# The Reason Why

The Reason Why is the fourth studio album by American country music group Little Big Town. It was released on August 24, 2010, through Capitol Records Nashville. "Little White Church," which was released in March 2010 as the album's lead-off single, has since become a Top 10 hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.

## Content

The album's title track was released as a digital single on July 27, 2010, to begin an iTunes countdown to the album release on August 24, 2010. Three further digital singles — "Kiss Goodbye," "Why, Oh Why," and "All the Way Down" — were released weekly leading up until the album release. "Little White Church," the album's first single release to radio, was a Top 10 on the Hot Country Songs charts, with a peak of number 6. "Rain on a Tin Roof," written by Chris Stapleton and Trent Willmon, previously appeared on Julie Roberts's 2004 self-titled debut album. "Kiss Goodbye" and the title track were released as the album's second and third singles, respectively; both reached a peak of number 42 on the Hot Country Songs chart.

## Critical reception

Professional ratings :
| Review scores ||
| Source | Rating |
| Mojo Radio | (8.7/10) |
| American Twang | |
| Allmusic | |
| Country Weekly | |
| Slant | |
The Reason Why received primarily positive reviews from music critics. Giving it four stars out of five, Jonathan Keefe of Slant Magazine thought that it was the band's most consistent album, praising the vocal harmonies as well as the cuts on which Karen Fairchild sang lead. He also thought that the band's sound was less derivative of Fleetwood Mac on this album than on previous works. Jessica Phillips of Country Weekly rated it three-and-a-half stars out of five, saying that the group had "renewed energy" on it, also highlighting Fairchild's lead vocals. Both Keefe and Phillips compared "Little White Church" favorably to Little Big Town's 2005 single "Boondocks." Thom Jurek of Allmusic also thought that the album showed a growth in sound over the band's two albums for Equity Music Group, giving it four stars out of five. Jim Malec of American Twang thought the group’s vocal arrangements were "overbearing and gimmicky," claiming that the album often "sounds like the soundtrack to a Broadway musical." However, he complimented the group member's individual voices, in particular Karen Fairchild's.

## Personnel
### Little Big Town

* Karen Fairchild - vocals, tambourine
* Kimberly Schlapman - vocals, tambourine
* Phillip Sweet - vocals, piano
* Jimi Westbrook - vocals, acoustic guitar

### Additional musicians

* J.T. Corenflos - 12-string electric guitar, electric guitar
* Steve Dale - bass guitar
* Dan Dugmore - pedal steel guitar
* Shannon Forrest - drums, tambourine
* Greg Hagan - electric guitar
* Jedd Hughes - acoustic guitar, electric guitar, mandolin
* Jay Joyce - electric guitar
* Gordon Kennedy - electric guitar
* Wayne Kirkpatrick - banjar, 12-string acoustic guitar, acoustic guitar, tenor guitar, hi-string guitar, national steel guitar, piano, shaker
* Phil Madeira - Hammond B-3 organ
* Chris McHugh - drums
* Jeffery Roach - keyboards
* Caleb Sherman - steel guitar
* Adam Shoenfeld - electric slide guitar, electric guitar
* Steve Sinatra - drums
* Jimmie Lee Sloas - bass guitar

## Chart performance
### Album

The Reason Why debuted at number 5 on the U.S. Billboard 200 and became their first number 1 record on the U.S. Billboard Country Albums charts, with first week sales of 41,939. As of the chart date January 8, 2011, the album has sold 150,298 copies in the U.S.

### Weekly charts

| Chart (2010) | Peak position |
| US Billboard 200 | 5 |
| US Top Country Albums (Billboard) | 1 |

### Year-end charts

| Chart (2010) | Position |
| US Top Country Albums (Billboard) | 50 |
| Chart (2011) | Position |
| US Top Country Albums (Billboard) | 70 |