Music royalty kicked off the 66th GRAMMY Awards on Sunday when legendary Black queer singer/song-writer Tracy Chapman joined country music singer Luke Combs onstage to sing her 1988 hit, “Fast Car.”
To contextualize how iconic this is, “Fast Car” rose to the top of the coutry music charts back in Nov. 2023 thanks to a cover that Combs’ did. This in turn led to Chapman making history as the first Black woman to top the country music charts as she had the sole songwriting credit—despite it being Combs’ cover song. Chapman also became the first Black woman ever to win a Country Music Association award.
Chapman, who hasn’t taken the stage in 15 years, received a standing ovation the minute the audience saw her strumming her acoustic guitar and before she even sang one note. Once the two finished, she received another standing ovation while Combs respectfully bowed and showered her with praise onstage which she tearfully accepted.
The praise for Chapman extended to the Black X, fka Twitter streets as well as many fans expressed their excitement to see such a beloved artist finally receive her well-deserved, long-overdue flowers after a being out the spotlight since 2009.
“It’s nice to see Tracy Chapman getting this moment for HER song… you alright by me, Luke Combs,” wrote one user.
“Just put on the #GRAMMYs right as Tracy Chapman performs Fast Car? Let’s gooo Happy Luke Combs is helping give her her flowers like she DESERVES,” said another.
“Okay America needed this moment! THEE Tracy Chapman performing Fast Car with Luke Combs #GRAMMYs,” wrote another user.
“Wow, a Black Queer Legend! Tracy Chapman looks and sounds so good,” said another.