An American recording artist and vocalist, best known as one of the founding members of the Supremes. As a member, Ballard sang on 16 top 40 singles with the group, including 10 number-one hits.

In 1967, she was removed from the Supremes lineup and signed with ABC Records in 1968, but had an unsuccessful solo career. After being dropped from the label, she struggled with alcoholism, depression and poverty for a period of 3 years. She was making an attempt at a musical comeback when she died of cardiac arrest in February 1976 at the age of 32.