The stamp of approval.
It sounds like Tracy Chapman approves of Luke Combs’ hit cover of her 1988 song “Fast Car,” which has become a massive hit after just 11 weeks on the country charts, peaking at #1 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart last week.
“Fast Car” has been an abolsute juggernaut at country radio, flying up the charts at an insane pace pretty much completely organically, so much so that his label actually sent it to Top 40 pop and Hot Adult Contemporary radio, as well.
It’s currently sitting at the #2 spot over there, right behind his friend and fellow country superstar Morgan Wallen with his multi-week #1 “Last Night.”
With those two at the #1 and #2 spots on that chart, it marks the first time since 1981 that two country songs are sitting at the top two positions U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, and stands to easily be the biggest hit of Luke’s career thus far when it’s all said and done.
After it went #1 on the country charts, Tracy Chapman also became first ever black woman to reach the number one spot on the country charts as a sole writer of a song. And to be even more specific, it is only the second time since 1990 that a black songwriter topped the list as the only credited writer on the track.
And while all of that success is clearly a great thing for Luke, and Tracy’s bank account if nothing else, people have been wondering what she really thinks of the cover and how the song has absolutely blown up. Tracy had been pretty quiet up until recently, and we hadn’t heard from her at all about it.
But today, Tracy revealed to Billboard that she’s “happy for Luke” and how well the song is doing, adding that she’s excited that an entirely new audience of fans have found and embraced “Fast Car.”
She added that she “never expected” to find herself on the country charts, saying it’s an “honor” to be there:
“I never expected to find myself on the country charts, but I’m honored to be there.
I’m happy for Luke and his success and grateful that new fans have found and embraced ‘Fast Car.’”
There ya have it, folks.
It sounds like Tracy is as impressed by the way Luke has turned this song into a mega hit as much as we all are, and I have to imagine it’s gotta be nice to be getting those royalty checks now, too.
As a songwriter, it’s got to be pretty cool to have your solo-penned tune reaching an entirely new generation of fans, no matter what genre it’s in. And Luke previously said he wanted to be “mega respectful” in the way he went about recording Tracy’s song, which I’m sure she appreciates, as well.
Originally written and recorded by Tracy Chapman, “Fast Car” was released in 1988 as the lead single from her 1988 self-titled debut studio album, and at the 31st annual Grammy Awards in 1989, she won the Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for “Fast Car,” best contemporary folk album for Tracy Chapman and best new artist.
“Fast Car” was also nominated for record and song of the year, while Tracy Chapman received a nomination for album of the year.
Like I said before, a great song is a great song, no matter what genre, year or decade you hear it in, and maybe if we get really, really lucky one day, we’ll get to hear Luke and Tracy team up for a duet or performance together.
It sounds like Tracy would be up for it:
Now that would be somethin’…
“Fast Car”
And of course, the timeless original:
