Most of the Grammy Awards broadcast was hard to take, but the best moment in it was when Tracy Chapman appeared with Luke Combs in order to sing her great 1988 song, “Fast Car.” Luke Combs, a straight white country western singer was an unlikely candidate to make a hit cover of the Chapman song, but he did so in 2023, and because Chapman not only wrote the song, but owned the publishing rights, Combs’ version netted Chapman at least half a million dollars in royalties.

One thing about the Luke Combs official version that I haven’t seen anyone remark upon, is that in the line “I work in a market as a checkout girl,” Combs sings that line unchanged. I think that it is very unusual for a male singer who doesn’t identify as LGBTQ to not change the gender to suit him in a popular song–especially considering his largely conservative leaning audience. In fact, I can’t think of it ever happening. Can you?

I’m glad he didn’t change it, because it’s a perfect song the way it is, and the underlying class message is clearly something that resonates with more and more Americans.