In March 2003, six months before his death, Johnny Cash released "Hurt" as the final single of his career, a cover of the Nine Inch Nails song originally released in 1995. The track appeared on Cash's last album released in his lifetime, American IV: The Man Comes Around, and became one of the most acclaimed recordings of his final years, praised for the raw poignancy it took on when sung by a man reflecting on regret near the end of his life.

The cover was suggested by producer Rick Rubin, who found the song and pressed Cash to record it even after Cash initially rejected it as not suited to his style. Cash later said he rehearsed the song roughly 100 times before recording it so he could "make it mine." The recording went on to win Cash a Grammy Award for Best Music Video and two CMA Awards, for Music Video of the Year and Single of the Year.