Tracy Chapman to Perform Massive Hit ‘Fast Car’ With Luke Combs at Grammys
Icon Returns
Chapman, who has not played publicly in years, will return to the stage during Sunday’s ceremony
Tracy Chapman will perform her iconic hard-luck anthem “Fast Car” for a duet with Luke Combs during the 2024 Grammys on Sunday evening, Rolling Stone can confirm.
The single reached history-making heights following a cover from Luke Combs that topped Billboard‘s Country Airplay chart, making Chapman the first-ever Black woman to have the sole songwriting credit on a Number One country hit.
Reps for the Recording Academy did not respond to a request for comment.
After completing her last tour in 2009, Chapman has performed for the cameras only three times, according to Variety, which was first to report the news of her return.
“I never expected to find myself on the country charts, but I’m honored to be there,” Chapman previously told Billboard when speaking on the country boost the song received since Combs released his cover in April last year. “I’m happy for Luke and his success and grateful that new fans have found and embraced ‘Fast Car.’”
Her hit single saw success with its initial release in 1988, then again in 2015 with a tropical house revival at the hands of Jonas Blue and Dakota in 2015. Then, 35 years after its debut, Combs‘ rendition of “Fast Car” reached Number Two on the Hot 100 this past summer and took home the CMA for Song and Single of the year.
Chapman’s Song of the Year win marks a long overdue milestone. The CMAs were first held in 1967, and in the 56 years since the first awards were presented, there had never been a Black songwriter — male or female — to win the Song of the Year award before Chapman took home last year’s trophy.