Originally released in 1991 by Canadian artist Tom Cochrane, 'Life Is A Highway' was a smash hit from the beginning, clinching the top spot on the Canadian charts and peaking at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100.

A few years later, Chris LeDoux released a cover of the tune for his 1998 record, One Road Man, only hitting No. 64 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.

However, in 2005, Rascal Flatts gave the song an entirely new life when they were commissioned to cut a version for the beloved Pixar movie, Cars. Since then, the song has basically become a Flatts standard, serving as one of the biggest moments of the band's live shows.

lists ESSENTIALS • Country Covers That Are Better Than The Originals

Let's be honest, some covers are better than others. Some, dare we say it, are even better than the original.

With well over 3 million copies of the song sold in the U.S. alone over the last twenty years, 'Life Is A Highway' landed at No. 7 on the Hot 100, and even though it was never formally released to country radio, found its way to No. 18 on the Hot Country Songs chart, too.

Most recently, the iconic anthem serves as one of the theme songs for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, taking place from June 11 to July 19 all across the United States.

Where Cochrane's version was more toned down and simple, and LeDoux's take was more electrified and free flowing, Rascal Flatt's version perfectly marries the best parts of its predecessors, becoming a proud road trip and karaoke classic ever since.

With electric guitars and high-energy abounding, the newest iteration of the American Songbook staple has won over fans far and wide over the last 20 years.

Comparing life to a long and winding highway, the song explains that sometimes the journey will have its hills and valleys, its ups and downs. Regardless of each mile marker, though, it's a roadtrip well worth taking.

Despite all the things you may see or experience along the way, each of those moments make us who we are and there's nothing to do but buckle up, grab some good friends, turn the radio loud and take it all as it comes.

"Whoo!
Mm, yeah
Life's like a road that you travel on
When there's one day here and the next day gone
Sometimes you bend, sometimes you stand
Sometimes you turn your back to the wind
There's a world outside every darkened door
Where blues won't haunt you anymore
Where the brave are free and lovers soar
Come ride with me to the distant shore

We won't hesitate
To break down the garden gate
There's not much time left today, yeah

Life is a highway
I wanna ride it all night long
If you're goin' my way
Well, I wanna drive it all night long

Through all these cities and all these towns
It's in my blood and it's all around
I love you now like I loved you then
This is the road and these are the hands
From Mozambique to those Memphis nights
The Khyber Pass to Vancouver's lights
Knock me down, I'm back up again
You're in my blood, I'm not a lonely man

There's no load I can't hold
A road so rough, this I know
I'll be there when the light comes in
Just tell 'em we're survivors

Life is a highway
Well, I wanna ride it all night long (whoo!)
If you're goin' my way
I wanna drive it all night long (all night long)
A gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme, yeah
Life is a highway
Well, I wanna ride it all night long (mm, yeah)
If you're goin' my way (you're goin' my way)
I wanna drive it all night long (all night long)

There was a distance between you and I (between you and I)
A misunderstanding once
But now we look it in the eye
Ooh, yeah (mm, yeah)
There ain't no load that I can't hold
The roads are rough, this I know
I'll be there when the light comes in
Tell 'em we're survivors

Life is a highway
Well, I wanna ride it all night long (all night long, yeah)
If you're goin' my way
Well, I wanna drive it all night long (a gimme, gimme, gimme, a gimme, gimme, yeah)
Life is a highway (life is a highway)
I wanna ride it all night long (whoo, yeah)
If you're goin' my way (you're goin' my way)
I wanna drive it all night long (all night long, yeah)
(Come on, gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme, yeah)

Life is a highway
I wanna ride it all night long (yeah, I wanna drive it all night long, baby)
If you're goin' my way (you're goin' my way)
I wanna drive it all night long (all night long)"

––

Rascal Flatts

Artist