Tracy Chapman and North Carolina’s Luke Combs sing “Fast Car“ at The Grammys.

Legendary folk singer-songwriter and musician Tracy Chapman made a rare appearance at the Grammys to perform her hit song, “Fast Car,” with North Carolina’s own Luke Combs. The song was of course covered by the country star for his 2023 album, ’Gettin’ Old,’ and went on to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Country Charts. The song also made Chapman the first Black woman to earn a No. 1 country song as a solo writer. Chapman, a four-time Grammy Award-winner who rose to stardom in 1988, following the release of her self-titled debut album, famously performed “Fast Car“ and “Talkin’ Bout a Revolution“ at Nelson Mandela’s 70th Birthday Tribute at Wembley Stadium the same year. Chapman went on to release seven more studio albums with her latest, ’Our Bright Future, in 2008,’ and a Greatest Hits record in 2015. Combs, who was born in Huntersville, but grew up in Asheville, attended Appalachian State University, releasing his first EP, ’The Way She Rides,’ in February 2014. Following the release of his debut studio album, ’This One’s for You,’ in 2017, Combs was named New Artist of the Year at the 52nd Annual Country Music Association Awards. His latest album, ’Gettin’ Old,’ which was released in March of 2023, reached No. 4 on the Billboard 200 and No. 2 on the Country Albums Chart. The release was followed by a world tour that saw back-to-back sold-out stadium shows in Charlotte back in July. Combs first heard “Fast Car” as a child with his father in North Carolina, and it has always been one of his favorite songs. He has performed “Fast Car” during his live shows over the past decade and finally released his cover last spring.