The hit version in 1953 was a recording by Don Cornell. The song was featured in the film Susan Slept Here (1954), and was nominated for the 1954 Academy Award for Best Song. Cornell recorded on the Coral Records label. His version of "Hold My Hand" was produced by Bob Thiele.

“Thank you so much to the Academy for nominating my song 'Hold My Hand' for an Oscar this year! Writing this song for the film 'Top Gun: Maverick' was a deep and powerful experience that I will never forget,” Gaga wrote on social media at the time of the nomination announcement.

It is the lead single to the soundtrack for the film Top Gun: Maverick (2022). The song was written and produced by Gaga and BloodPop as "a love letter to the world during and after a very hard time".