Matthew West was born Matthew Joseph West on April 25, 1977 in Downers Grove, Illinois. A regular fixture in his father's church, West came to the attention of the music industry as a songwriter after attending the Gospel Music Association's Music in the Rockies event. He was offered a songwriting deal and found himself writing songs for established artists including Billy Ray Cyrus, Rascal Flatts and Natalie Grant. West continued writing his own songs and eventually signed with Universal South Records.
Matthew is signed to Sparrow Records.
Married to Emily on May 10, 2003, the have two daughters, Luella Jane ("Lulu") and Delaney Ruth.