Who sings the end-credits version of “Life Is a Highway” in Pixar’s Cars?

Rascal Flatts sings the end-credits version of “Life Is a Highway” in Pixar’s Cars.

The country-music group recorded a new version of Tom Cochrane’s 1991 song for the film’s closing credits. The track became strongly associated with Cars and helped connect the movie’s road-trip story with country-pop audiences. Its lyrics and driving rhythm suit McQueen’s journey along Route 66 and his gradual change in outlook.

Tom Cochrane originally wrote and recorded “Life Is a Highway,” and his version was a major hit before the Cars soundtrack adaptation. The Rascal Flatts recording is therefore a cover rather than a song written specifically by Pixar for the film.

Sheryl Crow contributed “Real Gone” to the Cars soundtrack, which can cause confusion because it is another prominent song from the movie. Brad Paisley and The Chicks are country artists, but they did not perform the end-credits version used for Cars.