Ella Langley Gears Up for a Big CMA Awards Moment
Ella Langley is getting ready to hit the CMA Awards stage with a performance of her newest single, “Choosin’ Texas.” Ahead of the show, she offered a small preview of what fans can expect when she steps into the spotlight.
The rising country star has become known for delivering high-energy, full-throttle performances that highlight her bold voice and unmistakably country sound. Speaking backstage with Country Now, Langley made it clear that this appearance will follow the same tradition.
“It’s Country, Top to Bottom”
Langley didn’t reveal much, but she did give one promise: the performance will be authentically country.
“It’s true to the song. I mean, it’s two-stepping. Country boys, I love ‘em,” she said with a grin.
Her anticipated new track—co-written with Miranda Lambert, Luke Dick, and Joybeth Taylor—explores a bittersweet moment of realization. She falls for a guy who seems smitten with her and Tennessee… only to find out his heart still belongs to Texas—and someone waiting there.
With the song already generating plenty of buzz, fans are eager to watch that storyline unfold live during the awards show.
When asked why listeners connected to it so quickly, Langley laughed. “That’s a special sauce I can’t tell everybody about.”
A Career-Making Night Ahead
This year’s CMA Awards is shaping up to be monumental for Langley. She enters the night tied as the most-nominated artist—alongside Megan Moroney and Lainey Wilson—with six major nominations:
Single of the Year (“you look like you love me”)
Song of the Year (“you look like you love me”)
Female Vocalist of the Year
Musical Event of the Year (“Don’t Mind If I Do”)
Music Video of the Year (“you look like you love me”)
New Artist of the Year
Thinking about all of this, Langley says it still doesn’t feel real.
“People keep asking me about it,” she said. “I think with this job, so many cool things happen back to back that you stay on cloud nine. It usually hits you a few days later.”
Riding High After Two Sold-Out Ryman Shows
Her CMA performance comes right after a massive milestone: two sold-out nights at the Ryman Auditorium, closing out her Still Hungover Tour. Each show featured surprise appearances from some of country music’s biggest names—ERNEST, Jo Dee Messina, Gretchen Wilson, HARDY, Morgan Wallen, and others.
“Jo Dee Messina and Gretchen Wilson have both texted me such encouraging things,” Langley shared. “We’ve covered ‘Here For The Party’ forever, so I knew I wanted Gretchen there. And Jo Dee—after she texted me congratulations, I asked if she wanted to come sing. She said yes.”
Wallen’s appearance was another standout moment.
“I don’t think he gets to see many shows,” Langley said. “So I asked if he wanted to do ‘Cover Me Up.’”
A New Era Begins With “Choosin’ Texas”
The Ryman run not only closed a chapter—it opened the door to a new musical era for Langley. She described the upcoming direction as fun, groovy, mature, and rooted in confidence.
“It’s womanly, sexy. It’s windows-down,” she explained. “I wanted songs you can vibe to even at low volume—like when you’re driving with friends and the music’s just playing in the background. But for the lyric lovers, you’ll still learn a lot about me as an artist and as a person.”
Where to Watch the CMA Awards
Ella Langley will appear on the CMA Awards this Wednesday, broadcasting live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena.
Catch the show on ABC from 8:00–11:00 PM ET, with next-day streaming available on Hulu.