Ella Langley’s ‘Choosin’ Texas’ Is Now the Most Popular Song in Billboard Chart History
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Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” has become the longest-running Number One song in Billboard Hot 100 history, spending 23 weeks at the top. Its success marks a major milestone for Langley and reflects country music’s growing dominance of the mainstream chart.
The song surpassed records associated with Harry Styles, Morgan Wallen and Mariah Carey, while fellow country artists Stella Lefty and Wallen occupy the next two positions. Langley also leads the CMA Awards nominations with nine, has returned her album Dandelion to Number One, and is supporting other women in country music through her tour and collaborations.
- “Choosin’ Texas” sets a 23-week Billboard Hot 100 record.
- Country music dominates the chart’s top three positions.
- Langley’s wider success includes nine CMA nominations.
Full account
American country musician Ella Langley has achieved a significant milestone in popular music history. Her single "Choosin' Texas", which debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 chart during the week of 14 February, has now accumulated 23 weeks at the summit of the chart—more than any other recording in the chart's history. The achievement surpasses Mariah Carey's festive staple "All I Want For Christmas Is You", which had previously held the record. The track, co-written by Langley with Miranda Lambert, Luke Dick and Joybeth Taylor, represents a breakthrough moment not only for the artist herself but for country music's contemporary dominance across streaming platforms.
The path to this record was not straightforward. Following its initial ascent in February, "Choosin' Texas" saw its chart position fluctuate through the spring and early summer months, as competing tracks from artists including Taylor Swift, Bad Bunny, Drake and Ariana Grande interrupted its reign. However, from July onwards, the song established an uninterrupted run of 13 consecutive weeks at number one, ultimately propelling it past all previous contenders. The song has achieved six-times platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America, cementing its status as one of the defining tracks of the decade.
For Langley, the chart record represents the culmination of an extraordinarily successful period. The Alabama-born artist achieved the distinction in February of becoming the first act to simultaneously top the Hot 100, Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts. Her second studio album, "Dandelion", has returned to the top of the album charts, whilst she has received nine nominations for the 60th Annual CMA Awards, including the entertainer of the year category. The album notably includes a rendition of Kitty Wells' 1952 composition "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels", which itself represented a landmark as the first solo female number-one country hit. Beyond her own achievements, Langley has deliberately structured her current tour to elevate emerging female artists, including Gabriella Rose, Kaitlin Butts, Avery Anna, Laci Kaye Booth and Madeline Edwards.
Questions remain about the longevity of Langley's achievement. Carey's "All I Want For Christmas Is You" has demonstrated a consistent pattern of returning to chart prominence each holiday season, suggesting that it may eventually reclaim the record once that period arrives. Industry observers note that Carey's perennial recording now represents an almost inevitable chart phenomenon during winter months. Columbia Records, the label behind "Choosin' Texas", notably also holds the catalogue rights to both "All I Want For Christmas Is You" and Lil Nas X's 2019 crossover "Old Town Road"—giving the organisation three of the four most enduring number-one chart runs in history. For now, however, summer 2026 belongs definitively to Langley, whose song and narrative of supporting other female musicians in country music have evidently resonated widely with the recording public.
Where outlets differ
Source 1 emphasises Langley's broader achievements and advocacy for female country artists, including her CMA nominations and touring choices; Source 2 focuses on technical chart history and competitive context with other record-holders
Source 1 presents the song's chart journey as interrupted; Source 2 specifically details 13 consecutive weeks at number one from July onwards
Source 1 includes direct quotes from Langley about the song's emotional resonance and from fellow artist Kaitlin Butts; Source 2 omits artist commentary
Source 1 mentions Drake's potential remix interest; Source 2 does not reference this
Source 2 gives more prominence to Columbia Records' portfolio of chart-dominating records; Source 1 does not discuss the label's broader achievements
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