Luke Combs praises Tracy Chapman as 'Fast Car' tops charts: 'A supernatural song writer'

Luke Combs is singing Tracy Chapman's praises.

The 33-year-old, who hasn't actually spoken with Chapman since his cover of her hit song "Fast Car" started climbing in ranks, responded to comments she made earlier this month about the chart hit, which has topped Billboard's Country Airplay chart three weeks running.

"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 Monday.

Combs continued that he's played a cover of the song for more than six years at shows.

"Everyone — I mean everyone — across all these stadiums relates to this song and sings along. That's the gift of a supernatural song writer," Combs said. "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!"

Chapman, who wrote and then released "Fast Car" in 1988, said earlier this month she was "honored" to be topping country charts — which was a place she "never expected" to find herself, she told Billboard.

"I'm happy for Luke and his success and grateful that new fans have found and embraced 'Fast Car,'" she said in a story published July 6, just after the song hit No. 1 on Billboard's Country Airplay. Combs' version was also No. 2 on Billboard's Hot 100 at the time. In 1988, Chapman's original climbed to No. 6 on the Hot 100.

'Honored to be there': Tracy Chapman's 'Fast Car' is topping charts thanks to Luke Combs

The song's renewed popularity and shelf-life has not only been extended as a result of Combs' cover, but Chapman became the first Black woman as a sole writer on a track to top Country Airplay since it was created in 1990, according to Billboard.

While the song is attracting more listeners with the Combs twist, this is far from the first time another artist has covered "Fast Car." The long list of covers includes versions sung by Sam Smith, Justin Bieber, Jonas Blue and Dakota and Khalid.

After her folk-rock album "Tracy Chapman" came out in the '80s with "Fast Car" as its first-released single, Chapman earned three Grammys and additional nominations. The album also hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200, according to the publication.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Luke Combs on 'Fast Car' success, Tracy Chapman: 'Thank you, Tracy!'