| Tender When I Want to Be | |
| Cover: | Chapin Carpenter - Tender When I Want single.png |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | Mary Chapin Carpenter |
| Album: | Stones in the Road |
| B-Side: | John Doe No 24 |
| Released: | December 5, 1994 |
| Genre: | Country |
| Length: | 2:54 |
| Label: | Columbia |
| Prev Title: | Shut Up and Kiss Me |
| Prev Year: | 1994 |
| Next Title: | House of Cards |
| Next Year: | 1995 |
"Tender When I Want to Be" is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Mary Chapin Carpenter. It was released in December 1994 as the second single from her album Stones in the Road. The song reached number 6 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in February 1995.[1]
Deborah Evans Price, of Billboard magazine reviewed the song favorably, calling it a "think-while-you-dance pop/country tune about grown-up emotions." She goes on to say that Carpenter continues to "light up country radio with incisive, intelligent lyrics and a talent for creating just the right melody."[2]
The music video was directed by Michael Salomon and premiered in early 1995.
"Tender When I Want to Be" debuted at number 59 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks for the week of December 10, 1994.