Tracy Chapman’s ‘Fast Car’ wins CMA Song of the Year — nearly 4 decades after its release
She definitely has a ticket to anywhere now.
Tracy Chapman made history Wednesday night when her song “Fast Car” won Song of the Year at the 57th Country Music Association Awards, 35 years after the song’s original release.
Her win makes her the first Black songwriter, male or female, to win Song of the Year at the CMA’s.
“Fast Car” was first made popular by Chapman in April, 1988, earning her a No. 1 spot on several music charts across the world, and peaking at No. 6 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
The song got a second life this past summer when Country music star Luke Combs released his over version of the song in July.
When Country singers Bill Anderson and Sara Evans announced “Fast Car” as the winner, Chapman received a standing ovation, except she wasn’t at the award show being held at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t join you all tonight,” Chapman said in a prewritten speech. “It’s truly an honor for my song to be newly recognized after 35 years of its debut.”
“Thank you to the CMAs and a special thanks to Luke and all of the fans of ‘Fast Car,'” the statement concluded.
“Fast Car” beat out “Heart of a Truck,” “Next Thing You Know,” “Tennessee Orange,” and “Wait in the Truck.”
Song of the Year wasn’t the only award the song won Wednesday night as it also took home Single of the Year, which is awarded to the recording artist, Luke Combs.
Combs’ cover of Chapman’s hit quickly shot to No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Music chart, making her the first black woman as the sole writer to top the Country Airplay chart, it also peaked at No. 2 on Billboard’s Hot 100.
“I never expected to find myself on the country charts, but I’m honored to be there,” Chapman told Billboard in a statement earlier this year. “I’m happy for Luke and his success and grateful that new fans have found and embraced ‘Fast Car.’”
Chapman’s original rendition was a folk-rock song that tells the story of a woman desperate to escape the gripping cycle of poverty.
When Combs released his song, he did it to honor one of his favorite songwriters as he kept the original lyrics including “I work in the market as a checkout girl.”
Wednesday night’s win isn’t the first award “Fast Car” won for Chapman as it was nominated for several Grammy Awards back in the 1980s: Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, which Chapman had won.
