Sex on Fire" is the first single of Kings of Leon's fourth studio album Only by the Night. The song gave Kings of Leon their first #1 single in Australia, Finland, Ireland and United Kingdom, charting at the top-spot in the UK Singles Chart on digital downloads alone, before its physical release. It has also gained significant popularity in the United States, reaching #1 on the Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart and #56 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it their highest charting song in their homeland on both charts.

Along with all of these achievements, in 2008, the song earned the band their first Grammy nominations. The song was nominated for Best Rock Song, and won the award for Best Rock Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group. In addition, the album earned a nomination for Best Rock Album. Channel V Australia named the song as the 3rd biggest hit of 2008.

It was voted #1 in Triple J Hottest 100 countdown for 2008. By March 1, 2009, the single had sold 578,000 copies to date in the United Kingdom, and is the biggest selling digital single of all-time in the UK.