Editing Chely Wright (section)

===1997–2003: Breakout into the mainstream===
Free from her previous record label, Wright made several changes to her career. She began working with a new manager (Clarence Spalding) and a publicist (Wes Vause), who helped secure her a contract with [[Universal Music Group Nashville|MCA Records Nashville]]. Wright then contacted producer [[Tony Brown (record producer)|Tony Brown]], who had previously made hit albums with [[Reba McEntire]] and [[Wynonna Judd|Wynonna]]. Brown agreed to work with her and together they recorded her third album.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hurst |first=Jack |title=Chely Wright's Savvy Paved Way for Success |date=January 9, 1998 |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1998-01-09-9801090362-story.html |access-date=February 1, 2021 |work=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref> In 1997, ''[[Let Me In (Chely Wright album)|Let Me In]],'' was released on MCA.<ref name="Allmusic"/> According to Brown, the album's material was backed by a simplified arrangement to help amplify Wright's vocal performance.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Flippo |first1=Chet |title=MCA Nashville Does Wright Thing |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=August 2, 1997 |volume=109 |issue=31 |page=35 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_AkEAAAAMBAJ&q=chely+wright+let+me+in&pg=PA35 |access-date=February 1, 2021}}</ref> It received a four star rating from Thom Owens at Allmusic who highlighted its "clean acoustic arrangements." Owens also called it her "most accomplished and arguably best album to date."<ref name="Let Me In">{{cite web |last1=Owens |first1=Thom |title=''Let Me In'': Chely Wright: Songs, Reviews, Credits |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/let-me-in-mw0000027300 |website=[[Allmusic]] |access-date=February 1, 2021}}</ref> Meanwhile, Brian Wahlert of ''Country Standard Time'' gave it a less favorable response, finding some of the material to be fillers rather than quality music.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wahlert |first1=Brian |title=Chely Wright -- ''Let Me In'' |url=https://www.countrystandardtime.com/d/cdreview.asp?xid=489 |website=Country Standard Time |access-date=February 1, 2021}}</ref> ''Let Me In'' was her first to reach the ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Top Country Albums]] chart, peaking at number 25 and spent 44 weeks there.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=''Let Me In'' chart history (Country Albums) |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/chely-wright/chart-history/clp/ |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=February 1, 2021}}</ref><ref name="Billboard Albums">{{cite book |last1=Whitburn |first1=Joel |title=Joel Whitburn's Top Country Albums: 1967-1997 |date=1997 |publisher=Record Research Inc. |isbn=0898201241}}</ref> It was also her first to enter the [[Billboard 200]] where it charted for seven weeks.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=''Let Me In'' chart history (Billboard 200) |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/chely-wright/chart-history/tlp/ |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=February 1, 2021}}</ref> The album spawned Wright's first major hit, "[[Shut Up and Drive (Chely Wright song)|Shut Up and Drive]]."<ref name="Allmusic"/> The single peaked at number 14 on the ''Billboard'' Hot Country Songs chart and number 21 on the ''[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]'' Country chart in Canada.<ref>{{cite magazine |title="Shut Up and Drive" chart history |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/chely-wright/chart-history/csi/ |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=February 1, 2021}}</ref><ref name="RPM Country Songs">{{cite web |title=Search results for "Chely Wright" under "Country Singles" |url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-110.01-e.php?PHPSESSID=gmrhouli7kvfvaeu848ka389j0&q1=chely+wright&q2=&interval=20 |publisher=RPM |access-date=July 18, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016042142/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-110.01-e.php?PHPSESSID=gmrhouli7kvfvaeu848ka389j0&q1=chely+wright&q2=&interval=20 |archive-date=October 16, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The album's next two singles would reach the ''Billboard'' country top 40.<ref name="Billboard Singles"/>

{{listen|filename=Chely Wright--Single White Female.ogg |title="Single White Female"|description=In 1999, Wright's song "Single White Female" topped the country chart and became the biggest hit of her music career.|format=[[Ogg]]||pos=left}}
In 1999, Wright recorded her next song release, titled "[[Single White Female (song)|Single White Female]]." Once the recording was completed, producers Tony Brown, [[Buddy Cannon]] and [[Norro Wilson]], believed the song could be a hit.{{sfn|Wright, Chely|2010|p=118}} The song would eventually reach number one on the ''Billboard'' country chart and the ''RPM'' country chart.<ref name="Billboard Singles"/><ref name="RPM Country Songs"/> Wright celebrated the number one on the road with fellow band members, [[Jay DeMarcus]] and [[Joe Don Rooney]] (both of whom would later form [[Rascal Flatts]]).{{sfn|Wright, Chely|2010|p=131-32}} One month later, MCA celebrated by throwing Wright a "Number One Party" where she invited numerous guests inside and outside the music industry.{{sfn|Wright, Chely|2010|p=134}} The song was followed-up by another major hit, "[[It Was]]," which reached number 11 on the American country chart.<ref name="Billboard Singles"/> The same year, Wright's fourth studio album of the [[Single White Female (album)|same name]] was released.<ref name="Allmusic"/> It peaked at number 15 on the ''Billboard'' country albums chart and number 16 on Canada's country albums chart.<ref>{{cite web |title=Search results for "Chely Wright" under "Country Albums/CD's" |url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-110.01-e.php?PHPSESSID=gmrhouli7kvfvaeu848ka389j0&q1=chely+wright&q2=Country+Albums%2FCDs&interval=20 |publisher=[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]] |access-date=July 18, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016042153/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-110.01-e.php?PHPSESSID=gmrhouli7kvfvaeu848ka389j0&q1=chely+wright&q2=Country+Albums%2FCDs&interval=20 |archive-date=October 16, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The album would eventually sell 500,000 copies and certify gold in sales from the [[Recording Industry Association of America]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Young |first1=Lisa |title=Chely Wright Celebrates Gold Status |url=http://www.cmt.com/news/1472543/chely-wright-celebrates-gold-status/ |access-date=February 1, 2021 |publisher=[[Country Music Television]] |date=June 11, 2003}}{{dead link|date=July 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Allmusic's [[Stephen Thomas Erlewine]] praised the studio effort, calling it "a welcome addition to an already impressive catalog."<ref name="Single White Female">{{cite web |last1=Erlewine |first1=Stephen Thomas |title=''Single White Female'': Chely Wright: Songs, Reviews, Credits |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/single-white-female-mw0000666167 |website=[[Allmusic]] |access-date=February 1, 2021}}</ref> Bill Friskics-Warren of ''[[The Washington Post]]'' noted that despite its [[country pop]] production, the record "hangs together as a sustained--and fairly compelling--song cycle about one woman's search for intimacy."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Friskics-Warren |first1=Bill |title=Answering Country's Call |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/style/1999/06/27/answering-countrys-call/9031879b-6ccd-43d4-8fc3-55c47e55aaa7/ |access-date=February 1, 2021 |publisher=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=June 27, 1999}}</ref>

In the fall of 2000, Wright began choosing songs for her upcoming fifth studio album. She composed the songs by herself, with help from [[Tim Nichols]] and [[Brad Paisley]]. Wright also served as the opening act on Paisley's 2000 tour.<ref name="Allmusic"/>{{sfn|Wright, Chely|2010|p=154-61}} The pair would also record a duet that would later be nominated for an accolade by the [[Country Music Association]].{{sfn|Wright, Chely|2010|p=159}} The two would also become romantically involved during this time, all while Wright remained in a closeted relationship with a woman.{{sfn|Wright, Chely|2010|p=128-29}} In 2001, ''[[Never Love You Enough]]'' was released on MCA. Following on the heels of her previous release, the album was a chart success,<ref name="Allmusic"/> climbing to number four on the Top Country Albums chart and number 62 on the Billboard 200.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=''Never Love You Enough'' chart history (Country Albums) |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/chely-wright/chart-history/clp/ |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=February 1, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=''Never Love You Enough'' chart history (Billboard 200) |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/chely-wright/chart-history/tlp/ |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=February 1, 2021}}</ref> Yet its two singles only reached the top 30 of the ''Billboard'' chart. Its highest-charting hit was "[[Jezebel (Chely Wright song)|Jezebel]]," which reached number 23.<ref name="Billboard Singles"/> The album received mixed reception from critics. Michael Gallucci called it a "conservative follow-up,"<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gallucci |first1=Michael |title=''Never Love You Enough'': Chely Wright: Songs, Reviews, Credits |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/never-love-you-enough-mw0000014117 |website=[[Allmusic]] |access-date=February 1, 2021}}</ref> while ''Country Standard Time'' called it, "a pleasant pop album, but hardly the sort of truly memorable work that Wright is so obviously capable of."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Messinger |first1=Eli |title=Chely Wright -- ''Never Love You Enough'' |url=https://www.countrystandardtime.com/d/cdreview.asp?xid=487 |website=Country Standard Time |access-date=February 1, 2021}}</ref>

In 2001, Wright embarked on "The Coca-Cola Hometown Hero Tour," a 30-date set of concerts and presented at the [[CMT Music Awards]]. She also made her acting debut the same year in the [[Disney]] film, ''[[Max Keeble's Big Move]].'' Wright was cast as the main character's homeroom teacher.<ref name="Max Keeble">{{cite news |last1=Orr |first1=Jay |title=Chely Wright Can't Love Her Fans Enough |url=http://www.cmt.com/news/1444390/chely-wright-cant-love-her-fans-enough/ |access-date=February 1, 2021 |publisher=[[Country Music Television]] |date=June 11, 2001}}{{dead link|date=July 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> In 2002, Wright won the "Fashion Plate Award" from the [[CMT Music Awards|CMT Flameworthy Awards]].<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Stark |first1=Phyllis |title=Keith, Chesney Score at CMT Video Awards |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=June 22, 2002 |volume=114 |issue=25 |page=8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HxEEAAAAMBAJ&q=chely+wright+%22jezebel%22+wins+cmt+flameworthy+award&pg=PA8 |access-date=February 1, 2021}}</ref> She would also be rated among ''[[People (magazine)|People]]'' magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People" during this time as well.<ref>{{cite web |title=Chely Wright Producing Hits with ''The Metropolitan Hotel'' |url=https://www.voanews.com/archive/chely-wright-producing-hits-metropolitan-hotel |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204195226/https://www.voanews.com/archive/chely-wright-producing-hits-metropolitan-hotel |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 4, 2021 |website=[[Voice of America]] |access-date=February 1, 2021}}</ref> In 2002, she recorded a song for the soundtrack of ''[[The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea]]'' and was asked to be the "guest of honor" at [[Disney World]].{{sfn|Wright, Chely|2010|p=172-76}} In 2003, Wright left MCA Records.<ref name="Allmusic"/>