Who performed “Life Is a Highway” for Pixar’s Cars soundtrack?

Rascal Flatts performed “Life Is a Highway” for Pixar’s Cars soundtrack.

The country group recorded a cover of Tom Cochrane’s 1991 song for the 2006 film. It plays during a travel montage in which Lightning McQueen and Mater move across the country toward California. The song’s road imagery fits the film’s emphasis on highways, journeys, and the fading roadside communities associated with Route 66.

Tom Cochrane originally wrote and recorded “Life Is a Highway,” but the version associated with Pixar’s Cars is the Rascal Flatts recording. This distinction is a frequent source of confusion when people identify the song’s performer from its earlier release.

Rascal Flatts’ recording became a major commercial success and reached the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. The Cars soundtrack also includes music by Randy Newman, who wrote the film’s score and several original songs. “Our Town,” another Newman composition from the film, received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song.