It’s likely you’re seeing a radiant smile on Ella Langley’s face these days.
Her electrifying anthem “Choosin’ Texas” has rocketed to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts, where it’s held steady for an impressive 14 weeks. This remarkable run ties it with two legendary songs, earning a distinguished place in music history.
For Langley, 27, this career-defining achievement felt surreal; she described the accomplishment as “insane” via her Instagram stories shortly after nabbing the top spot.
The soulful country ballad initially took the Hot 100 by storm in February. Now, it stands shoulder to shoulder with Mariah Carey’s breathtaking “We Belong Together” and Whitney Houston’s iconic “I Will Always Love You,” each holding the record for the most weeks at No. 1 among female artists without any male collaborations.
Moreover, “Choosin’ Texas” has equaled another of Carey’s classics, “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” earning the distinction of being the second-longest chart-topping hit.
Langley broke onto the country music scene nearly a decade ago and released her debut studio album, “Hungover,” in 2024.
The catalog brought her immediate accolades with hits, including “You Look Like You Love Me” and “Weren’t for the Wind” both reaching No. 1 on country charts.
Her sophomore release, “Dandelion,” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 200 upon its release in April.
“Choosin’ Texas” not only capped the Billboard Hot 100, but recently earned Langley the title of first female artist to simultaneously top the Hot 100, Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts.
The “Dandelion” title was inspired by the sturdy plant which is known to withstand challenging environments.
“I learned that dandelion tea is actually a natural detox for the liver,” Ella told Billboard ahead of the release. “So, a record called ‘Dandelion’ after a record called hungover made all the sense in the world to me.
“I’ve never poured more of myself into a project, into a song, into an idea, and it’s fallen out so beautifully. It’s about learning yourself, making mistakes and realizing that it’s all just part of life.
“I want this record to be something that fans can relate to but also something they want to get up and dance to at the same time. To me, this record feels like fireflies in the summertime. It feels like windows down on a red dirt road. It feels like the best kind of Sunday afternoon. It feels like those days I remember as a kid where it felt like there weren’t enough hours in the day. This record is really a love letter to that.”
Langley served as executive producer on the album and co-wrote “Choosin’ Texas” alongside Miranda Lambert, Luke Dick and JoyBeth Taylor.