Ella Langley's 'Choosin' Texas' Makes Billboard History, Surpassing Mariah Carey
The country singer's hit song has logged 23 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, setting a new record for the longest run atop the chart.
Ella Langley's song "Choosin' Texas" has achieved a historic milestone, spending 23 weeks at the No. 1 position on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. This extended reign surpasses Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You," which previously held the record for the longest time at the top of the chart. Langley expressed her astonishment and gratitude on Instagram, calling the success "Choosin' Texas" a life-changing success.
"I'm genuinely trying to find the words to explain what's going on in my brain today," Langley stated in a video shared on social media. "Thank you so much. Thank you for loving this song, for listening to it... It's changing my life. It's changing the lives of the writers of this song. It's changing the lives of my family and it is truly growing an atmosphere for something I'm gonna be able to do the rest of my life."
Langley recalled that even when the song was first written, she knew it was special, but she could not have anticipated its current level of success. "When we wrote it, I knew it was going on the record. I honestly knew it was going to be the lead single," she told Billboard in March. "And we love that song, but I don't think I could have ever imagined what's happening with it right now."
The country music star noted the "ownership that the fans have taken over it" and the diverse demographics listening to the song. "Choosin' Texas" first appeared on the Hot 100 in November 2025, reached the top 10 in January 2026, and hit No. 1 for the first time in February 2026. The song has also dominated the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, holding the No. 1 spot for 41 weeks.
Initially, "Choosin' Texas" began with a story about Miranda Lambert's pet kangaroo. Langley recounted writing the song during her first songwriting retreat with Lambert and two other writers. Lambert shared an anecdote about being pulled over with the kangaroo in the passenger seat, an incident that humorously may have helped her avoid a ticket, especially with Texas plates on her vehicle.
From that story, Langley recalled thinking, "Well, she's from Texas, I can tell." The melody reportedly came quickly, and the song was completed in about 45 minutes. Lambert, who is executive producing Langley's upcoming record, has been a source of advice and support for the rising artist.
"There's not a rulebook to this job," Langley said. "So to be able to have someone like her to ask questions and think, you know, is it, should I be doing this? She's like, 'Hell yeah, you should be doing this.'"
Langley is continuing her touring schedule, recently sharing photos from performances in Oxford, Mississippi; Athens, Georgia; and Jacksonville, Florida. The images captured various moments from her shows, including performances, fan interactions, and behind-the-scenes glimpses. The success of "Choosin' Texas" marks a significant moment in Langley's career, transforming her life and solidifying her place in music history.