after releasing two unsuccessful albums through mercury/polygram, wright asked to be released from her contract and signed with mca nashville. there, she had her first top twenty country hit in 1997 with the song "shut up and drive," off her third album, "let me in". in 1999, her fourth album, "single white female", produced several hit songs and her first gold album certification. in 2000, while touring with singer brad paisley, wright and paisley cowrote the duet "hard to be a husband, hard to be a wife", which they performed in their joint shows and at the grand ole opry's 75th anniversary, televised by cbs. the opry performance was later nominated for vocal event of the year at the 35th annual cma awards. wright also joined diamond rio for a song on their "one more day" album, as well as paisley's "part ii" album, both released in 2001.