Personal Life

Ballard was born in Battle Creek, Michigan. He graduated from Harper Creek High School in 2001. He played baseball for the school’s varsity team as a pitcher and first baseman and was offered a spot on Western Michigan University’s team.

Ballard got married on March 12, 2017, to his longtime girlfriend Christina Murphy. They have a daughter together, Pepper Lynn, who was born on February 8, 2020.

Career

After graduation from high school, Ballard decided not to pursue playing baseball at Western Michigan University but moved to Nashville instead to begin a career in music. In 2010, he signed with Reprise Records Nashville and released his second single, “Tell Me You Get Lonely.” The song peaked at number 33 on the Hot Country Songs. Ballard’s self-titled debut album was released on May 24, 2011. The album’s second single, “A Buncha Girls,” peaked at number 27 on the Country Songs chart.

In 2013, Ballard left Reprise Records and joined Warner Bros. Records Nashville. His first single for the label, “Helluva Life,” was released in May of that year and peaked at number one on the Country Airplay chart in August 2013. The second album, “Sunshine & Whiskey,” was released on February 11, 2014. The album’s lead single and title track, “Sunshine & Whiskey,” became Ballard’s second number one hit on the Country Airplay chart in January 2014. The album’s second single, “Young & Crazy,” peaked at number 1 on the Country Airplay chart in 2015. Ballard released his third album, “El Rio,” on June 10, 2016. The album’s lead single, “It All Started with a Beer,” peaked at number fifteen on the Country Airplay chart and second on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.

Discography

• Frankie Ballard (2011)
• Sunshine & Whiskey (2014)
• El Rio (2016)