Tracy Chapman Makes Rare Public Appearance To Perform ‘Fast Car’ With Luke Combs
This performance will undoubtedly go down in GRAMMYs history!
Tracy Chapman and Luke Combs perform at The 66th Annual Grammy Awards; Photo: Sonja Flemming/CBS ©2024 CBS Broadcasting, Inc.
Luke Combs and Tracy Chapman teamed up for a performance of “Fast Car” that will, without a doubt, go down in history as one of the most memorable GRAMMY Awards performances of all time.
An Epic Performance
Chapman made a rare public appearance to perform alongside the country superstar on Sunday evening during the 66th Annual GRAMMY Awards. Their performance was one of the most buzzed-about moments of the evening and even had superstars like Taylor Swift, Jelly Roll, and more on their feet singing along from the audience.
Throughout their performance, the singer/songwriters were all smiles as they traded verses of “Fast Car.”
At the end of their performance, Combs directed his attention to Chapman and showed his reverence by bowing down to the iconic musician.
A Special On-Stage Reunion
This history-making performance was a special one as Chapman reunited with the musicians who played on the original recording of “Fast Car,” including drummer Denny Fongheiser, bassist Larry Klein, as well as her longtime band members Larry Campbell (fiddle) and Joe Gore (guitar). Chapman and Combs were also joined by Combs’ band member, Kurt Ozan (pedal steel).
Alongside creating history, the performance represented a noteworthy moment, taking place exactly 35 years after Chapman’s first rendition of “Fast Car” at the GRAMMYs. The track enjoyed a revival, captivating a new audience, dominating charts in different music genres, and accumulating tens of millions of streams.
The performance signified Chapman’s return to the public stage after a prolonged absence, with only three recorded performances since her 2009 tour.
A Timeless Song
“Fast Car” was written by Chapman and released in 1988. Since the release of the song, it has become one of the most influential and beloved songs of all time.
Combs felt compelled to record a rendition of “Fast Car” because his father used to play the song during their car rides when he was a child, making it his favorite tune.
“[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 song was such a hit that it quickly became Combs’ 16th career No. 1 at Country radio. The success of Combs’ cover has also meant success for Tracy Chapman, who is the sole writer of “Fast Car.” With Combs’ rendition of her 1988 hit going No. 1, Tracy Chapman also achieved a historic milestone as the first Black woman to solely write a song that reached the top of the country charts.
Combs’ “Fast Car” cover took home two awards at the 2023 CMA Awards, including Single Of The Year and Song Of The Year. It was nominated for Best Country Solo Performance for the GRAMMYs.
The country hitmaker has performed the song during his live shows for over a decade before he decided to record his own version of the song last spring, 35 years after the original debut of the song.
About The Grammys
The 66th Annual GRAMMY Awards aired live from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 4 (8:00-11:30 PM, live ET/5:00-8:30 PM, live PT) on the CBS Television Network. Hosted by Trevor Noah, Music’s Biggest Night is also available to be streamed live and on demand on Paramount+.*
The star-studded ceremony features performances by Burna Boy, Luke Combs, Billie Eilish, Billy Joel, Dua Lipa, Joni Mitchell, Olivia Rodrigo, Travis Scott, SZA and U2.
Presenters included Christina Aguilera, Lenny Kravitz, Lionel Richie, Mark Ronson, Maluma, Kacey Musgraves, Meryl Streep, Samara Joy, Taylor Tomlinson, and Oprah Winfrey.
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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