Thanks to the success of Luke Combs’ incredible cover version of “Fast Car,” found on his latest release Gettin’ Old, the track’s original singer and songwriter, Tracy Chapman, is set to make history as one of a small group of Black women with writing credits on a number 1 Country single.
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Combs' cover version of Chapman's 1988 single "Fast Car" has been steadily making its way up Billboard's Country Airplay charts since the release of his latest album, Gettin' Old, back in late March. Once this week's numbers come out, Combs is set to top that chart -- which will solidify Chapman as the first-ever Black woman to have sole songwriting credits on a Country #1.
Chapman will join songwriters like Alice Randall, who co-wrote on Trisha Yearwood’s 1994 single “XXX’s and OOO’s (An American Girl),” and became the first Black woman with hit Country creds. She will also share good company with songwriter Ester Dean, who enjoyed #1 success with Lady A on “Champagne Night,” and Tayla Parx, who co-wrote Dan+Shay’s #1 hit “Glad You Exist.”
Parx tells Rolling Stone, “Any song that sounds good on guitar, it can more than likely be a country song." Adding, "With a great song, you can take it and make it sound like seven different genres, so that says a lot about what type of song ‘Fast Car’ is: it can be a pop song, a country song, it can be whatever, because it’s just a great song."
Browse and follow more of our all-new Country stations like Luke Combs Radio, Audacy New Country, Tailgate Crashers, Jake Owen's Tiki Tonk, Country Edge, and Katie Neal's Leading Ladies for more of the best from the female side of Country music.
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