore this big cross around my neck," he would recall, "It was very real to me." He got involved in Bible study and found a group of older friends who shared his commitment to Jesus Christ. These were very happy years for Michael. After his older Christian friends moved away to college, Michael began to struggle with feelings of loneliness and alienation. After graduating high school, he gravitated toward alcohol and drugs. He attended Marshall University for a few semesters while developing his songwriting skills. He also played with various local bands around Huntington, West Virginia. During that time, his friend Shane Keister, who worked as a session musician in Nashville, encouraged Michael to move to the Country Music capital and pursue a career in music. In 1978, Michael moved to Nashville to follow his dream, but it was not easy getting started. He took a job as a landscaper to support himself. He played with several local bands in the Nashville club scene. In November 1979, Smith suffered a breakdown that led to his recommitment to Jesus Christ. The next day he auditioned for a new CCM group, Higher Ground, as a keyboardist and got the job. It was on his first tour with Higher Ground, playing mostly in churches, that Smith was finally able to put the drugs and alcohol behind him.

In 1981, Smith was signed as a writer to Meadowgreen Music, where he racked up a number of highly successful gospel hits penned for artists like Sandi Patty, Kathy Troccoli, Bill Gaither, and Amy Grant The following year, Smith began touring as a keyboardist for Grant on her Age to Age tour. He would eventually become Grant's opening act and recorded his first Grammy nominated solo album: The Michael W. Smith Project, in 1983, on the Reunion Records label. By the time Smith's second pop album was released in 1984, he was headlining his own tours. In 1986, Smith released the critically acclaimed rock album The Big Picture, with well known record producer Johnny Potoker (Brian Eno, Genesis Madonna, No Doubt, Talking Heads, etc).

In 1990, Smith released Go West Young Man, which was his first mainstream effort, including the mainstream crossover hit "Place in This World," which peaked at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100. That album was followed by 1992s Change Your World (which included the #1 adult contemporary hit "I Will Be Here For You"), 1995's I'll Lead You Home, and 1998's Live the Life.

Nearly all of Smith's albums contain at least one instrumental track, and in 2000, Smith recorded his first all instrumental album, Freedom, after many years of wanting to create an instrumental album. The following year, Smith released an all praise and worship album, called Worship. This album was followed by a sequel, Worship Again in 2002. Both albums were recorded live in concert. After two decades, Smith finally won the Male Vocalist of the Year award at the GMA Music Awards in 2003.

Smith's album, Healing Rain, was released in 2004 and debuted at #11 on the Billboard Hot 200 Chart. The title track rose to #1 on the Radio & Records Charts and a music video for the song was released. The album nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album, combines the pop style of his previous recordings with the praise and worship feel of his two releases in that genre. A new album, Stand, was released in November, 2006.