Nothing less than a full-blown phenomenon.
By the end of 2023, it already felt inevitable that Ella Langley was lining herself up to be country music’s next major female star. Early momentum from songs like “Could’ve Been Her,” “paint the town blue,” and her collaboration with Koe Wetzel on “That’s Why We Fight” made it clear she was building something big.
Then 2024 arrived—and everything exploded.
Langley exceeded even the highest expectations with the runaway success of her duet with Riley Green, the now-inescapable “you look like you love me.” At its peak, the song was everywhere—beloved by fans, embraced by critics, and impossible to ignore. While it’s admittedly crossed into “overplayed” territory by 2026, there’s no denying the scale of its impact. The track became an awards-season juggernaut, racking up seven wins across the CMA and ACM Awards between 2024 and 2025. Add to that a No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart, a triple-platinum certification from the RIAA, and nearly 300 million Spotify streams as of January 21, 2026—and you’re looking at a defining hit.
After a run like that, topping it felt like an impossible task. And that’s no knock on Langley—it was simply the perfect convergence of quality songwriting, viral momentum, and offstage intrigue fueled by nonstop speculation surrounding her and Green at the time.
So when “Choosin’ Texas” dropped, expectations were cautious.
Then it bulldozed right through them.
Released on October 7, the song—co-written with Miranda Lambert alongside Joybeth Taylor and Luke Dick—quickly became one of the most talked-about tracks of the year. For one, it reignited online chatter about Langley and Green, with fans dissecting the song’s artwork and lyrics, once again stirring rumors involving Langley, Green, and Megan Moroney.
But the real reason “Choosin’ Texas” took off is much simpler: it’s a great song.
Leaning into subtle ’70s-inspired textures—especially in the intro—the track is instantly gripping. From its steel-heavy production and Langley’s sharp, twang-forward delivery to its heartbreak-driven narrative and hyper-specific writing, it checks every box of what classic country music is supposed to do. It’s confident, emotional, and unapologetically country.
And the numbers back it up.
The song debuted at No. 37 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 and shot to No. 7 on the Hot Country Songs chart—both career highs for Langley. Momentum only grew from there. By December 2, “Choosin’ Texas” claimed the No. 1 spot on Hot Country Songs, becoming her first chart-topper and the fastest solo female song this decade to crack the Top 10 at U.S. country radio, doing so in just eight weeks.
If that wasn’t impressive enough, January 5 brought another major milestone: the track leaped from No. 48 to No. 5 on the Hot 100, marking Langley’s first-ever Top 5 and Top 10 entry on the chart. To put that into perspective, she became only the 12th woman this century to land a country song inside the Hot 100’s Top 10.
Even amid a crowded chart week—featuring Zach Bryan placing 18 songs on the Hot 100 and Bruno Mars returning to No. 1 with his first solo hit in years—“Choosin’ Texas” held strong, slipping just one spot to No. 6.
📻 Most added songs on US Hot AC Radio this week:
#1 Choosin’ Texas @ellalangleymsic (20) [TIE]
#2 Roommates @HilaryDuff (20) [TIE]
#3 I Just Might @BrunoMars (17)
#4 The Thing I Love @MAXMusic ft. @andygrammer (10)
#5 Where Is My Husband! @raye (9)— U.S. Radio Updater (@USRadioUpdater) January 21, 2026
Perhaps most intriguing, the song is now gaining traction outside of traditional country lanes. This week, it tied for the most adds across U.S. Hot Adult Contemporary radio, landing 20 new station pickups. While that number alone isn’t massive, it becomes notable considering the company it’s keeping—alongside new tracks from artists like Hillary Duff, Bruno Mars, MAX, Andy Grammer, and RAYE.
Adult Contemporary radio, typically geared toward women ages 25–45 and dominated by pop, R&B, and soft rock, isn’t exactly known for embracing straight-up country. Yet “Choosin’ Texas” is breaking through anyway.
That’s what makes this moment so compelling.
In an era where artists like Morgan Wallen dominate with pop- and trap-infused country, and Zach Bryan thrives in folk-leaning singer-songwriter territory, it’s genuinely remarkable to see a song this traditionally country not only rule its own genre—but also force its way into broader, historically country-resistant formats.
At this point, there’s no debate left. Ella Langley is a country superstar.
And judging by the trajectory of “Choosin’ Texas,” she’s rapidly becoming a star far beyond the genre.
Go ahead—spin “Choosin’ Texas” before you leave.
{"post":95546,"page":1,"next":[{"id":95519,"title":"\u201cSTOP\u2014 I\u2019M LOSING HIM!\u201d \ud83d\ude02 Tim Conway and Harvey Korman march straight into comedy immortality the moment this so-called military sketch begins on The Carol Burnett Show. Conway shuffles in with that infamous, syrup-thick accent and the look of a man who has already forgotten every rule of the army, while Korman stands rigid, praying\u2014silently\u2014that the scene will end quickly. It doesn\u2019t. Conway squints at his paperwork, muttering nonsense orders like they\u2019re classified secrets, and Korman\u2019s face starts betraying him, twitch by twitch, breath by breath. Then disaster strikes: uniforms tear, authority collapses, and suddenly Conway is standing there in striped boxers like it\u2019s the most normal thing in the world. Korman bends in half, fighting for oxygen, as Conway calmly soldiers on, unfazed, delivering the final blow with a perfectly innocent stare. And in that moment, the sketch explodes beyond comedy\u2014it becomes pure, uncontrollable joy, two legends locked in a beautiful ambush of laughter that no script could ever plan.","url":"https:\/\/new24.info\/95519"},{"id":95515,"title":"Jason Aldean Stuns Fans By Debuting Unreleased Song \u201cAnytime Soon\u201d Live On Stage","url":"https:\/\/new24.info\/95515"},{"id":95512,"title":"Megan Moroney And Ed Sheeran Join Forces For A Devastating Country Heartbreaker That Cuts Deep","url":"https:\/\/new24.info\/95512"},{"id":95509,"title":"Kane Brown\u2019s Adorable Video With Son Krewe Has Fans Saying He\u2019s Rewriting His Own Childhood","url":"https:\/\/new24.info\/95509"},{"id":95501,"title":"\u201cTHE ENTIRE STUDIO EXPLODED IN SECONDS \u2014 KELLY CLARKSON JUMPED ONTO TABLES WITH EXCITEMENT, HUGH JACKMAN AND KATE HUDSON JOINED IN, TURNED THE STUDIO INTO AN UNEXPECTED MUSICAL FEAST.\u201d No one was prepared for the moment Sweet Caroline played and all television rules were instantly erased. Kelly Clarkson forgot her seat, leaping to her feet in excitement, while Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson swept the entire stage into a whirlwind of exhilarating emotion. In the blink of an eye, the auditorium transformed into an impromptu festival, where the audience rose to sing along, clapped non-stop, and laughed as if at an outdoor concert. This was no longer a performance, but a rare, vibrant television moment where joy spread faster than the music \u2014 and everyone watching wished they were there.","url":"https:\/\/new24.info\/95501"},{"id":95496,"title":"\u201cA SMALL GIFT \u2014 AND HUGH JACKMAN IS SPEECHLESS.\u201d After Song Sung Blue officially premiered, Neil Diamond unexpectedly sent Hugh Jackman a special gift along with a private message that completely stunned the actor. At nearly 85 years old, the music legend not only retains his refined taste but also possesses a unique magic, enough to turn a chance encounter into an unforgettable memory. Sources say the two also shared an impromptu karaoke moment, where laughter and music erased any generational gap. Not loud, not ostentatious \u2014 just a sincere gesture was enough to spread the story and pique fans\u2019 curiosity: What did Neil Diamond write, and why was Hugh Jackman so speechless?","url":"https:\/\/new24.info\/95496"},{"id":95490,"title":"Reba McEntire Brings the Grand Ole Opry to Tears as 40-Year Milestone Turns Into a Sacred Moment","url":"https:\/\/new24.info\/95490"},{"id":95485,"title":"Lainey Wilson And Vince Gill Stop The Opry Cold With Emotional Tribute To Dolly Parton","url":"https:\/\/new24.info\/95485"},{"id":95481,"title":"Heavy Metal Legend Rob Halford Pays Emotional Tribute to Dolly Parton at 80","url":"https:\/\/new24.info\/95481"},{"id":95476,"title":"\u201cFROM CHILDHOOD BANJO TO LIFELONG GRATITUDE.\u201d Keith Urban left fans speechless when he sent Dolly Parton an emotional 80th birthday message, beginning with an old recording of himself as a 10-year-old playing the banjo and singing her songs. No stage or glamour, just genuine gratitude for the woman who inspired music, compassion, and faith for decades. When Keith says \u201cthank you for everything you\u2019ve given to the world,\u201d it\u2019s not just a birthday greeting\u2014it\u2019s a beautiful circle closing in on childhood, music, and an undying love for the legend Dolly Parton.","url":"https:\/\/new24.info\/95476"},{"id":95473,"title":"Dolly Parton\u2019s Sister Breaks Hearts With Raw Birthday Words That Cut Through the Fame","url":"https:\/\/new24.info\/95473"},{"id":95467,"title":"Dolly Parton Celebrates 80th Birthday by Reuniting Female Legends on Reimagined Classic","url":"https:\/\/new24.info\/95467"},{"id":95464,"title":"American Idol Winner Jamal Roberts Stuns Millions With Emotional Anthem Performance","url":"https:\/\/new24.info\/95464"},{"id":95460,"title":"Blake Shelton Breaks Silence On Gwen Stefani Divorce Rumors With Blunt Reality Check","url":"https:\/\/new24.info\/95460"}]}