The song has also been covered by a variety of artists, including Patti LaBelle, Shirley Bassey, Ginuwine, 98°, S Club 7, Barbara Mandrell, Daniel Evans, Nina, Willie Nelson, Josh Groban, Gloria Lynne, and Karel Gott.

Unlike the album's previous singles, which are all uptempo dance-oriented funk and disco songs, "She's Out of My Life" is an emotional ballad.

[4] A poignant moment in the song occurs near the end when Jackson begins to break down in tears as he sings the final line.

Although he had attempted to record the song's last few moments with emotional restraint, after numerous tries he continued to end the rendition the same—by breaking down in tears.

Jones subsequently let Jackson's tearful recording stand: "She's Out of My Life", I'd been carrying around for about three years—you can feel the pain in it, you know.

[5] In Jackson's autobiography, Moonwalk, he wrote that the song is about knowing that barriers separating him from others are seemingly easy to overcome, yet they cause him to miss out on what he really desires.

AllMusic editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine called the song an "overwrought ballad" but praised Jackson's "blindingly gifted" singing on the track.

[7] Rolling Stone editor Stephen Holden praised: "The singer's ultradramatic phrasing, which takes huge emotional risks and wins every time, wrings the last drop of pathos from Tom Bahler's tear-jerker, "She's Out of My Life.

"[8] Cash Box said it has a "feathery, symphonic opening, muted keyboard work and tearful vocal reading.

"[9] A music video was produced to promote the song, which showed Michael in a blue-green shirt, dark pants, and sitting on a barstool with a spotlight shining behind him.

Before concluding the song by singing the final word "life", he would often pause briefly to physically display distress, which he amplified by shielding his face and acting as if he were crying.

"She's Out of My Life" was notably covered as a duet by American country music artists Johnny Duncan and Janie Fricke.

[31] The single spent 14 weeks on the American Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, peaking at number 17 in September 1980.