Tracy Chapman Becomes First Black Woman to Score No. 1 Song on Country Chart as Sole Writer

Tracy Chapman has achieved a significant accomplishment in the world of country music. As Luke Combs’ cover of Chapman’s hit, “Fast Car,” rides to the top spot on the Billboard Country Airplay chart, it officially makes Chapman the first Black woman to top the charts as the sole writer of a country song, according to Billboard.

In the history of the Country Airplay chart, which debuted in 1990, only three other Black woman have been at the top of the chart as songwriters. The first was author Allison Randall, who co-wrote Trisha Yearwood’s 1994 chart-topper “XXX’s & OOO’s (An American Girl)” with Matraca Berg. Next was hit songwriter Ester Dean in 2021, who served as co-writer of Lady A’s “Champagne Night” with the help of the trio of Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood, as well as Ryan Tedder, Madeline Merlo, Shane McAnally, Tina Parol, David Thomson, Patricia Conroy and Andrew DeRoberts. The song came from the NBC show Songland, where Dean served as one of the show’s producers and hosts. That same year, actress and hit songwriter Tayla Parx co-wrote Dan + Shay’s latest No. 1, “Glad You Exist,” with the duo of Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney, along with Ryan Lewis and Jordan Reynolds.

The late Sam Cooke was in a similar position as Chapman. In 1990, Dan Seals sent his cover of Cooke’s “Good Times” to the top of the Country Airplay chart, making Cooke the first sole Black songwriter to reach the summit.

Combs is also making history, as his interpretation of “Fast Car” marks the first time a cover of a pop song has hit No. 1 on the chart since Blake Shelton achieved the same feat with Michael Bublé’s “Home” in 2008. “[It’s] my first favorite song probably ever,” Combs explained in a statement about recording “Fast Car.” “I remember listening to that song with my dad in his truck when I was probably four years old.”

Chapman released “Fast Car” in 1988 as her debut single. It reached No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100, No. 7 on the Adult Contemporary chart and No. 19 on the Mainstream Rock chart.

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