Nothing Short of a Phenomenon
Since late 2023, it was almost tangible: Ella Langley was destined to become country music’s next female superstar. Early hits like “Could’ve Been Her,” “Paint the Town Blue,” and her Koe Wetzel collaboration “That’s Why We Fight” hinted at her rapid rise.
Then 2024 arrived, and Langley shattered expectations with her Riley Green collaboration, the viral “You Look Like You Love Me.” The track was an instant sensation among fans and critics alike. Though it’s begun to feel “overplayed” in 2026, its impact is undeniable. The song became an award show darling, winning seven CMA and ACM Awards across 2024 and 2025, hitting #1 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart, earning triple-platinum RIAA certification, and amassing nearly 300 million Spotify streams as of January 21, 2026.
After such a monumental hit, topping it seemed nearly impossible—especially given the perfect storm of virality, quality, and the surrounding drama between Langley and Green.
Enter “Choosin’ Texas.” Released on October 7, 2025, and co-written with Miranda Lambert, Joybeth Taylor, and Luke Dick, the track became an immediate juggernaut. Beyond fueling speculation about Langley’s relationship with Green—thanks to its cover art featuring a blonde woman and a man in a cowboy hat in a red convertible—the song is simply a masterclass in modern country. With ’70s-inspired sounds, steel-soaked production, and Langley’s twangy, heartfelt vocals, “Choosin’ Texas” is a country song firing on all cylinders.
The numbers speak for themselves. The single debuted at #37 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 and #7 on the Hot Country Songs chart, both career highs for Langley. On December 2, it became her first #1 on Hot Country Songs and the fastest solo female track in a decade to reach the top 10 on US Country Radio, doing so in just eight weeks. By January 5, 2026, “Choosin’ Texas” had climbed to #5 on the Hot 100, making Langley only the 12th woman this century to place a country song in the Top 10 of the chart.
Even in the face of stiff competition—Zach Bryan charting 18 songs, Bruno Mars hitting #1 with “I Just Might,” and Taylor Swift still dominating—“Choosin’ Texas” remains strong, holding at #6 on the Hot 100. It’s also making waves on Adult Contemporary radio, tying for the most adds with 20 stations nationwide, competing alongside artists like Bruno Mars, Taylor Swift, and Hillary Duff.
In a music landscape where pop-infused country dominates and folk-inspired tracks thrive, it’s rare for a song as unabashedly traditional as “Choosin’ Texas” to dominate across country, all-genre, and Adult Contemporary formats alike.
Ella Langley is more than a rising star—she’s a bona fide country superstar, carving her place in music history. And if you haven’t yet, it’s time to fire up “Choosin’ Texas” and see why.
