WASHINGTON — More than 30 years after releasing "Fast Car," singer Tracy Chapman has won song of the year at the 2023 CMA Awards.
Chapman's song resurfaced into pop culture this summer after country singer Luke Combs released a cover of the song. Combs' cover made history this summer by marking the first time a song written by a Black woman has topped Billboard's Country Airplay chart since the ranking was first put out in 1990.
The milestones don't stop there as Chapman also became the first Black songwriter to win a CMA Award for song of the year, according to Rolling Stone.
Chapman was not in attendance at the award show, held in Nashville, but presenter Sara Evans read a prepared statement from the singer-songwriter.
"I'm sorry I couldn't join you all tonight. It is truly an honor for my song to be newly recognized after 35 years of its debut," the note read. "Thank you to the CMAs and a special thanks to Luke and all of the fans of 'Fast Car.'"
Combs' cover also won big at the CMA as the country singer won single of the year Wednesday night.
“First and foremost, I want to thank Tracy Chapman for writing one of the best songs of all time,” Combs said while accepting the award. “I just recorded it because I loved the song. It’s the first favorite song that I ever had at 4 years old.”
Chapman, who wrote and recorded the song in 1988, said in a statement to Billboard that finding her single on the country charts 35 years after it was originally recorded was a welcome surprise.
“I never expected to find myself on the country charts, but I’m honored to be there,” Chapman told the outlet earlier this year. “I’m happy for Luke and his success and grateful that new fans have found and embraced ‘Fast Car.’”
The shock of the song's resurgence is compounded by Chapman's notorious reclusiveness.
The San Francisco Chronicle reports that Combs didn't speak with Chapman before or after his cover was released. According to the Chronicle, the statement she gave to Billboard is likely the closest he'll get to talking with the San Francisco native.
While Combs is the first person to top the country chart with "Fast Car," he's not the first to try. Khalid, Black Pumas, Justin Bieber and Sam Smith are among the many artists to have either recorded a cover or played the song live.
"Fast Car" was the first single from Chapman's self-titled debut album. The folk-rock album hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and won Chapman three Grammys at the 31st annual Grammy Awards in 1989.
Chapman has released eight albums over the past 35 years. Her last album, "Our Bright Future," was released in 2008.
