Heidi Newfield, ‘Why’d You Have to Be So Good’ Is Career Builder

It's been four years since Heidi Newfield released her debut solo album, What Am I Waiting For, but fans won't have to wait much longer for a new set of tunes. Trick Pony's former lead singer is back in the studio finishing up her sophomore CD, and if the project's first single, "Why'd You Have to Be So Good" is any indication, she plans to stick around for a long, long time.

"Once in a blue moon, a song comes around that knocks you off your feet. That's how I felt about 'Why'd You Have to Be So Good'," Heidi says. "I'm not interested in cutting a record that's indifferent, that's not gonna make people feel something."

Written by Jeffrey Steele and Jeremy Popoff, the song was first put "on hold" for Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, which Heidi says left her "heartbroken." So when the song came back up for grabs, she jumped at the chance to record it, giving fans the first taste of her upcoming album.

"It feels like there's a lot of focus -- not only on this song, but building a career, which is what we are all trying to do," Heidi tells Billboard. "It feels like consistency is being built. I'm not planning on going anywhere."

The timing couldn't be better for the 41-year-old songstress, who is launching the album on a new label, Sidewalk Records. "This particular single is coming out at a time where I've got a whole new team and a whole new label in Sidewalk Records, which is a sister label to Curb," Heidi explains. "We've got a team around me that feels very authentic. Everybody has a deep passion for what we're doing. Everybody cares about the music, and is focused on seeing me succeed."

Still, the singer says the tone of "Why'd You Have to Be So Good" is not representative of the entire CD. "We just tried to find the best song," she notes. "The rest of the record has definitely got a lot of kick to it. It pulls a lot from my influences -- stone country, harmonica, southern rock. There's a lot of drive on this record ... We just felt this song needed to be heard first."

Heidi's new album is expected to be released later this year.

Download "Why'd You Have to Be So Good" | Buy Heidi Newfield's Album