The song was written and produced by Chantal Kreviazuk, Raine Maida, and Kara DioGuardi, with additional writing from Clarkson.

In March 2006, the single was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for sales over 500,000 in all formats in the United States.

DioGuardi had become one of the most sought songwriter/producers after playing key roles on hits from Ashlee Simpson's "Pieces of Me" to Lindsay Lohan's "Confessions of a Broken Heart."

For additional insurance Canadian couple Chantal Kreviazuk and Raine Maida, frequent Avril Lavigne collaborators, assisted on "Walk Away."

"[4] Stephen Thomas Erlewine from AllMusic described the song as a "driving, anthemic pop tune" and picked it as one of the album's best tracks.

[5] Charles Merwin from Stylus Magazine wrote that "Luckily, songs like 'Breakaway' and 'Walk Away' are good enough to make you forget about some disappointments on the album.

"[6] On March 5, 2013, Billboard ranked the song at number 20 in its list of Top 100 American Idol Hits of All Time.

The video is intercut with shots of Clarkson performing the song and dancing like David Lee Roth with her band.

After her performance, Clarkson walks away, knocking her microphone stand down and shows the officer giving the driver a ticket.

On the Stronger Tour (2012), Clarkson performed the song as part of a medley, with "The Trouble With Love Is", "How I Feel" and "I Want You".

When Clarkson performed the song during the 12th Annual Honda Civic Tour, where she was a special guest for Maroon 5, she and her music director changed the arrangement to make it sound more jazzy.

Clarkson has also performed the song on Live with Regis and Kelly, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and at half time during the 2007 Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving Football game.

In April 2011, Clarkson appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show at Universal Studios Florida in Orlando, and performed the song in a medley of hits along with "Miss Independent" and "Since U Been Gone".