Ballard’s earth-quaking, full-throttle performances have made her a YouTube sensation as fans share camera phone videos of her riveting church performances.
Stellar Gospel Music Award winner, Pastor Charles Jenkins, noticed Ballard’s raw talent early on when she was a member of the gospel group he founded, Joshua’s Troop. Over the years, they crossed paths at various church events but Ballard says it was in the Bahamas that things took a turn a few years ago.
“I was performing there with Vashawn Mitchell and after I sang, Pastor Jenkins came up to me and told me he wanted me to sing on his next Fellowship Chicago album,” Ballard says. She performed, “He Is God” on the Jenkins/Fellowship Chicago album, “Any Given Sunday,” which featured the No. 1 hit, “War.” A few months later, Jenkins had signed her to the Inspired people label.
Inspired People is currently promoting Ballard’s first radio single, “We Need A Miracle,” which is garnering widespread radio airplay. The smooth and uplifting cry to God is a departure from the rousing, church stompers Ballard is known for in the Windy City but it also shows her nuanced diversity as an artist. “You can sing that song anywhere,” she says. “At the end of the day, everyone needs a miracle. Think about what we are up against in this world. We need a miracle.”
The mother of five is married to Rev. David Ballard II who is the pastor of the Word Worship Center in Rockford, IL, and there’s more music in the works. Stay tuned.
