In Pixar’s Cars, which song is performed by Rascal Flatts?

Rascal Flatts perform “Life Is a Highway” in Pixar’s Cars.

The country group recorded a new version of the song for the film’s soundtrack. The original “Life Is a Highway” was written and recorded by Canadian musician Tom Cochrane in 1991. Rascal Flatts’ upbeat cover plays during a major travel sequence as Lightning McQueen and Mack travel toward California.

The song became closely associated with Cars and helped connect the film’s road-trip theme with its country and Americana musical style. Its placement also emphasizes the contrast between Lightning’s fast-moving racing life and the long highway journey that begins after he becomes separated from Mack.

“Real Gone,” performed by Sheryl Crow, is another prominent song from the Cars soundtrack, while Randy Newman wrote several of the film’s original songs. Those tracks are sometimes confused because they all appear in the same movie and share its road-focused atmosphere.