Hank Williams wrote and recorded “Your Cheatin’ Heart,” which was released after his death in 1953.
Williams recorded the song during his final sessions in September 1952. It became one of his signature compositions and is widely regarded as a defining example of classic honky-tonk country music.
The song was released in 1953, shortly after Williams died on January 1 of that year. His version reached the country charts, while later recordings by artists including Joni James and Ray Charles introduced it to wider audiences.
A common mix-up is assuming that a song released after an artist’s death must have been unfinished. Williams had already recorded “Your Cheatin’ Heart”; the later release reflected the timing of its publication, not a posthumous composition.