Johnny Cash’s ‘Personal Jesus’ Soars on Billboard Charts After Super Bowl Ad Boost
A Super Bowl commercial sent Johnny Cash’s haunting version of “Personal Jesus” climbing to number two on Billboard’s Rock Digital Song Sales chart. This marks his first entry into the Country Digital Song Sales top 10, with downloads jumping 22,000% to 1,700 units.
The Billboard charts combine sales data with streaming numbers and radio plays, tracking how older songs compete with current hits.
Nonprofit Come Near, He Gets Us Super Bowl ad triggered this huge spike. The song, released in 2002 on “American IV: The Man Comes Around,” stayed on the Billboard 200 for an impressive 62 straight weeks.
This achievement tops Cash’s earlier chart success. His powerful cover of “Hurt” reached number nine on Rock Digital Song Sales in 2016, while hitting number 11 on Country Digital Song Sales.
Two decades after his passing, the Man in Black’s music continues to find new fans. While “American IV” peaked at 22 in 2003, his posthumous “American V: A Hundred Highways” shot to number one on the Billboard 200 three years later.
Cash chose “Personal Jesus” as the lead single for his fourth American album. The record remains his last complete work before his death in September 2003.
Ads, movies, and TV shows continue to introduce Cash’s music to new audiences. His authentic, genuine sound connects with new generations of music lovers.
