Madison Ryann Ward

Last updated
Madison Ryann Ward
Madison Ryann Ward 101724.jpg
Ward in 2024
Born
Madison Ryann Ward

Lawton, Oklahoma, U.S.
Alma mater University of Oklahoma
Occupations
  • singer
  • songwriter
Years active2017–present

Madison Ryann Ward (born 1995) is an American singer-songwriter from Lawton, Oklahoma. She writes contemporary Christian music songs blending pop, R&B, gospel, blues, and folk influences. [1] A former Division I volleyball player at the University of Oklahoma, she gained recognition after a viral video of her singing Aretha Franklin's Chain of Fools in a campus cafeteria. [1] She later signed with Rick Rubin's American Recordings in partnership with Republic Records and released her debut single, Mirror (2018). [2]

Contents

Early life

Ward was born in Lawton, Oklahoma, to a church pianist mother and a father who owned a barbecue restaurant that hosted blues and soul musicians, exposing her to church music alongside secular soul and folk traditions. [1] She excelled in volleyball and attended the University of Oklahoma on an athletic scholarship, where a viral performance video led her toward a music career. [1]

Career

Ward signed with American Recordings/Republic Records, working with producer Rick Rubin. [2] When with David Letterman interviewed Rubin at his recording studio for a 2018 episode of the series My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman , regarding Rubin's work with Jay-Z, Rubin brought Letterman into the studio to meet Ward while she was recording her single "Mirror".

Ward and Rubin parted ways by 2023, and she founded the independent imprint Zelda House Records. She issued a series of devotional-leaning singles, included on her first full-length album, A New Thing (2023). [2] She released her next album, Purified Love, in 2024, featuring gospel songs blending elements of folk, soul, and pop. [3]

Discography

Albums

Selected singles

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Cross Rhythms – "Madison Ryann Ward: Her power ballad hit of love and loss"". 2020-01-01.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Holy Culture – "Madison Ryann Ward – Artist Directory"". 2023-01-01.
  3. 1 2 3 "Miami Beach Bandshell – "Madison Ryann Ward" (event bio)". 2024-01-01.
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