Tim McGraw Walked Away From a Hit Song For a Country Legend

When it comes to potential songs, country music star Tim McGraw clearly knows when to walk away — even if the song could be a hit. On May 20, 2025, McGraw sat down with fellow singer Tracy Lawrence for an episode of his podcast, “TL’s Roadhouse.” During the episode, McGraw shared that he almost recorded a huge country song in the ’90s, but gave up on it because of another performer: George Strait.

A fan asked McGraw if there was any song from his past that he wished he had recorded, and the singer explained that “Carrying Your Love With Me” almost made it into his catalog. “It just so happened that one of the songwriters pitched it to [Strait] and one of the songwriters pitched it to me at the same time,” the singer said. He went on to explain that he decided to not move forward with the song when he learned this news. “So that’s one of the ones I hate missing out on,” he added. “[Because] that’s one of my favorite George Strait songs.”

McGraw Says he Has “Learned so Much” From Strait

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Passing on “Carrying Your Love With Me” was clearly a sign of respect for Strait, and McGraw has been very open about his reverence for the country crooner over the years. Back in 2013, the “I Like It, I Love It” singer honored Strait as part of the ACM’s “60 for 60” tribute by sharing some of his best memories with the legendary singer. As McGraw described, he spent three years learning from Strait while accompanying him on a stadium tour.

However, his favorite memory from that tour was a sweet moment involving his wife, Faith Hill. “One of the most special memories was at 3:00 in the morning in a club at the ‘end of the tour’ party, with George singing ‘Indian Outlaw’ and my pregnant wife sitting on the stage beside him,” McGraw shared. “Now it’s a memory that that will live on forever with us.”

“Carrying Your Love With Me” Became a Platinum Hit

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Although a McGraw version of “Carrying Your Love With Me” would probably have been great, Strait’s original is a true classic. The song is certified platinum and topped the Billboard country chart for a stunning six weeks after its 1997 release. It appeared on Strait’s album of the same name, which has sold 3 million copies and counting.

This hit isn’t the only time a Strait song was almost recorded by someone else, and, as with most songs by the legendary crooner, it’s impossible to imagine anyone else singing the original. However, countless other artists have covered “Carrying Your Love With Me” over the years, including Kelly Clarkson and Parker McCollum.