Chynna Phillips Brings Glen Ballard to Tears at Walk of Fame Ceremony

Glen Ballard became the 2,374th recipient of a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame today, with a little help from the members of Wilson Phillips. The 1990 debut album of Wilson Phillips, produced by and co-written with Ballard, achieved immense success, selling 10 million copies worldwide. This collaboration cemented a lasting friendship between the producer and the trio.

The affection the “Hold On” performers have for Ballard was evident and became the emotional highlight of Ballard’s ceremony.

Carnie Wilson, one-third of Wilson Phillips, called Ballard “the most humble human being I’ve ever met” and affectionately dubbed him the “fourth member” of Wilson Phillips. She recounted their early days, sitting in a studio in Encino, California, dining on chopped salads and pasta while crafting their album. “You understood our need to sing harmony, our blend. We heard and spoke the same language,” she said, taking the audience on a nostalgic journey.

Her sister Wendy, who was just 16 when they began working with Ballard in 1987, described their collaborative years as “a blissful time we will always cherish.” She highlighted how Ballard made them feel safe and nurtured as they developed their sound.

The most touching moment came from Chynna Phillips, who emphasized Ballard’s vital role in their lives, extending far beyond musical mentorship. Her heartfelt words brought many, including Ballard, to tears.

“We were three girls who really needed a father figure,” Phillips said, referencing their complicated relationships with their own fathers. “The three of us were desperate for a man in our lives who would nurture us, love us, and show us that we mattered and had something to say. You reflected that in us and showed us that we could do what we wanted with our lives. It was transformative, and if it weren’t for you, Glen, I don’t know where I’d be today. I love you with all my heart.”

Phillips also shared a deeply personal memory of Ballard’s connection with his late daughter, Bannon. “When I went to your house, you told me about the wind directional you put there for Bannon so she’d always find you. Her spirit is here today, always with you, and she’s so proud of you too,” she said.

Ballard, visibly moved, graciously credited his many collaborators, including icons like Annie Lennox, Barbra Streisand, Aerosmith, and Dave Matthews Band, for his career success. He also shared a valuable lesson learned from his work with Wilson Phillips.

“One of my greatest joys is being involved with artists from the beginning. When I met Wilson Phillips, they hadn’t made a record, and we created their initial sound together. Luminous, three-part harmony in an era of grunge music was a bold choice,” he said, eliciting laughs from the audience. “But when we won the Tokyo Music Festival in 1990 and our record ‘Hold On’ went No. 1 worldwide, we realized it worked. It’s a lesson I’ve carried with me.”

Ballard continued, “Five years later, I met a young singer-songwriter, and we wrote 20 songs that became ‘Jagged Little Pill’ with Alanis Morissette. We weren’t chasing the marketplace, we were chasing her muse. It turned out well. Then, five years after that, Katy Perry knocked on my studio door, and after a year in Paris, well, you know the rest.”

Beyond his success in music, Ballard has also made notable achievements in theater. His work on ‘Back to the Future,’ which is currently running on Broadway and London’s West End, has garnered praise. Tony winner Roger Bart, who plays Doc Brown in the Broadway version, lauded Ballard’s collaborative spirit.

Today’s ceremony was a moving tribute to a producer who has profoundly impacted the music industry and the lives of the artists he has worked with.

Source: Glen Ballard, Wilson Phillips, Broadway