How Tracy Chapman and Luke Combs' moving 'Fast Car' Grammys duet happened: 'She had a vision'

Tracy Chapman and Luke Combs needed only a handful of hours to prepare for their incredible performance of her 1988 hit “Fast Car” at the 2024 Grammys. 

A new Rolling Stone feature reports that, after months of discussion about a potential collaboration, Chapman’s team agreed to move forward earlier this year with the caveat that she, Combs, and her hand-selected backing band had sufficient time to practice together before music's biggest night.

“The one thing that was really mentioned was that there was enough time to rehearse, for both artists to come together and have enough time to explore, to play through it,” Grammys executive producer Raj Kapoor told the outlet. “There’s a lot of different things on our show ­— sets, production, visuals — but ultimately, this performance was about the music and the song.”

The first day of rehearsals was held less than a week before the ceremony and was a “significant and emotional moment” for everyone involved, said Chapman’s friend and Nonesuch Records SVP Matthew Rankin.

“It was the first time Tracy and Luke had met in person, and the first time in many years Tracy had seen some of these players,” he recalled. “The musicians were supported by key people behind the scenes — including David Kershenbaum, who produced Tracy’s debut album — and, together, the collective experience and talent present in that room created a unique and beautiful new version of this beloved song.”

Combs’ manager Chris Kappy revealed that Chapman and Combs spent only 20 minutes chatting with one another before diving headfirst into their run-through of the song. In total, the pair practiced for six hours before their performance: two hours on Wednesday and four hours on Thursday. 

“She had a vision, and she asked Luke his thoughts. Then they just kept running through it and running through it,” Kappy recalled. “It was a fun way to watch two artists create the moment that we were going to have all together on the Grammys.”

The pair ultimately decided to perform Chapman’s original version of the song and not Combs’ 2023 rendition, which recently topped the Billboard country charts and earned him a nomination for Best Country Performance. The move required Combs to sing in a lower key, but he didn’t mind. 

“All of this was done to honor the amazing woman, songwriter, and artist that she is,” Kappy said. “The entire opportunity for us to even be on a stage with Tracy Chapman is what this was all about.”

The crowd’s reaction to Chapman and Combs’ reveal on Sunday night just “proved how powerful this moment was, as did the tears in the eyes of countless people around us,” Rankin explained. “Ultimately, the performance speaks for itself, especially the interaction between Tracy and Luke and their expressions, which tells you all you need to know about the way they were feeling.”

He added, “We knew we were working towards something rare and special, but the performance was everything we hoped it would be and more, and the subsequent response has been incredible, exceeding our expectations in so many ways.”

It's true, given that soon after their telecast collaboration Chapman's original "Fast Car" zoomed to the top of the iTunes charts.

In an introductory clip before the Grammys performance, Combs revealed that "Fast Car" has been one of his favorite songs since he was a child. “Tracy’s such an icon and, I mean, one of the best songwriters that I think any of us will ever be around to see," he said. "And it’s such a cool, full-circle moment for me. To be associated with her in any way is super humbling for me.”

Sign up for Entertainment Weekly's free daily newsletter to get breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more.

Related content:

• Tracy Chapman joins Luke Combs for 'Fast Car' performance at 2024 Grammys
• Tracy Chapman's original 'Fast Car' hits #1 on iTunes after Grammys performance
• See all the stars at the 2024 Grammy Awards