Ballard Celebrates First Chart-Topper “Helluva Life”

Pictured (Back row, L-R): ASCAP Senior Creative Director Mike Sistad, Producer Marshall Altman, Big Loud Shirt Industries Owner Craig Wiseman, Big Yellow Dog Music Co-Owner/General Manager Carla Wallace, Warner Music Nashville Executive Vice President & General Manager Peter Strickland, BMI Director of Writer/Publisher Relations David Preston, Producer and Warner Music Nashville Senior Vice President of A&R Scott Hendricks, Big Loud Shirt Industries Vice President Seth England, Warner Music Nashville Vice President of A&R Cris Lacy. (Front row, L-R): Josh Kear, Frankie Ballard, Rodney Clawson with daughter Charlie Jo, and Chris Tompkins. Photo: Ed Rode

Warner Music Nashville artist Frankie Ballard celebrated not only his first No. 1 as an artist with “Helluva Life,” but also the first chart-topper for Warner Music Nashville’s Team W.A.R., headed by VP/Radio Promotion, Chris Palmer.

Nashville’s Pour House Restaurant hosted the event, which honored the artist, songwriters, record label, producers and publishers behind the chart-topping song. “Helluva Life,” which has already been certified Gold, was penned by Rodney Clawson, Josh Kear and Chris Tompkins. It was Clawson’s 13th No. 1 song, Kear’s 8th No. 1, and Tompkins’ 12th.

Pictured (L-R): Josh Kear, Frankie Ballard, Rodney Clawson, Chris Tompkins. Photo: Ed Rode.

“It’s a big risk to write a song, then give it to a new guy and see if he can wrestle it to the top,” said Ballard. “It felt like my song from the start.” Cris Lacy, VP/A&R for Warner Music Nashville, was given a lot of credit for getting the song cut by Ballard. “The whole process was a labor of love. A lot of guts went into this,” she said.

“Helluva Life” was produced by Marshall Altman and Scott Hendricks. Altman recently moved to Nashville from Los Angeles, and has already produced two No. 1 songs in his short time in town. “Helluva Life” marks Hendricks’ 55th No. 1 song.

Warner Music Nashville’s Exec. VP/GM Peter Strickland credited his W.A.R. promotion team for their efforts to get radio on board. 

Ballard is currently climbing the MusicRow CountryBreakout Chart with his new single “Sunshine & Whiskey.”