Luke Combs has taken the wheel of “Fast Car,” and songwriter Tracy Chapman is loving the ride.
After catapulting Chapman to stardom back in 1988, earning her an award for Best Pop Vocal at the 31st annual Grammy Awards in 1989, the mellow folk rock tune about a young girl’s desire to escape from poverty has floored its way back into the spotlight courtesy of country star Combs, barreling all the way to the No. 1 slot on this week’s Billboard’s Country Airplay chart.
The out-of-nowhere honor comes after the “When It Rains It Pours” singer covered the timeworn tune on his fourth studio album, “Gettin’ Old.” Combs’ twangy version also makes Chapman the first Black woman as the sole writer to top the Country Airplay chart since its debut in 1990.
“I never expected to find myself on the country charts, but I’m honored to be there,” Chapman told Billboard in a written statement. “I’m happy for Luke and his success and grateful that new fans have found and embraced ‘Fast Car.’”
On top of being the first artist to drive “Fast Car” to a No. 1 spot, Combs has also earned No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 this week — Chapman’s original version peaked in 1988 at No. 6 on the Hot 100.
But the songstress hasn’t been left in the dust — weeks ago, Billboard estimated that Chapman had already earned approximately $500,000 in publishing royalties since Combs’ album dropped in March.
Chapman’s “Fast Car” struck a chord with listeners well ahead of its time, helping to pave the way for a host of other female singer-songwriters in the 1990s. It was the first single released from her debut album “Tracy Chapman,” which reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200. The album also gave her another hit, “Talkin ’bout a Revolution.”
Besides her win for “Fast Car,” Chapman also picked up Best Contemporary Folk Album and Best New Artist at the Grammys in 1989. She received three nominations as well: “Fast Car” for Record of the Year and Song of the Year, and “Tracy Chapman” for Album of the Year. A decade or so after her big break, Chapman largely retreated from the spotlight, and has mostly laid low professionally, ever since.
In an Instagram post with live concert footage from a stop in Pittsburgh, Pa., Combs revealed why he wanted to record “Fast Car.” The meaning behind the song for him stems from driving around and listening to music in his dad’s 1988 Ford F-150. This fond memory was the inspiration behind learning the song on guitar and eventually releasing his own version.
“There was this one song that really stuck out to me. It was called “Fast Car,” Combs told the crowd. “That song meant a lot to me since then — for my whole life. I always think about my dad when it comes on and us spending time together.”