Introduction
“Today My World Slipped Away” was originally co‑written and first recorded by Vern Gosdin (with co‑writer Mark Wright), and released in 1982; Gosdin’s version reached the Top 10 on country charts . Fifteen years later, in September 1997, George Strait released his interpretation as the third single from his album Carrying Your Love with Me, following the hits “One Night at a Time” and the title track “Carrying Your Love with Me”.
Strait’s version quickly resonated with audiences, climbing to No. 1 on the country charts by late November 1997—his chart run culminating in the top position for one week . Notably, the song marked the third of six consecutive No. 1 hits from the Carrying Your Love with Me album, a remarkable streak in Strait’s storied career .
The song’s emotional core lies in its stark, gut‑wrenching portrayal of heartbreak and loss: a man facing divorce, his entire world irrevocably changed. Strait’s matured vocal tone—richer and deeper by then—brought new gravitas to Gosdin’s plainspoken yet powerful lyricism, delivering a performance many critics and fans regard as one of his most affecting .
Produced by Strait and Tony Brown in late 1996 in Nashville sessions, the arrangement stays faithful to traditional country instrumentation—especially steel guitar and fiddle—while subtly modernizing the production for the late‑’90s country scene .
Widely considered a standout track on the Carrying Your Love with Me album (itself certified multi‑platinum), the song reaffirmed Strait’s standing as the “King of Country” and demonstrated his adeptness at interpreting others’ compositions with sincerity and stylistic clarity .
In short: George Strait’s “Today My World Slipped Away” transformed a respected Gosdin ballad into a chart‑topping mainstream landmark, channeling raw heartbreak through a voice at its emotional and artistic peak.