In 2009 , Eric Hutchinson opened for Kelly Clarkson in selected dates in her All I Ever Wanted Tour , where he debuted a new song , " Why Do n't You Try " , originally intended for his fourth studio album . Clarkson recalled upon hearing the song : " Eric Hutchinson was touring with me in Australia and I was in my dressing room and all of a sudden I heard this song . I was like , what is he singing ?! And I ran out of the dressing room – I looked like a hot mess ! I was in the middle of getting my hair and make-up done . He had just surprised the audience with a new song . He came off the stage and I was like , you need to write me a song like that ! And instead , he gave me that song so I could have it on my album . It 's a very relatable song to me . " In February 2011 , Clarkson recorded the song with Steve Jordan in New York . The recording sessions featured prominent session musicians — including Pino Palladino on bass , Hugh McCracken on guitar , Ivan Neville on piano , and Jordan on Drums . All of them had previously collaborated with Jordan , primarily Palladino — who , like Jordan , is also a member of the musical ensemble John Mayer Trio . It is also one of the last recordings in which McCracken appeared before he died in 2013 . " Why Do n't You Try " is a R&B ballad , it was the first announced track for her fifth studio album , '' Stronger '' , which was ultimately released on October 2011
All I Ever Wanted Tour
All I Ever Wanted Tour
Why Don't You Try