Just days after Luke Combs’ rendition of “Fast Car” hit No. 1 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart, Tracy Chapman shared her thoughts on his cover of her 1988 classic, “Fast Car.”
Breaking her silence, the 59-year-old singer/songwriter gave an exclusive statement to Billboard where she expressed her surprise over the success of Combs’ rendition of the song.
“I never expected to find myself on the country charts, but I’m honored to be there,” Chapman told the outlet. ”I’m happy for Luke and his success and grateful that new fans have found and embraced ‘Fast Car.’”
“Who Would Want To See This Collaboration?”
Chapman also shared a congratulatory message and teased a collaboration with Combs on social media.
“Who would want to see this collaboration? 🤯 Congratulations to @lukecombs success with Fast Car,” Chapman previously wrote on Instagram.
Chapman Makes History With First-Ever No. 1 Single At country Radio
With Combs’ rendition of her 1988 hit sitting atop of the Billboard Country Airplay chart, Tracy Chapman achieved a historic milestone as the first Black woman to solely write a song that reached the top of the country charts.
“Still making waves 35 years later 🎸,” Chapman said, reacting to the news of her first-ever No. 1 at Country radio.
“Fast Car” ascended to the top spot on the chart after just 11 weeks, matching Morgan Wallen’s rapid rise to the top of the chart with “Last Night.” This achievement marks Combs’ 16th career No. 1 at country radio and his 15th No. 1 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart.
If you include Combs’ feature on Jameson Rogers’ “Cold Beer Calling My Name,” which also reached the number one spot, technically it would mark his 17th time reaching the top of the chart.
Why Did Luke Combs Record A Cover Of Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car”?
Combs, 33, recently revealed his reason for recording a studio rendition of the Chapman hit, explaining that the tune holds a personal significance.
“[It’s] my first favorite song probably ever. I remember listening to that song with my dad in his truck when I was probably four years old,” Combs recalled of his connection to the track in a press release. “He had a cassette, a tape of it, and we had this old brown camper top F-150.”
“We rode around that thing, and he had a tape cassette player in there, and I have the original cassette — my dad brought it to me a couple of years ago… I have the one, and I have it in my shop,” he continued. “The only music I have in my shop is a cassette player. I love to go to antique stores, and just you can get a bunch of cassette tapes for 50 cents, and some of the best records of all time are on cassette.”
The North Carolina native, who is currently performing the Tracy Chapman cover each night on his massive 2023 world tour, knew he had to record the tune as it was a big part of his life.
“It’s always been one of my favorites. I covered it in college, and just kind of continued to play it around the house or whatever, and did a video of it in 2020 during the whole lockdown thing,” he told Smooth Radio. “I just figured, why not? It’s been such a big part of my life that I just figured it would be cool to do an official version of it.”
Luke Combs’ 2023 World Tour
Combs’ extensive 2023 World Tour kicked off on March 25 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas and runs through October 19, where it will wrap up in London, England at The O2 Arena.
Hitting three continents and 16 countries, the massive outing will make stops throughout the United States, Australia, New Zealand, U.K., Ireland, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland, France and Belgium.
Riley Green, Lainey Wilson, Flatland Cavalry, and Brent Cobb serve as support on the North American tour dates, while special guests on the Australian and New Zealand dates include Cody Johnson and Lane Pittman.
See a full list of the “Love You Anyway” singer’s tour dates below.
New Album, Gettin’ Old
Additionally, the tour comes in support of Luke Combs latest album, Gettin’ Old, which arrived on March 24, 2023.
The project features 18 tracks, including “Fast Car,” as well as “Growin’ Up And Gettin’ Old,” “See Me Now,” “Joe,” “Tattoo On A Sunburn,” the fan-favorite tune, “5 Leaf Clover,” and more.
“This album is about the stage of life I’m in right now. One that I’m sure a lot of us are in, have been through, or will go through,” Combs previously explained on social media. He continued, “It’s about coming of age, loving where life is now but at the same time missing how it used to be, continuing to fall for the one you love and loving them no matter what, living in the moment but still wondering how much time you have left, family, friends, being thankful, and leaving a legacy. Me and so many others have poured their hearts and souls into this record and I hope you love it as much as we do.”
Expecting His Second Child
On the personal front, the North Carolina native is expecting his second child with his wife, Nicole. The couple announced the news to fans on social media on March 20.
“Joining the 2 under 2 club! Baby boy #2 coming this September,” Luke and Nicole shared in a joint Instagram post.
The couple welcomed their first child, Tex Lawrence, on Father’s Day, Sunday, June 19, 2022.
Luke Combs Tour Dates
July
8—Tampa, FL—Raymond James Stadium*
15—Charlotte, NC—Bank of America Stadium*
22—Foxborough, MA—Gillette Stadium*
29—Philadelphia, PA—Lincoln Financial Field*
*with special guests Riley Green, Lainey Wilson, Flatland Cavalry and Brent Cobb
Luke Combs International Tour Dates
August
9—Auckland, New Zealand—Spark Arena+
11—Brisbane, Australia—Brisbane Entertainment Centre+
16—Sydney, Australia—Qudos Bank Arena+
20—Melbourne, Australia—Rod Laver Arena+
23—Adelaide, Australia—Adelaide Entertainment Centre+
26—Perth, Australia—RAC Arena+
September
30—Oslo, Norway—Spektrum
October
1—Stockholm, Sweden—Annexet
4—Copenhagen, Denmark—Vega
6—Hamburg, Germany—Barclays Arena
7—Amsterdam, Netherlands—AFAS Live
8—Paris, France—La Cigale
10—Zurich, Switzerland—The Hall
11—Brussels, Belgium—Ancienne Belgique
13—Dublin, Ireland—3Arena
14—Belfast, N. Ireland—SSE Arena
16—Glasgow, Scotland—OVO Hydro Arena
17—Manchester, England—AO Arena
19—London, England—The O2 Arena
+with special guests Cody Johnson and Lane Pittman
