Ring of Fire (song)

"Ring of Fire"
Picture sleeve for the 1963 U.S. vinyl single
Single by Johnny Cash
from the album Ring of Fire: The Best of Johnny Cash
B-side	"I'd Still Be There"
Released	April 19, 1963
Recorded	March 25, 1963
Genre	Country
Length	2:38
Label	Columbia Nashville
Songwriter(s)	June Carter Merle Kilgore
Producer(s)	Don Law
Johnny Cash singles chronology
"Busted" (1962) "Ring of Fire" (1963) "The Matador" (1963)

The song "Ring of Fire" was made popular by Johnny Cash after it appeared on his 1963 compilation album Ring of Fire: The Best of Johnny Cash. Written by Cash's eventual second wife, June Carter Cash, and songwriter Merle Kilgore, "(Love's) Ring of Fire" was originally recorded by June's sister, Anita Carter, on her 1962 album, Folk Songs Old and New.

Cash's version became one of the biggest hits of his career, staying at No. 1 on the country chart for seven weeks. It was certified gold by the RIAA on January 21, 2010, and has sold over 1.2 million digital downloads.^[1] It was named the fourth greatest country song of all time by Country Music Television, while Rolling Stone called it the number one greatest country song of all time and listed it as the 87th greatest song of all time.^[2]

In 1999, the 1963 recording of the song by Johnny Cash on the Columbia Records label was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.^[3]