Tracy Chapman has become the first black woman in history to have a sole songwriting credit on a No. 1 country hit after Luke Combs’ cover of her 1988 fan favorite “Fast Car” reached great heights on Billboard’s Country Airplay charts. 

Rolling Stone noted that Chapman is only the fourth black woman to have any writing credit on a No.1 country song. Currently making the ranks are Alice Randall, who co-penned the Trisha Yearwood 1994 single “XXX’s and OOO’s (An American Girl),” in addition to  Ester Dean, credited with co-writing Lady A’s “Champagne Night” and lastly, Tayla Parx, who assisted with Dan + Shay’s 2021 tune “Glad You Exist.” 

Combs’ take on the staple song is the second single off his latest LP, Gettin’ Old. Previously this month, it ascended from No. 8 to No. 4 on the Hot 100, surpassing the No. 6 high for the Chapman original. As of this week, the cover rose again, reaching No. 2. 

Previously, Combs shared with Music Mayhem, “I remember listening to that song with my dad in his truck when I was probably 4 years old.” He continued, “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.”

“Fast Car” has been covered by other artists, including Black Pumas. Read more.

Listen to Luke Combs’ cover of “Fast Car” below.