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‘It sounds good next to almost anything’: how Choosin’ Texas became the biggest song of the year
Ella Langley's country single Choosin' Texas has spent 15 weeks at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100, making it the longest-running chart-topper by a female solo artist for a non-holiday song, surpassing records previously held by Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey. Unlike those bombastic pop anthems, Langley's track is a relaxed, retro-tinged two-step, and its success matters because it signals country music's continued crossover strength in the mainstream, with women currently leading several of the genre's biggest hits.
The song tells the story of a Tennessee woman who realises, while visiting Texas with her partner, that his heart still belongs to his home state, blending classic country heartbreak with lyrical nods to Jerry Reed, Ronnie Milsap and George Strait. Co-written by Langley with Miranda Lambert, Joybeth Taylor and Luke Dick, it is one of five country songs currently in the US top ten, alongside hits from Taylor Swift, Stella Lefty and Langley's own duet with Morgan Wallen, reflecting a rare moment where women dominate country's mainstream success despite the genre's historically poor track record on gender representation.
In short
- Choosin' Texas breaks Houston/Carey's female solo No 1 chart record
- Retro-modern two-step sound and classic country storytelling drive appeal
- Part of a wider wave of women topping US country charts
Explained simply
Ella Langley, a country music artist, has released a song called Choosin' Texas that has become unusually successful on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. The track is a relaxed, retro-style two-step song about a woman realising her partner's heart remains tied to Texas, combining classic country themes of heartbreak and longing.
The song's 15-week run at number one makes it the longest-running chart-topper by a female solo artist for a non-holiday song, surpassing records previously held by major pop stars like Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey. Its success signals that country music continues to appeal beyond its traditional audience and that women are currently leading several of the biggest hits in the genre.
Country music has historically struggled with gender representation, but right now five country songs occupy the US top ten, with women artists leading several of them. This represents a rare moment when female country musicians are achieving mainstream success on a significant scale.
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