Tracy Chapman Makes History as First Black Songwriter to Win CMA Song of the Year
The Country Music Awards’ song of the year went to a Black songwriter for the first time – Tracy Chapman, who wrote the song 35 years ago and made it a hit with her voice and guitar. Fast Car, the folk song by Chapman, was a sensation in 1988, playing from every speaker. Rolling Stone reported that it received a top award at the CMA’s ceremony in Nashville on Wednesday night.
The song became popular again this summer with a 2023 cover by Luke Combs. His version topped several music charts, including the Country Airplay chart of Billboard magazine, which ranks the most played songs on country music stations in the US.
Chapman is the first Black woman to reach the number 1 spot on the chart since it started in 1990, according to CNN.
Chapman, who avoids the spotlight, did not attend the award ceremony. Presenter Sara Evans read a statement from Chapman. “I’m sorry I couldn’t join you all tonight. It’s truly an honor for my song to be newly recognized after 35 years of its debut,” Chapman wrote. She thanked Combs and “all of the fans of Fast Car”.
Combs’s cover also won the single of the year award.
He thanked Chapman “for writing one of the best songs of all time” in his speech. “I just recorded it because I loved the song. It’s the first favorite song that I ever had, at four years old,” he said.
Fans of Chapman also celebrated her win.
On X, formerly known as Twitter, some comments were: “One of the most perfect songs ever. Love it with all my heart” and “Historic”.
Chapman also supported Combs. In July, she told Billboard in a rare public statement that she was “happy for [Combs] and his success and grateful that new fans have found and embraced ‘Fast Car’”.
Chapman, 59, has released 10 albums and won four Grammy awards.
Fast Car was on her first album, which had her name. It became a global success, especially after she sang it at a concert for Nelson Mandela’s 70th birthday.
Chapman supports many progressive organizations, such as Amnesty International.
Her music covers many topics, such as love, family, politics, equality and war.
In 2008, she talked to the Guardian about her feminism before releasing her album Our Bright Future.
“Yeah, course [I am a feminist]. I think it just doesn’t come up because … people think we’re beyond it. There have been some gains made in terms of more equality for women in the workplace and in the way the legal system deals with issues of violence against women,” Chapman said.