{{Short description|American musician (born 1984)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}} {{Infobox musical artist | background = person | name = Tyler Ward | image = Tyler Ward - Puckett027.jpg | alt = Tyler Ward wearing dark clothing, standing onstage with an acoustic guitar, appearing to sing or speak into microphone | caption = Ward performing in 2014 | image_size = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|March 12, 1984}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/ncol/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/04-Football-SigningDayb.pdf |title=Archived copy |website=grfx.cstv.com |access-date=January 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170223130257/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/ncol/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/04-Football-SigningDayb.pdf |archive-date=February 23, 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref> | birth_name = Tyler Ray Ward | origin = Aurora, Colorado, U.S. | instrument = {{Flatlist| * Vocals * guitar * piano * bass * drums }} | genre = Acoustic rock, country pop | occupation = Musician | years_active = 2007–present | spouse = {{marriage|Emmy Russell|2024}} | label = Tyler Ward Studios, Sony Music | website = {{URL|tylerwardmusic.com}} }}
'''Tyler Ray Ward''' (born March 12, 1984) is an American independent singer, songwriter, and producer. On his YouTube channel, he has over 2 million subscribers with 5+ billion views. Ward also has a strong social media following on sites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Spotify.
==Personal life== Before Ward had interest in music, his focus was on athletics.<ref>[https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelhumphrey/2015/10/11/tyler-ward-a-digital-musician-hits-the-road-and-meets-youtube-fame-face-to-face/ "Tyler Ward: A Digital Musician Hits the Road and Meets YouTube Fame Face-to-Face"] ''Forbes Tech''. Retrieved December 27, 2015</ref> After graduating from high school, he enrolled at the United States Air Force Academy Preparatory School, where he studied and played football.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/uncharted-territory-dj-bl3nd-still-on-top-childish-471783/|title=Uncharted Territory: DJ BL3ND Still on Top, Childish Gambino and Zaz Debut|publisher=Billboard|date=May 1, 2011|author=Devon Maloney|access-date=January 19, 2014}}</ref> Ward left the Air Force Academy after his first semester and transferred to University of Northern Colorado as a scholarship collegiate football athlete.<ref>{{cite web | title=Tyler Ward | website=Blue Microphones | date=December 17, 2011 | url=http://www.bluemic.com/bluemob/tyler_ward/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111217193958/http://www.bluemic.com/bluemob/tyler_ward/ | archive-date=December 17, 2011 | url-status=dead | access-date=July 21, 2012}}</ref>
On December 10, 2024, Ward's wife, Emmy Russell, revealed that she was expecting her first child, a girl.<ref>{{cite web|last=O'Connell|first=Madeleine|title=Emmy Russell, 'American Idol' Finalist and Granddaughter of Loretta Lynn, Reveals She Is Pregnant with First Child|date=December 16, 2024|url=https://countrynow.com/emmy-russell-american-idol-finalist-and-granddaughter-of-loretta-lynn-reveals-she-is-pregnant-with-first-child/|publisher=Country Now}}</ref> The couple's daughter was born on January 31, 2025.<ref>{{cite web|last=Sacks|first=Hannah|title=Emmy Russell Shares the 'Magic' of Her Last Year — from Welcoming a Baby Daughter to Secretly Getting Married (Exclusive)|date=February 28, 2025|url=https://people.com/emmy-russell-shares-magic-of-last-year-welcoming-baby-secretly-married-exclusive-11686124|publisher=People |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250309072743/https://people.com/emmy-russell-shares-magic-of-last-year-welcoming-baby-secretly-married-exclusive-11686124 |archive-date=March 9, 2025}}</ref>
==Musical career== Ward has become a well-known artist in part through his use of social media, posting a mix of covers and originals on YouTube. He has successfully completed five worldwide headlining tours and has played shows with many mainstream artists including Switchfoot, the Beach Boys, Aloe Blacc, the Jonas Brothers, the Fray, Yung Joc, and many more.<ref>[http://www.lincolnhallchicago.com/Shows/12-22-2012+Tyler+Ward Tyler ward shows] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120723010026/http://www.lincolnhallchicago.com/Shows/12-22-2012+Tyler+Ward |date=July 23, 2012 }} Retrieved July 21, 2012</ref> Through his music video career, Ward has performed and produced most of his early songs and many of the current ones in his parents' basement, which he later turned into a proper recording space. Nowadays, Ward produces most of his music on the road or in his Los Angeles recording studio.<ref>[https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelhumphrey/2015/10/11/tyler-ward-a-digital-musician-hits-the-road-and-meets-youtube-fame-face-to-face/ "Tyler Ward: A Digital Musician Hits The Road And Meets YouTube Fame Face-to-Face"] ''Forbes Tech''. Retrieved December 27, 2015</ref> Ward was number five on ''Billboard''<nowiki/>'s Top 100 Uncharted List and was also ranked on Billboard's Social 50 Chart for several weeks.<ref name="Uncharted Territory: Tyler Ward and Porta Climb, Big Sean Graduates">{{cite web|last=Maloney|first=Devon|title=Billboard Article News|date=March 2011|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/uncharted-territory-tyler-ward-and-porta-climb-big-sean-472878/|publisher=Billboard.com|access-date=July 21, 2012}}</ref><ref>[https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/uncharted-territory-traphik-tyler-ward-teen-hearts-and-472957/ Uncharted Territory: Traphik, Tyler Ward, Teen Hearts and More] Billboard.com Retrieved July 21, 2012</ref><ref>[http://aurora.kdvr.com/news/news/98285-colorado-native-burning-music-charts-using-social-media "Colorado native burning up the music charts using social media"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111206191441/http://aurora.kdvr.com/news/news/98285-colorado-native-burning-music-charts-using-social-media |date=December 6, 2011 }} ''Fox 31 Denver Neighborhood News''. Retrieved August 7, 2012</ref>
In 2011, Ward performed a duet with the Band Perry, celebrating the Academy of Country Music Awards, and went on a tour with Boyce Avenue.<ref>{{cite news|title= Sound Check: Tyler Ward waiting for the right deal to break out|publisher=The Oakland Press|date=December 19, 2012|author=Gary Graff}}</ref> Later that year, he performed with Christina Grimmie live on ''The Ellen DeGeneres Show''. Their performance aired nationwide on October 10, 2011.<ref name="The Ellen DeGeneres Show">{{cite web|last=DeGeneres|first=Ellen|title=Christina Grimmie & Tyler Ward perform 'How To Love'|url=http://ellen.warnerbros.com/2011/10/christina_grimmie_performs_how_to_love_1010.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111012001609/http://ellen.warnerbros.com/2011/10/christina_grimmie_performs_how_to_love_1010.php|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 12, 2011|access-date=July 21, 2012}}</ref>
On September 25, 2012, Ward released an EP titled ''Hello. Love. Heartbreak.'' on iTunes.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-10-11/news-and-interviews/34386651_1_maroon-5-s-payphone-justin-bieber-katy-perry|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202094701/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-10-11/news-and-interviews/34386651_1_maroon-5-s-payphone-justin-bieber-katy-perry|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 2, 2014|title=Tyler Ward launches his album 'Hello, Love, Heartbreak'|last=Mohindru|first=Perdy|date=October 11, 2012|work=The Times of India|access-date=January 20, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Firstpost |url=http://www.firstpost.com/topic/organization/sony-news-for-2013-tyler-ward-signed-by-sony-germany-austria-sw-video-tVnWTyGrl6Q-402-1.html |title=Retrieved October 21, 2013 |publisher=Firstpost.com |access-date=January 19, 2014}}</ref> In early January 2013, the artist confirmed that he had signed with Sony Music Germany.
In June 2013, Jason Derulo joined Ward by singing the acoustic version of "The Other Side".
In October 2013, Warner Music Group retained seven YouTube stars, including Ward, Kina Grannis, and Peter Hollens, to help promote a new single by Hunter Hayes and Jason Mraz. Ward and the others independently recorded versions of the song, "Everybody's Got Somebody But Me"; these were subsequently mashed up into a video posted exclusively on YouTube. This was the first such venture by Warner, whose senior vice-president for interactive marketing said optimistically that "[f]or some kids, people like Kurt Schneider and Tyler Ward are people that they trust."<ref name="outreach">{{cite news|title=An Outreach in Concert with a Giant|publisher=Daily Press|date=October 28, 2013|author=Dawn C. Chmielewski|page=C2}}</ref>
Ward released his debut album on October 18, 2013, titled ''Honestly''. It included twelve original songs that featured up-and-coming artists including Alex G. and Lindsey Stirling. Ward completed his fifth headlining tour in the winter of 2015 in Europe and North America.<ref>[https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelhumphrey/2015/10/11/tyler-ward-a-digital-musician-hits-the-road-and-meets-youtube-fame-face-to-face/ "Tyler Ward: A Digital Musician Hits The Road And Meets YouTube Fame Face-to-Face"] ''Forbes Tech'. Retrieved December 27, 2015''</ref>
In December 2015, he was picked as Elvis Duran's Artist of the Month and was featured on NBC's ''Today'' show hosted by Kathy Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb and broadcast nationally, where he performed live his single "Yellow Boxes".
In 2016, after the tragic death of Christina Grimmie, Tyler released a music video named "A song for Christina Grimmie", dedicated to her and their friendship.
Between 2017 and 2018, Ward released ten original singles. His song "What It's Like to Be Lonely" was well received by critics and fans.{{Citation needed|date=December 2019}}
==Discography== ===Albums=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+ List of studio albums, with selected chart positions |- ! scope="col" style="width:16em;" | Title ! scope="col" | Details |- !scope="row"|''Honestly'' | * Released: October 18, 2013 * Label: Tyler Ward Studios, Sony Music * Formats: CD, digital download |}
===EPs=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+ List of EPs, with selected chart positions |- ! scope="col" style="width:16em;" | Title ! scope="col" |Details |- !scope="row"|''Yellow Boxes'' | * Released: October 1, 2015 * Label: Tyler Ward Studios, Sony Music * Formats: CD, digital download |}
===Singles=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style=text-align:center; |+ List of singles, with selected chart positions |- ! scope="col" style="width:16em;" | Title ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" style="width:14em;"| Album |- ! scope="row"| "The Way We Are" | rowspan="1" style="text-align:center;"|2012 | rowspan="7" style="text-align:center" |''Honestly'' |- ! scope="row"| "Falling"<br /><small>(featuring Alex G)"<br />Official German Release</small> | rowspan="3" style="text-align:center;"|2013 |- ! scope="row"| "Forever Starts Tonight" |- ! scope="row"| "Some Kind of Beautiful"<br /><small>(featuring Lindsey Stirling)</small> |- ! scope="row"| "Beginning of a Bad Idea" | rowspan="3" style="text-align:center;"|2014 |- ! scope="row"| "Hoopty Hoop" |- ! scope="row"| "SOS" |- ! scope="row"| "What It's Like to Be Lonely" | style="text-align:center;"|2017 | style="text-align:center" |Non-album single |- |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
==External links== * {{official website|tylerwardmusic.com}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ward, Tyler}} Category:Living people Category:American male singer-songwriters Category:Record producers from Colorado Category:American male pop singers Category:Fullscreen (company) people Category:21st-century American singer-songwriters Category:Singers from Denver Category:21st-century American male singers Category:Music-related YouTube channels Category:1984 births Category:Singer-songwriters from Colorado