Luke Combs first heard a specific song on a cassette tape in his father’s truck when he was only five years old. That 1988 track was “Fast Car” by Tracy Chapman, and it stayed in his head for decades. It is rare for a country star to reach over 250 million streams with a folk cover. He finally released his version in 2023.
The music feels very real because Luke decided not to change the original lyrics. He even kept the line about being a “checkout girl” because he respected Tracy Chapman so much. He did not want to make it a country song. He wanted to show the world that the struggle to find a better life belongs to everyone.
Luke has such soulful vocals!
People all over the internet are amazed by how he honors the original creator. One fan said that his voice sounds like honey. Another viewer wrote that they never liked country music until they heard him cover “Fast Cars.”
The original version of this song was calm and gentle at a time when pop music was loud. Tracy Chapman wrote it about growing up poor and dreaming of escaping that life in a fast car. When Luke sings it, his voice makes those same words feel even deeper and more emotional.
Tracy Chapman & Luke Combs – Fast Car Grammy Performance
That childhood memory in his dad’s truck led to a massive moment at the 2024 Grammy. Luke performed with Tracy Chapman herself on the same song he covered. It was a massive point where a new generation singer valued and performed with an old singer!
Luke Combs grew from a young boy with a cassette tape into a star who shares his stage with legends. Follow Luke Combs on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube to see more of his musical journey.