The song was released in 1991 as the lead single from Cochrane's album Mad Mad World. The song reached number 1 in Canada and the United States, and was certified double platinum in the United States.
"Life is a Highway" has been used in a number of films and television shows, including Cars (2006) and The Simpsons (1989). The song was also featured in a 2014 commercial for the Chrysler 200.