Judith Owen has never been one to confuse romance with fantasy. On her new single, “That’s Why I Love My Baby,” released February 20, 2026, the acclaimed singer, songwriter, and pianist leans into wit as much as warmth, delivering a love song that values consistency over spectacle.
The track serves as the first glimpse of her forthcoming album due this spring and follows the international success of Come On And Get It, which was praised by The Times as one of the most joyous releases of its year. If that record reveled in exuberance, “That’s Why I Love My Baby” turns inward, though not without a knowing smile.
Inspired in part by her husband’s disdain for Valentine’s Day and other so-called Hallmark holidays, Owen uses the premise to dismantle the performance of romance. The song’s thesis is disarmingly simple: what matters is how someone treats you the other 364 days of the year. Delivered with tongue firmly in cheek, her lyrics balance sophistication and playfulness, poking at cliché before landing on something sturdier.
Musically, the single underscores Owen’s strengths as a pianist and bandleader. The arrangement feels rich without tipping into excess, allowing her phrasing and timing to do the heavy lifting. There is an ease to the performance that suggests an artist comfortable with both humor and vulnerability.
The release arrives ahead of an extensive run of international dates across Europe and the United States, including stops in Paris, London, Minneapolis, and St Louis. In intimate venues and festival settings alike, Owen’s reputation for charismatic, emotionally intelligent live performances continues to precede her. With “That’s Why I Love My Baby,” Judith Owen offers a reminder that enduring love is rarely cinematic. It is built in small gestures, private jokes, and the long stretch between holidays.
Featured Image: Artist Supplied
