Ella Langley, the Alabama-born country singer-songwriter, has carved her name into music history with her latest single, "Choosin’ Texas." On February 9, 2026, the track climbed to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, marking Langley’s first time atop the prestigious list—and the first time any woman in country music has simultaneously led the Hot 100, Hot Country Songs, and Country Airplay charts. According to Billboard, this triple-crown feat has only been achieved by three other songs in history: Shaboozey’s "A Bar Song (Tipsy)," Post Malone’s "I Had Some Help" featuring Morgan Wallen, and Wallen’s "Last Night."
The journey to the top was anything but guaranteed. As the tracking week drew to a close, Langley found herself in a heated race against Olivia Dean’s "The Man I Need" for the No. 1 spot. Chart watchers and industry insiders speculated daily about which artist would clinch the victory, with momentum swinging back and forth. In a last-ditch effort, Langley turned to her fans for support, urging them on social media, "Y’all have put me in a position to do something only a few females in country music have ever done. I’m being told we’re neck and neck on getting the #1 and if we have one last push on iTunes we might make country music history!" The rallying cry worked: "Choosin’ Texas" surged past the competition, securing its place at the summit for the chart dated February 14, 2026.
Langley’s historic accomplishment is about more than just personal glory. As she wrote to her followers, "Let’s do it for women & let’s do it for country music." Her words resonated, sparking celebration throughout the country music community and beyond. The achievement also highlights the increasing presence of women atop the country and pop charts, a development that has been long overdue in a traditionally male-dominated industry.
"Choosin’ Texas" is a bittersweet, midtempo anthem that tells the story of heartbreak and unrequited love, as the protagonist realizes the man she loves belongs to someone else—and to Texas. Langley’s evocative chorus paints the scene: "She’s from Texas I can tell by the way / He’s two steppin round the room / And judgin by the smile that’s written on his face / There’s nothin I can do / It doesn’t take a crystal ball to see / A cowboy always finds a way to leave / Drinkin Jack all by myself / He’s choosin’ Texas I can tell."
The song’s success is a testament to the collaborative spirit behind it. Langley co-wrote "Choosin’ Texas" with country superstar Miranda Lambert, alongside Luke Dick and Joybeth Taylor. Lambert, who also provided background vocals, joined Langley and Ben West in producing the track. Remarkably, this is the first time Langley, Lambert, or any of the song’s other writers and producers have topped the Hot 100 as either writers or producers. The single is released under SAWGOD/Columbia Records, with Triple Tigers handling radio promotion—both labels also notching their first Hot 100 No. 1 with this release.
Chart performance for "Choosin’ Texas" has been nothing short of spectacular. The song spent its 11th week at No. 1 on the multimetric Hot Country Songs chart and its inaugural week atop the Country Airplay ranking. During the tracking period from January 30 to February 5, 2026, it amassed 22.1 million official streams in the U.S. (a 22% jump from the previous week), reached 34.4 million radio airplay audience impressions (up 8%), and sold 12,000 copies (up a staggering 98%). The single also claimed the top spot on the Streaming Songs chart for a second week, climbed the Radio Songs chart, and held strong on Digital Song Sales.
Globally, "Choosin’ Texas" has surpassed 310 million streams and earned RIAA Platinum certification. It reached No. 1 on both the U.S. Spotify Chart and Apple Music’s U.S. Songs Chart, and became only the fourth country song by a female lead to top the Billboard Streaming Songs chart in its 13-year history. The track also appeared on several year-end lists for 2025, including those compiled by Billboard, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and FADER, cementing its status as a cultural touchstone.
Langley’s rise comes amid a broader surge of country music in mainstream pop culture. "Choosin’ Texas" is the 31st song to top both the Hot 100 and Hot Country Songs charts since the latter’s inception in 1958, and it dethroned Harry Styles’ "Aperture," which had debuted at No. 1 just a week earlier. The song’s title also marks the second time in less than two years that Texas has been name-checked in a Hot 100 No. 1, following Beyoncé’s "Texas Hold ‘Em." Only California and Georgia have appeared more frequently in chart-topping song titles.
The timing of Langley’s triumph couldn’t be better. Her sophomore album, Dandelion, is set for release on April 10, 2026, and anticipation is running high. Langley has already begun teasing new material, sharing a snippet of an unreleased song, "Be Her," on the very day her Hot 100 victory was announced. Her schedule for the year is packed: she’ll kick off The Dandelion Tour on May 7 in Toledo, Ohio, with stops in St. Louis, Oklahoma City, Austin, and more, before wrapping up in Fort Worth, Texas, on August 15. Supporting acts for the tour include Kameron Marlowe, Dylan Marlowe, Kaitlin Butts, Gabriella Rose, and Laci Kaye Booth. Langley is also set to join Eric Church’s Free The Machine Tour, Morgan Wallen’s Still The Problem Tour, and several major festivals throughout 2026.
Miranda Lambert, whose own storied career includes seven No. 1s and 15 top 10s on Country Airplay, as well as a No. 1 album on the Billboard 200, adds another milestone with this collaboration. Lambert’s previous Hot 100 peak was as a co-writer on Wallen’s "Thought You Should Know" (No. 7, 2023), but "Choosin’ Texas" marks her first time at No. 1 as a writer and producer.
The Hot 100’s methodology—blending streaming, radio airplay, and sales—reflects the changing landscape of music consumption. Luminate, the independent data provider for Billboard, meticulously reviews all data submissions to ensure accuracy, with any suspicious or unverifiable data removed before final chart calculations.
For Ella Langley, the ascent of "Choosin’ Texas" is more than a personal milestone; it’s a signal that country music’s boundaries are expanding, and that women’s voices are resonating louder than ever. As she prepares to release Dandelion and take her show on the road, all eyes are on what she’ll do next. If recent history is any guide, Langley’s star is only beginning to rise.