Fourth Gear: Luke Combs’ ‘Fast Car’ Breaks Record Among Remakes Atop Country Airplay Chart

Luke Combs’ version of Tracy Chapman’s 1988 Billboard Hot 100 top 10 “Fast Car” rules Billboard’s Country Airplay chart (dated July 29) for a fourth week. It drew 34.8 million in audience, up less than 1%, July 14-20, according to Luminate.

The cover now solely boasts the longest Country Airplay domination among remakes of pop hits. It passes two three-week leaders: Brooks & Dunn’s cover of “My Maria,” the duo’s ninth of 20 chart-toppers, led for three weeks in May 1996. The song was originally a No. 9 Hot 100 hit for B.W. Stevenson in 1973. Plus, Alan Jackson’s interpretation of Eddie Cochran’s early rock anthem “Summertime Blues” topped Country Airplay for three frames starting in July 1994. Cochran’s original reached No. 8 on the Hot 100 in 1958.

After Chapman provided Billboard with a statement revealing how “honored” she was to have a No. 1 on the chart (July 6), Combs replied in kind. “Oh man, ‘Fast Car’ has surprised me more than you can imagine. Tracy Chapman wrote this perfect song that that I first heard with my dad and it has stayed with me since,” Combs told Billboard. “I have played it in my live show now for six-plus years and everyone – I mean everyone – across all these stadiums relates to this song and sings along. That’s the gift of a supernatural songwriter. The success of my cover is unreal, and I think it’s so cool that Tracy is getting recognized and has reached new milestones. I love that she is out there feeling all the love and that she gave me a shout-out! Thank you, Tracy!”

“I never expected to find myself on the country charts, but I’m honored to be there,” Chapman told Billboard. “I’m happy for Luke and his success and grateful that new fans have found and embraced ‘Fast Car.’ ”

Meanwhile, Combs’ official concert video for his cover premiered July 18.

‘Wings’ Flies

Elsewhere, Thomas Rhett banks his 22nd Country Airplay top 10 as “Angels Don’t Always Have Wings” rises from No. 11 to No. 10. In the July 14-20 tracking week, the song increased by 1% to 17.7 million impressions.

The Valdosta, Ga., native co-penned the track with Julian Bunetta, Teddy Swims and Josh Thompson. It’s the third single from Rhett’s LP Where We Started, which began at its No. 2 Top Country Albums high in April 2022, becoming his sixth top 10.

The song follows Rhett’s “Half of Me” (featuring Riley Green), which became his 18th Country Airplay No. 1 last November. Before that, “Slow Down Summer,” the lead single from Where We Started, peaked at No. 2 in May 2022.

Rhett’s third of his 29 entries, “It Goes Like This,” became his first Country Airplay top 10 and first leader. It reigned for three weeks starting in October 2013.