She began songwriting as a child and signed a contract with Black River Entertainment in 2014,[4] releasing her debut studio album, The First Time, and her second one Unapologetically, followed in 2017.

It was followed by "Dibs" and "Peter Pan", whose peaks also made her the first female country artist to send her first three singles to the top of that chart since Wynonna Judd.

The collaboration "Half of My Hometown" with Kenny Chesney garnered two Country Music Association Awards.

Carla worked in marketing for the Bible publishing division of Thomas Nelson and for a sponsorship company.

For the chart dated July 4, 2015, "Love Me Like You Mean It," the album's first single, reached number one on the Billboard Country Airplay chart, making Ballerini the first solo female country music artist to score a number one hit with her debut single since Carrie Underwood did so with "Jesus, Take the Wheel" in 2006, and only the eleventh in history to achieve the feat.

[15] The achievement made her the first solo female to send her first three singles to number one since Wynonna Judd accomplished the same feat in 1992.

[23] On September 18, 2018, EDM-pop duo The Chainsmokers released a song titled "This Feeling" featuring Ballerini, which later performed at the 2018 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in November.

"[28] In December 2018, Unapologetically received a nomination for Best Country Album at the 61st annual Grammy Awards.

[32] In June 2019, Ballerini was a guest on the NBC competition show Songland and released the song "Better Luck Next Time.

[34] On September 6, 2019, Ballerini released the first single off of her then upcoming third album, titled "Homecoming Queen?

In May, it was announced she would be an opening act on the Jonas Brothers' Remember This tour which began in August.

On February 13, 2023, Ballerini announced that her short film and EP Rolling Up the Welcome Mat would be released the next day.

[52] Promoting the EP, she performed "Blindsided" and "Penthouse" on the March 5, 2023, episode of Saturday Night Live.

[53] On June 28, 2024, Ballerini released a collaboration with folk-pop singer-songwriter Noah Kahan called “Cowboys Cry Too," the first single from her fifth studio album.

[54] On August 8, 2024, she announced her fifth studio album would be called Patterns, and that the song "Sorry Mom" would be released the following day.

[55] In September 2024, it was announced that Ballerini will make her acting debut in a guest role on the upcoming ABC series Doctor Odyssey.

"[58] She lists Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, NSYNC, and Hilary Duff among the early artists who inspired her.

[61] It was not until Ballerini heard "Stupid Boy" by Keith Urban that she decided to delve deeper into country music by listening to albums by Taylor Swift, Sugarland, and Dixie Chicks.

Ballerini credited Swift's self-titled debut studio album for introducing her to country music.

[68][69] In February 2023, it was confirmed that Ballerini was dating Outer Banks actor Chase Stokes.