August 28, 2006 18:50 ET

The Wreckers' "Leave the Pieces" Hits Number One on Billboard's "Hot Country Songs" Chart

First Time Since 1991 a Country Duo's Debut Single Reaches the Top Slot

NASHVILLE, TN -- (MARKET WIRE) -- August 28, 2006 -- "Leave the Pieces," the debut single from hot country duo The Wreckers, hit the Number One spot on "Billboard's Hot Country Songs" chart this week. Branch and Harp are the first country duo to reach the top slot with a debut single since Brooks & Dunn did it fifteen years ago with "Brand New Man," according to Billboard Monitor and the second female duo since the inception of the chart in 1944. The track has also topped the Music Row magazine country singles chart for five weeks (four consecutively). In addition, the video for "Leave the Pieces" has held the Number One spot on CMT's video play list for the past two weeks.

The mandolin-flavored ballad is the lead-off single from Grammy-winning artist Michelle Branch and Nashville-based singer-songwriter Jessica Harp's critically acclaimed debut album "Stand Still, Look Pretty," which the Washington Post has called a "charmingly catchy debut that joins Branch's pop sensibilities with traditional country music elements: a warm twang and rich harmonies." In addition, the Associated Press has praised the duo for their power to "tear down the walls between pop and country." "Stand Still, Look Pretty" was released by Warner Bros. Nashville on May 23rd.

The duo has been on a non-stop touring schedule since May and is ecstatic with the news. Michelle Branch emotes, "The Wreckers was an opportunity for Jess and I to create a project that truly came from our core with no frills -- music that spoke to us and would hopefully speak to an audience of music lovers. To see our hard work in getting this project off the ground result in my first #1 as an artist could not be more meaningful."

"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," says Jessica Harp.

Since the release of "Stand Still, Look Pretty," The Wreckers have been busy making appearances from coast to coast opening for music's top-selling artist of the year, Rascal Flatts, as part of their "Me & My Gang" Tour. Branch and Harp will open shows for Brad Paisley, Alan Jackson, and Montgomery Gentry this fall. They have also garnered a great deal of media attention with appearances on "Late Show with David Letterman," "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson," "The View," CBS' "The Early Show," the "2006 CMT Music Awards" and the "41st Annual Academy of Country Music Awards."

The second single from the album "My, Oh My" will be released in September with an accompanying video recently shot in Los Angeles by director Paul Boyd, featuring an Old West theme.

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