The track became a decent success for White, hitting number 16 on the US Hot Country Songs chart[2] and number 10 on the Canada RPM Country Tracks, becoming White's only top-ten single in Canada. It also became White's only song to enter the Billboard Hot 100, hitting number 76. The track later received an ASCAP award for its writers.[3]
Background
At the time of the song's writing, White had left her previous record deal with RCA Records Nashville when co-writer David Kent e-mailed her a poem titled "Stepping Stone". She and Craig Wiseman later finished the song.[4] Randy Goodman, founder of Lyric Street Records took an interest in making her his flagship artist for the then-new record label after the success of her song "Helping Me Get Over You" with Travis Tritt.[5] Upon her singing with Lyric Street Records in early 1998, the label selected "Stepping Stone" as a single, thus making it the label's first release.[4]
Content
According to sheet music published on Musicnotes.com, "Stepping Stone" is played in the key of G major and a metronome of 80.[6] The track is an empowerment anthem that uses life's obstacles as stepping stones.
Critical reception
Deborah Evans Price of Billboard magazine gave the track a positive review saying, "The marriage of strong percussion and jangly guitars makes for a thoroughly engaging track. Country radio programmers should welcome this with open arms."[7] Paulette Flowers of Portsmouth Daily Times said it was White singing at her best.[8]
Chart performance
"Stepping Stone" debuted at number 62 on the US BillboardHot Country Songs chart the week of May 16, 1998. It reached the top-forty the week of June 6, 1998, at number 38, becoming her sixth top-forty hit. It peaked at number 16 on the chart for the week of August 22, 1998. It spent 20 weeks in total on the chart.
^Flowers, Paulette (June 21, 1998). "Lari White's career is stepping, not stumbling". Portsmouth Daily Times. p. 5.
^Stepping Stone (US 7-inch single sleeve). Lari White. Lyric Street Records. 1998. 64019-7.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Stepping Stone (US CD single liner notes). Lari White. Lyric Street Records. 1998. 64019-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Stepping Stone (US cassette single sleeve). Lari White. Lyric Street Records. 1998. 64019-4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Stepping Stone (CD liner notes). Lari White. Lyric Street Records. 1998. 65001.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
