Let The Soulful Voice Of Ricky Van Shelton Move You With “I’ll Leave This World Loving You”

Few country ballads express love and loss as powerfully as Ricky Van Shelton’s “I’ll Leave This World Loving You”. Released in 1988, the song became his fourth straight No. 1 hit, topping the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and holding its place for multiple weeks. It was a career-defining moment, solidifying Shelton as one of country music’s strongest voices.

Originally written by Wayne Kemp and Mack Vickery, the song had been around for years before Shelton made it a hit. Kemp himself recorded it twice, first in 1974 and again in 1980, but it never gained much traction, peaking at No. 47.

Despite its underwhelming chart performance, the song remained an important part of Kemp’s songwriting legacy. It wasn’t until Shelton’s rich, emotional delivery brought it back to life that “I’ll Leave This World Loving You” became the country classic fans cherish today.

For years, “I’ll Leave This World Loving You” remained tucked away, waiting for the right voice to bring it to life. Columbia Records producer Steve Buckingham had been saving the song. That moment finally arrived in 1987 when Ricky Van Shelton stepped into the spotlight.

With his rich, resonant voice and deep connection to classic country storytelling, Shelton was everything Buckingham had been waiting for. The song found its perfect match, and with Shelton’s heartfelt delivery, it became an instant country classic.

The song’s video was uploaded to YouTube in 2019 and has since gained nearly 22 million views. While it resonates deeply with those from the region, many young listeners have also fallen in love with the song and Ricky’s distinctive vocals. One commented, “There are no words to feel for what Ricky is singing. The most perfect song in all the world.”