"Leave the Pieces" is a country-pop song written by Jennifer Hanson and Billy Austin, and produced by John Shanks and Michelle Branch for The Wreckers' debut album Stand Still, Look Pretty (2006). It was released to the U.S. iTunes Music Store as the album's first single on February 7 2006 (see 2006 in music). The release includes the album version of the song only.
The single entered the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 at number sixty-eight, and it peaked at number thirty-four. It was the first debut single by a musical duo to reach number one on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart since 1991, and the first by a female duo since 1953. Wreckers member Branch said of the song's success, "To see our hard work in getting this project off the ground result in my first number-one as an artist could not be more meaningful", while Jessica Harp said "It's an amazing feeling to have our debut single go number one, especially getting to share it with my dear friend. The fact that we've achieved such success is something I can't even comprehend yet. I just know that the stars have aligned, and it feels good to be a Wrecker." html_b1?release_id=158004" target="_blank">"The Wreckers' "Leave the Pieces" Hits Number One on Billboard's "Hot Country Songs" Chart". _Market Wire. August 28 2006. Retrieved September 9 2006.
The single's video features a girl (played by Harp) who is leaving her boyfriend, played by actor Nick Steeleblank">http://imdb.com/name/nm1836422/ because he is on the fence about their relationship. Harp packs all her clothes and her friend, played by Branch, comes and picks her up. The video includes shots of the women performing on a porch and in/beside an old car, and it topped the U.S. _Country Music Television video playlist.
In December 2006 The Wreckers were nominated for a Grammy Award for "Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal" for "Leave the Pieces".
