Choosin' Texas

"Choosin' Texas"
Single by Ella Langley
from the album Dandelion
ReleasedOctober 17, 2025
Recorded2025[1][2]
StudioSound Emporium (Nashville, Tennessee)[3]
GenreCountry
Length3:52
Label
Songwriters
Producers
  • Langley
  • Ben West
  • Miranda Lambert
Ella Langley singles chronology
"Hell at Night"
(2025)		 "Choosin' Texas"
(2025)		 "Be Her"
(2026)
Music video
"Choosin' Texas" on YouTube

"Choosin' Texas" is a song by American country music singer Ella Langley. It was released on October 17, 2025, as the lead single from her second studio album Dandelion (2026). She wrote it with Luke Dick, Miranda Lambert, and Joybeth Taylor, and produced it with Lambert and Ben West. The song features background vocals from Lambert and guitar playing by Tom Bukovac and Ben Flanders.

It became her first number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100, spending 19 non-consecutive weeks on top. The song tied "Old Town Road" by Lil Nas X and "A Bar Song (Tipsy)" by Shaboozey as the longest-running non-holiday chart-toppers, and set the record for the longest-running number-one by a female country musician.[4][5] Outside of the United States, "Choosin' Texas" topped the charts in Australia, Canada, Ireland and New Zealand and peaked at number three in the United Kingdom.

Background

The song was created at a writing retreat in October 2024. Lambert told Langley some humorous stories from her younger years, including one in which she was pulled over with her pet kangaroo in the passenger seat and commented to the female officer that she had Texas license plates. From there, Langley came up with the phrase "She's from Texas, I can tell", which developed into the lyrics "She's from Texas, I can tell by the way he's two-steppin' around the room".[6][7][8] In about 30 minutes, the song was composed.[7]

Langley first performed the song live in February 2025, during a concert at Banita Creek Hall in Nacogdoches, Texas.[9]

Langley has been rumored to be involved in a love triangle with country singers Riley Green and Megan Moroney, though all of them have denied it. Some pointed out that the cover art looked strikingly similar to a photograph taken by a fan of two people believed to be Green and Moroney driving in Alabama.[10][11] However, it also includes a road sign reading "Welcome to Amarillo" and none of the three are from Texas, which is the focus of the song.[10]

Composition and lyrics

The song contains guitar, including steel guitar.[12] The song is about a lover who she believes is about to leave her for a Texas woman.[8][12][13] In the first verse, she reflects on her initial belief that he was falling in love with her and Tennessee. Later on, she wrestles with her regret and accepts the truth as she realizes his heart has always belonged to Texas.[8][12] Langley recalls the signs that foreshadowed this fact earlier in their relationship, such as his love for the Terry Stafford song "Amarillo by Morning" (made famous by Texan artist George Strait). The song also refers to "East Bound and Down", a track by Jerry Reed, who is from Georgia, and Ronnie Milsap's "Smoky Mountain Rain".[12]

Music video

The official music video for "Choosin' Texas" was released on April 1, 2026. Directed by Langley herself alongside Wales Toney and Caylee Robillard, it was filmed at the Stagecoach Ballroom in Fort Worth, Texas, and features Langley and her love interest visiting the bar, and Langley becoming increasingly concerned about whether he truly loves her. The video stars actor Luke Grimes as the love interest, Ava Philippe as "Texas", the song's co-writer Miranda Lambert as a performer at the bar, and Kaitlin Butts as a bar patron who warns Langley that her lover may be unfaithful. At the end of the video, Langley departs in a van with Lambert and her band which is bound for Tennessee, abandoning Grimes after sensing his lack of faithfulness. The video also features numerous cameo appearances from other Texas-based singers and musicians Wade Bowen, Mike Ryan, Casey Donahew, and Tanner Usrey as bar patrons, calf ropers and bull-riders J.B. Mauney, Dale Brisby, Shad Mayfield, Tyson Durfey, and Leighton Berry as cowboys, and Donahew's wife Melinda as the bartender.[14]

Critical reception

Caitlin Hall of Holler wrote "Sonically, 'Choosin' Texas' fits right into Langley's wheelhouse; upbeat, catchy, and full of that Southern grit she's become known for. It's got that modern Country Radio polish but still keeps its twang". She also stated "The melody swings like a line dance, effortlessly upbeat even while the lyrics sting. It's the kind of song you could cry to in the car or sing along with at a live show, the best kind of country contradiction".[12] Jessica Nicholson of Billboard remarked, "The production, the rhythm, the message and Langley's unmistakable voice meld mightily to make this an irresistible track and further cement Langley as one of the genre's brightest newcomers".[13] Hattie Lindert of Pitchfork called the song a contender for 2026 song of the summer, describing it as "a perfect ballad, lean and warm-blooded, the equivalent of good home cooking".[15]

Commercial performance

"Choosin' Texas" debuted at No. 39 on the Billboard Hot 100, Langley's highest debut at the time.[16] On February 9, 2026, it peaked at No. 1, becoming her first top-10 entry and number one on the all-genre chart.[17][18] She became the twelfth woman since 2000 to break the top five with a country song.[19] The song also became her first number one on the Hot Country Songs chart and the Billboard Streaming Songs chart, and her third on the Country Airplay chart.[20] It is also the first song by a female artist to simultaneously top all three of the Hot 100, Hot Country Songs, and Country Airplay charts.[21] It is the longest-running No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 by a female country artist ever.[5] Internationally, the song topped genre-specific sales and/or airplay charts in Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom, and it topped the national singles chart in Australia, Canada, Ireland and New Zealand.

Charts

Chart performance for "Choosin' Texas"
Chart (2025–2026) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[22]1
Australia Country Hot 50 (The Music)[23] 1
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[24]18
Brazil Airplay (Top 100 Brasil)[25] 99
Canada Hot 100 (Billboard)[26]1
Canada AC (Billboard)[27] 8
Canada CHR/Top 40 (Billboard)[28] 3
Canada Country (Billboard)[29]1
Canada Hot AC (Billboard)[30] 11
Colombia Anglo Airplay (Monitor Latino)[31]4
CIS Airplay (TopHit)[32]118
Costa Rica Anglo Airplay (Monitor Latino)[33]13
Croatia International Airplay (Top lista)[34] 35
Estonia Airplay (TopHit)[35]98
Finland Airplay (Radiosoittolista)[36]40
Global 200 (Billboard)[37]2
Ireland (IRMA)[38]1
Japan Hot Overseas (Billboard Japan)[39] 15
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[40]12
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[41]22
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[42]1
Nicaragua Anglo Airplay (Monitor Latino)[43]4
North Macedonia Airplay (Radiomonitor)[44] 15
Norway (IFPI Norge)[45] 5
Peru Anglo Airplay (Monitor Latino)[46]8
Portugal Airplay (AFP)[47]15
Romania Airplay (TopHit)[32] 179
Slovenia Airplay (Radiomonitor)[48] 9
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[49] 11
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[50]68
UK Singles (Official Charts)[51]3
Uruguay Anglo Airplay (Monitor Latino)[52]7
US Billboard Hot 100[53]1
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[54]9
US Adult Pop Airplay (Billboard)[55]4
US Country Airplay (Billboard)[56]1
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[57]1
US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[58]7
Venezuela Anglo Airplay (Monitor Latino)[59]5

Certifications

Certifications for "Choosin' Texas"
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[60] 4× Platinum 280,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[61] 7× Platinum 560,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[62] 2× Platinum 60,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[63] Platinum 600,000‡
United States (RIAA)[64] 6× Platinum 6,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Choosin' Texas"
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States November 10, 2025 Country radio [65]
February 3, 2026 Contemporary hit radio [66]
Italy March 27, 2026 Radio Sony [67]

References

  1. ↑ Crabtree, Mary Claire (April 12, 2025). "Ella Langley Is Back In The Studio, Teases A New Album Is In The Works: "Record #2 Loading…" | Whiskey Riff". www.whiskeyriff.com. Retrieved June 1, 2026.
  2. ↑ Thompson, Gayle (July 9, 2025). "Ella Langley Reveals Timeline For Her Next Album". Retrieved June 1, 2026.
  3. ↑ Tingen, Paul (August 2026). "Inside Track: Ella Langley 'Dandelion'". Sound On Sound. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
  4. ↑ Trust, Gary (August 24, 2026). "Ella Langley's 'Choosin' Texas' Ties for Longest Hot 100 Rule Among Non-Holiday Hits With 19th Week at No. 1". Billboard. Retrieved August 24, 2026.
  5. 1 2 Trust, Gary (June 29, 2026). "Ella Langley's 'Choosin' Texas' Hits Historic 11th Week at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved June 29, 2026.
  6. ↑ Bowlby, Katie (October 17, 2025). "Ella Langley Reveals the Real Inspiration Behind Her New Song "Choosin' Texas"". Country Living. Retrieved October 28, 2025.
  7. 1 2 Crabtree, Mary Claire (October 15, 2025). "Ella Langley Says "Choosin' Texas" Was Inspired By Miranda Lambert Getting Pulled Over With A Live Kangaroo In The Front Seat". Whiskey Riff. Retrieved October 28, 2025.
  8. 1 2 3 Black, Lauren Jo (October 17, 2025). "Ella Langley Returns With 'Choosin' Texas,' Channeling Old-School Country Heartbreak". Country Now. Retrieved October 28, 2025.
  9. ↑ Burditt, Peter (February 4, 2025). "Ella Langley Showcases New Song Written With Miranda Lambert During Intimate Texas Show". American Songwriter. Retrieved October 28, 2025.
  10. 1 2 Liptak, Carena (October 17, 2025). "Ella Langley Is on the Losing End of a Love Triangle in New Song, 'Choosin' Texas' [Listen]". Taste of Country. Retrieved October 28, 2025.
  11. ↑ Young, Casey (October 27, 2025). "Ella Langley Says She'll Never Tell Who "Choosin' Texas" Is About". Whiskey Riff. Retrieved October 28, 2025.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 Hall, Caitlin (October 17, 2025). "'Choosin' Texas' by Ella Langley - Lyrics & Meaning". Holler. Retrieved October 28, 2025.
  13. 1 2 Nicholson, Jessica (October 20, 2025). "5 Must-Hear New Country Songs: Vince Gill, Ella Langley & More". Billboard. Retrieved October 28, 2025.
  14. ↑ Hudak, Joseph (April 2, 2026). "Ella Langley's 'Choosin' Texas' Video: All the Cameos You May Have Missed". Rolling Stone.
  15. ↑ Lindert, Hattie (July 21, 2026). "20 Contenders for 2026 Song of the Summer". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 22, 2026.
  16. ↑ Zellner, Xander (January 8, 2026). "How Rare Is It for a Country Song by a Woman to Reach the Top 10 of the Hot 100?". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  17. ↑ Trust, Gary (February 2, 2026). "Harry Styles' 'Aperture' Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved February 2, 2026.
  18. ↑ Trust, Gary (February 9, 2026). "Ella Langley's 'Choosin' Texas' Hits No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved February 9, 2026.
  19. ↑ Zellner, Xander (January 8, 2026). "How Rare Is It for a Country Song by a Woman to Reach the Top 10 of the Hot 100?". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  20. ↑ Penuell, Russ (December 2, 2025). "'Texas' Two-Step: Ella Langley & Lainey Wilson Lead Country Song Charts". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  21. ↑ Hahnen, Madison (February 9, 2026). "Ella Langley's 'Choosin' Texas' Makes History". MusicRow.com. Retrieved February 9, 2026.
  22. ↑ "Ella Langley – Choosin' Texas". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved June 4, 2026.
  23. ↑ "Countrytown Hot 50 – 2025, Week 51". Countrytown. Retrieved December 19, 2025.
  24. ↑ "Ella Langley – Choosin' Texas" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved August 30, 2026.
  25. ↑ "Crowley Charts – Top 100 Brasil – Semana referência: 06/07/2026 – 10/07/2026" [Crowley Charts – Top 100 Brasil – Reference week: 06/07/2026 – 10/07/2026] (In Semana referência select 06/07/2026 – 10/07/2026. To access the full Top 100, click on "Ver Top 100 completo" and enter your name and e-mail. Then enter the code you received by e-mail.) (in Brazilian Portuguese). Crowley Broadcast Analysis. Retrieved August 27, 2026.
  26. ↑ "Ella Langley Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 15, 2026.
  27. ↑ "Canada AC: Week of August 29, 2026". Billboard Canada. Archived from the original on August 28, 2026. Retrieved August 28, 2026.
  28. ↑ "Canada CHR/Top 40: Week of August 22, 2026". Billboard Canada. Archived from the original on August 22, 2026. Retrieved August 22, 2026.
  29. ↑ "Ella Langley Chart History (Canada Country)". Billboard. Retrieved July 15, 2026.
  30. ↑ "Canada Hot AC: Week of August 29, 2026". Billboard Canada. Archived from the original on August 27, 2026. Retrieved August 27, 2026.
  31. ↑ "Top 20 Colombia Anglo música". Monitor Latino. Retrieved August 21, 2026.
  32. 1 2 "Charts – TopHit – Highway to Airplay". TopHit. Retrieved August 2, 2026.
  33. ↑ "Top 20 Costa Rica Anglo música". Monitor Latino. Retrieved August 21, 2026.
  34. ↑ "Airplay Radio Chart Top100 – 15. lipnja 2026" [Airplay Radio Chart Top100 – 15 June 2026] (in Croatian). Top lista. June 15, 2026. Archived from the original on June 16, 2026. Retrieved June 16, 2026.
  35. ↑ "Top Radio Hits Estonia Weekly Chart". TopHit. Retrieved August 2, 2026.
  36. ↑ "Ella Langley: Choosin' Texas" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved June 4, 2026.
  37. ↑ "Ella Langley Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
  38. ↑ "Official Irish Singles Chart on 8/5/2026 – Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 8, 2026.
  39. ↑ "Billboard Japan Hot Overseas – Week of April 1, 2026". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved April 2, 2026.
  40. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 34, 2026" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved August 22, 2026.
  41. ↑ "Ella Langley – Choosin' Texas" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved August 28, 2026.
  42. ↑ "Ella Langley – Choosin' Texas". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved June 4, 2026.
  43. ↑ "Top 20 Nicaragua Anglo música". Monitor Latino. Retrieved May 16, 2026.
  44. ↑ "Macedonia – Radio Airplay Chart: Settimana 29.2026 – dal 10/07/2026 al 16/07/2026" [Macedonia – Radio Airplay Chart: Week 29.2026 – from 10/07/2026 to 16/07/2026]. RadioAirplay.fm (in Italian). Radiomonitor. July 17, 2026. Retrieved August 25, 2026.
  45. ↑ "Singel 2026 uke 33". IFPI Norge. Retrieved August 15, 2026.
  46. ↑ "Top 20 Perú Anglo música". Monitor Latino. Retrieved May 16, 2026.
  47. ↑ "TOP 100 - Lista". Audiogest. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  48. ↑ "Slovenia – Radio Airplay Chart: Settimana 22.2026 – dal 22/05/2026 al 28/05/2026" [Slovenia – Radio Airplay Chart: Week 22.2026 – from 22/05/2026 to 28/05/2026]. Radiomonitor (in Italian). May 29, 2026. Retrieved May 30, 2026.
  49. ↑ "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 35, 2026" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved August 28, 2026.
  50. ↑ "Ella Langley – Choosin' Texas". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved August 24, 2026.
  51. ↑ "Official Singles Chart on 31/7/2026 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  52. ↑ "Top 20 Uruguay Anglo música". Monitor Latino. Retrieved May 16, 2026.
  53. ↑ "Ella Langley Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 19, 2026.
  54. ↑ "Ella Langley Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved July 25, 2026.
  55. ↑ "Ella Langley Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 29, 2026.
  56. ↑ "Ella Langley Chart History (Country Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved June 7, 2026.
  57. ↑ "Ella Langley Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 7, 2026.
  58. ↑ "Ella Langley Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 29, 2026.
  59. ↑ "Top 20 Venezuela Anglo música". Monitor Latino. Retrieved August 25, 2026.
  60. ↑ "ARIA Top 50 Singles for week of 6 July 2026". Australian Recording Industry Association. July 6, 2026. Retrieved July 6, 2026.
  61. ↑ "Canadian single certifications – Ella Langley – Choosin' Texas". Music Canada. Retrieved August 17, 2026.
  62. ↑ "New Zealand single certifications – Ella Langley – Choosin' Texas". Radioscope. Retrieved July 5, 2026. Type Choosin' Texas in the "Search:" field and press Enter.
  63. ↑ "British single certifications – Ella Langley – Choosin' Texas". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved August 14, 2026. Select singles in the Formats field. Type Choosin' Texas Ella Langley in the "Search:" field.
  64. ↑ "American single certifications – Ella Langley – Choosin% Texas". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 25, 2026.
  65. ↑ https://x.com/USRadioUpdater/status/1983226193232179352?s=20
  66. ↑ U.S. Radio Updater on X: ".@ellalangleymsic’s “Choosin’ Texas” will officially impact US Pop Radio on February 3rd (via @ColumbiaRecords). It marks her first song to be promoted at the Pop format. https://t.co/MSp3TQ5n6S" / X
  67. ↑ Sisti, Sara (March 20, 2026). "Choosin' Texas - Ella Langley" (in Italian). EarOne. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
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