"Why Does It Hurt So Bad" is a song recorded by American singer and actress Whitney Houston for the 1995 film Waiting to Exhale.

The song garnered positive reviews from critics, who commended Houston's vocal effort.

[1] Two years later, according to Chris Willman of Entertainment Weekly, the emotions of the movie merged with the real-life circumstances of Houston's troubled marriage to Bobby Brown.

According to the sheet music book for The Greatest Hits at Sheetmusicplus.com, the song is written in the key of B♭ major, and moves at a tempo of 69 beats per minute.

[2] He added, "Paired with Babyface, Houston is positively luminous on [this] heartbreak ballad, performing with a perfect blend of theatrical melodrama and guttural soul".

[6] Steve Knopper of Newsday wrote, "It's lower-key and the singer, who also stars in the film, doesn't feel compelled to perform constant vocal feats.

"[10] Christopher John Farley of TIME stated that Houston "particularly held her own", with a "masterly balance of pop, zip, and soulful melancholy".

[11] Released as the seventh and final single from the Waiting to Exhale: Original Soundtrack Album, the song debuted at number 60 on the Billboard Hot 100, on the issue dated August 3, 1996.

[15] The song was not promoted through an official music video, although Houston appeared at the 1996 MTV Movie Awards held at Walt Disney Studios, Burbank and performed "Why Does It Hurt So Bad".

[18] The performance features Houston sitting on a chair, wearing a white outfit, and singing the song.