Country star makes history
Luke Combs has landed a historic 16th consecutive No. 1 hit at country radio as his cover of “Fast Car” tops the Billboard Country Airplay chart this week. The song lands at the coveted top spot 11 weeks after its release, and gives Combs the first chart-topping cover to appear on the Country Airplay charts since Blake Shelton’s version of Michael Buble’s “Home” reached the same spot in 2008, according to Billboard.
The song, originally written and recorded by Tracy Chapman in 1988, becomes the first Country Airplay solo write to hit the top spot since Garth Brooks took the Mitch Rossell-penned “Ask Me How I Know” to No. 1 in December 2017, marking his 19th No. 1 hit.
Chapman’s version of the song hit No. 6 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 at the time of its release. Combs’ version is the first remake of a Hot 100 top 10 to hit No. 1 since Mark Chesnutt’s version of “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing” topped the charts in 1999, a year after Aerosmith topped the Hot 100 list in 1998.
The feat marks the longest consecutive streak for an artist since their debut. In March, Combs scored his 15th consecutive No. 1 single with “Going Going Gone,” marking Combs one of the fastest to accumulate 15 No. 1’s along with Brooks, Alan Jackson and Alabama. The song also makes Chapman the first black woman to score a No. 1 solo country song as the sole writer.
Earlier this week, the country star made history alongside Morgan Wallen as “Fast Car” hit the No. 2 spot and Wallen’s “Last Night” topped the Billboard Hot 100, marking the first time in 42 years country hits have reached the top two spots on the chart. At the time, both songs also held the same spots on the Billboard Country Airplay chart, marking the first time ever that two country songs have secured the top two spots simultaneously on both charts.
Furthermore, Combs is currently in the midst of his massive World Tour with sixteen North American stadium shows that all sold out immediately. With 39 shows across three continents and 16 countries, the record-breaking run is the largest tour ever for a country artist. The trek includes shows in Australia, New Zealand, The UK, Ireland, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland, France and Belgium.
“Fast Car” by @lukecombs is the #1 song on Billboard Country Airplay this week.
Only took 11 weeks charting to reach #1, which ties “Last Night” for its quick chart climb to #1.
Luke’s 16th career #1 at country radio and 15th #1 on Billboard Country Airplay.
— Chris Owen (@FiddleSabre) June 30, 2023