- At the time of her death Ballard was actually on the verge of a very successful comeback. After winning a settlement from a slip-and-fall incident in which she had broken her leg, Ballard took the money and used it to put herself through a successful rehab and got herself back into shape. On June 25, 1975, she performed in Detroit as a part of the Joan Little Defense League at the Henry and Edsel Ford Auditorium, backed by the female rock group 'The Deadly Nightshade', to a highly receptive crowd. She sang Helen Reddy's "I Am Woman", and when the audience wanted an encore - a The Supremes encore - Ballard sang "Come See About Me". Soon after she received offers for recording contracts, interviews and appearances. She also performed on television, including a fairly candid conversation about her past and hoped future during an appearance on the local Detroit TV talk show, "The David Diles Show".
- Elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (as a member of The Supremes) in 1988.
- The Effie White character from the Broadway play (and film) "Dreamgirls" is loosely based on Ballard. When Jennifer Hudson won the Golden Globe for her performance as Effie in the film version (Dreamgirls (2006)), she dedicated the award to Ballard, describing her as "a lady who never got a fair chance".
- Ranked #16 on VH1's Greatest Women of Rock N Roll
- The Supremes were awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 7060 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.
- Has three daughters Michelle, Nicole, and Lisa.
- Cousin of Hank Ballard.
- Sister of Maxine Ballard.
- Graduated from Northeastern High School in Detroit, Michigan.
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