Ella Langley made two surprise appearances at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium during the Nashville Songwriter Awards, where she was among the evening’s major winners. She joined the writers of “Be Her” during its performance after the song was named one of the year’s 10 Songs I Wish I’d Written, then returned later to perform “Choosin’ Texas”, which won Song of the Year.

The ceremony revealed that “Be Her” was written in around 30 minutes after Michael Hardy conceived its title shortly before a writing retreat. Langley said the song was essential for her record, while “Choosin’ Texas” collaborators Luke Dick and JoyBeth Taylor praised their creative partnership. The closing performance came as “Choosin’ Texas” overtook Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” as the longest-running No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.