Luke Combs Secures 16th No. 1 with His History-Making Version of 'Fast Car'

After spending the last few weeks battling it out in a history making fight on Billboard's Hot 100 chart with Morgan Wallen's 'Last Night,' Luke Combs has secured his 16th career No. 1 at country radio with his stirring cover of Tracy Chapman's 'Fast Car.'

Originally released in 1988 as Chapman's debut single, the tune has been a longtime favorite among music lovers for more than 30 years and already cracked the Hot 100 top ten upon its initial release. It also went on to nab Chapman the Grammy for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.

However, in just the span of 11 weeks, Combs' updated, 2023 version has soared up the charts and broken its own set of records along the way, including helping mark the first time country music has held the top two spots on the all-genre Hot 100 chart (alongside 'Last Night').

The ascension of 'Fast Car' marks many firsts for both of the song's singers.

For Chapman, she becomes the first Black solo woman to write a country chart-topper. Previously, only a small handful of Black females have had a hand in co-writing country hits, including Alice Randall ('XXX’s and OOO’s (An American Girl)' by Trisha Yearwood), Ester Dean ('Champagne Night' by Lady A) and Tayla Parx ('Glad You Exist' by Dan + Shay).

Additionally, since Chapman is the sole writer, 'Fast Car' marks the first song to top the Billboard Country Airplay chart with only one author since 2017's 'Ask Me How I Know,' which was written by Mitch Rossell and recorded by Garth Brooks.

For Combs, 'Fast Car' achieves his fastest acsent to the top of the charts so far in his career. Taking only 11 weeks, the tune beats his previous 12-week record for 2020's 'Lovin' on You.' His cover also notches the first pop-turned-country hit to hit the peak of the Country Airplay chart since Blake Shelton's version of Michael Bublé’s 'Home' in 2008.

Notching over 100 million streams in just three months, Combs' rendition of 'Fast Car' was featured on the North Carolinian's recent album, Gettin' Old, and has became a staple on his extensive 2023 World Tour.

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