It’s rare enough for a country star of any kind to get a Billboard Hot 100 No. 1. For a female country star, it’s far rarer still. For a female country star to do so without any accompanying artists, massively viral moments, soundtrack tie-ins or obvious pop crossover ambitions? The list from the last 50 years may be just one song long: Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas.”
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Langley’s breakout hit tops this week’s Hot 100 (dated Feb. 14), edging past Olivia Dean’s “Man I Need” to capture the first No. 1 of her career. The breakout success of “Texas” not only marks a new strata of stardom for Langley, it also marks easily the biggest career hit as a writer for a legendary name in the credits: Miranda Lambert, who’s scored a half-dozen Country Airplay No. 1s and over 20 Hot 100 hits as a recording artist, but who had never hit the top 10 on the latter chart, let alone the top spot.
How was “Choosin’ Texas” allow to reach such rare heights? And how should Langley take advantage of its success from here? Billboard staffers discuss these questions and more below.
1. Just a few weeks ago, we were celebrating the achievement of “Choosin’ Texas” reaching the top five — now it’s No. 1. On a scale from 1-10, how surprised are you that it’s gotten this far?
Kyle Denis: About a 2. I’ve always believed in the crossover potential of this song, so a No. 1 peak isn’t surprising at all. I’m honestly more impressed that she did it without a massive Grammys look or a top 40 audience-courting remix.
Lyndsey Havens: I’m at a 6.5 in terms of how surprised I am that this song has reached the chart’s top spot. Though, my shock is more of a reaction to the timing and less to the fact that it happened at all. Given the tight race for No. 1 this week between Ella and Olivia Dean’s “Man I Need,” I felt more confident that Dean would pull ahead thanks to her big Grammys night, during which she performed the hit and won best new artist.
Melinda Newman: 5. She seemed solidly on her way to the top, though Olivia Dean certainly threw up a potential challenge. But the song kept building momentum in a way.
Jessica Nicholson: 4. The demand for this song has been undeniable, across various metrics. With Olivia Dean winning best new artist at the Grammys, that posed solid competition for the Hot 100’s top slot, but “Choosin’ Texas” has only continued gaining ground on multiple charts for several weeks.
Andrew Unterberger: Maybe a 7. Once it got to the top five, clearly anything was possible, but I still would’ve bet against “Texas” climbing the rest of the way so quickly, especially without any major recent development really lighting a fire underneath it. And again, history is history there. Or at least it was.
2. Unaccompanied solo country women artists generally don’t get to No. 1 on the Hot 100 unless they’re actively attempting to cross over — and even then only very rarely. Is this song proving an exception to the rule more about “Choosin’ Texas,” about Ella herself, or about the era it was released in?
Kyle Denis: I think it’s a combination. I’d go as far as saying that Ella, alongside Megan Moroney and Lainey Wilson, make up a kind of new-age Big Three for women in contemporary country music. Just based on the longevity and ever-broadening appeal of past hits like “You Look Like You Love Me,” it’s clear Ella was always headed down a path of Hot 100 domination. We’re also in an era where Morgan Wallen routinely holds several spots in the Hot 100 top 10 at the same time; pop stars like Beyoncé, Post Malone and Sabrina Carpenter all went No. 1 with country-infused hits in 2024. It was only a matter of time before a solo country woman artist tapped into that momentum.
Lyndsey Havens: I think “Choosin’ Texas” is the exception, because of the important and potent combination of right song, right artist. I’m not entirely sure the current music landscape can take much of the credit here. What I love about this song’s rise is that it feels very much in synch with where Ella is at in her career right now — she moved to Nashville in 2019, signed her record deal in 2023 and in 2024 released her award-winning single “You Look Like You Love Me.” While that success continued into 2025, I think the fact that “Texas” — the lead single off her upcoming second album — is being so well-received speaks to her timing and willingness to build over time. And knowing to double down on a sound that works for her, and her fans, with what’s to come.
Melinda Newman: It’s all three. She’s the first woman to reach No. 1 on Hot 100, Country Airplay and Country Songs at the same time, which sounds absolutely insane that it hasn’t happened before, but it shows what momentum Langley has. The song is truly undeniable with its two-stepping melody. We’re also in an era where listeners are loving a little throwback — look at the success Zach Top is having. “Choosin’ Texas,” in addition to tugging nostalgic strings with its reference to classic songs by Ronnie Milsap and George Strait, sounds like it could have been on the 1980 Urban Cowboy soundtrack.
Jessica Nicholson: It’s a blend of all of these. “Choosin’ Texas” has so many great elements, including a relatable storyline, an inescapably catchy chorus and Ella delivers the song like few can. But even before “Choosin’ Texas,” Ella has been proving herself as a top force in country music, and the song’s timeless country sound feels right at home with the retro styles of country music that are hitting right now.
Andrew Unterberger: I think the era plays a very large part, in that music fans can grant this song a pop level of success without any pop gatekeepers needing to grant it access there. (Tellingly, the song appears on Pop Airplay for the first time this week, and only at No. 38.) Langley didn’t need to court any audience beyond the one she’s been reeling in for the last few years already to make this the biggest song in the country. Helps that the song is great, too, of course, but 30 years ago — 10 years ago, even — “Texas” wouldn’t have had much of a chance of doing what it’s doing now.
3. Miranda Lambert being a writer/producer on this song is interesting, as Lambert never had a pop hit near this big during her own hitmaking peak. Do you see this as belated chart validation for her and/or her influence on the genre?
Kyle Denis: Absolutely. Miranda held down women in country on a mainstream level for a decade and change; this is as much a win for her legacy as it is for Ella’s still-growing stardom.
Lyndsey Havens: I do think the success of “Texas” reflects back on Lambert’s influence on the genre. I think oftentimes, in any genre — or any field, even, outside of music — that women who help pave a path aren’t necessarily praised for doing so until the next woman walks down it. But that’s an answer for a different kind of 5BQ. All is to say, Lambert’s influence on country music is undeniable, and as a fan I feel grateful that an artist like Ella embraces that.
Melinda Newman: Lambert has definitely taken a younger generation of female artists like Lainey Wilson and Ella Langley under her wing, and they look at her as a very valuable, wise older sister. Lambert serves as the executive producer for Langley’s new album, in addition to her work on “Choosin’ Texas” and while she continues to make music of her own — she was nominated for a Grammy this year — she definitely seems to be thriving behind the scenes, including co-running Big Loud Texas. This is validation for her influence, her talent and underrated ability as a songwriter.
Jessica Nicholson: Miranda has long been established as one of country music’s top artists, and she has had influence on many of today’s newer hitmakers. But for years, Miranda has also been writing and co-writing songs recorded by other artists, among them Morgan Wallen and Chris Stapleton. She’s a co-producer on Langley’s upcoming Dandelion album and also launched the Big Loud imprint Big Loud Texas. Her work on “Choosin’ Texas” again proves that Miranda continues to have her finger on the pulse of what music fans love.
Andrew Unterberger: It’s certainly validating — though I imagine it also makes Lambert she could’ve pushed her own career forward a decade or two chronologically.
4. Does this song’s chart-topping success cement Langley as a superstar to you, or do we need to see or hear more from her first?
Kyle Denis: I’d probably need to see how her upcoming album and tour fare before I break out the “superstar” label, but she’s on the right path!
Lyndsey Havens: While the success of “You Look Like You Love Me” continued into 2025, I think the fact that “Texas” — the lead single off Ella’s upcoming second album — is being so well received speaks to her bubbling stardom. Plus, the album’s title track and second single, “Dandelion,” also entered the Hot 100’s top 40 this week. To me, all the pieces have been carefully and patiently laid out for Ella to have a massive 2026.
Melinda Newman: She’s a superstar-in-the-making, but it’s too early to annoint her a superstar yet. Journalists and pundits tend to throw around plaudits a little too carelessly these days. There’s nowhere to go above superstar, so she doesn’t need that burden on her quite yet. She’s got plenty of time to get there. She’s just moving into arenas, and Dandelion will be her second full-length album. Let’s let her walk a little more before she runs.
Jessica Nicholson: She hasn’t released her second album yet, and there have been many artists over the years that have had success with a first album and early hits, but have then seen their careers fizzle. It’s too early yet to really make that “superstar” determination, but Ella certainly has a commanding stage presence, top-tier songwriting and an ear for a hit, and fans and the industry are taking notice.
Andrew Unterberger: It might still be a little soon to anoint her — but it probably won’t be for long. As surprising as the level of success it’s achieved may be, this is no out-of-nowhere breakout hit: Langley has been steadily building towards this for 18 months now, and her popularity is as much about fans loving her as it is about any or all of her individual songs. She may not have another Hot 100 No. 1 hit in the immediate future, but she’s not going away anytime soon.
5. If you’re Ella Langley’s team, with a new full-length album on the way, what advice do you give her about how to best position herself to take advantage of this song’s incredible success?
Kyle Denis: Get her performing the song on TV as much as possible, so people who aren’t familiar with her (but recognize the song) can start putting a face to the voice. The Houston Rodeo also happens to be next month…. and we all know where Houston is located!
Lyndsey Havens: As with many hit songs by a woman about a woman, there is a bit of lore surrounding “Texas” and its subjects — particularly the ones depicted on the single cover art. I doubt Ella needed any advice about letting such rumors rest, but I do think the conversation has bolstered the song — some of the best country songs are exactly that, because of the stories they tell that leave fans guessing. But on a more practical note, I think Ella and her team have proved that they know how to make the most of a moment, and that speaks just as much to their savviness as Ella’s artistry.
Melinda Newman: Don’t change a thing. What has been so appealing about Langley so far is her authenticity. She has never felt like she is chasing fame or pandering to radio. She’s proving to be a hit maker, especially in her collaborations with Riley Green. I would keep her away from the duets for a little bit.
Jessica Nicholson: Langley and her team are already doing a great job in gearing up for the upcoming album. The timing of the success of “Choosin’ Texas” is great, and she’s quickly following it with more songs from the new project.
Andrew Unterberger: Move on, honestly. The best thing for Langley about her “Choosin’ Texas” success is that she didn’t have to put a whole lot of elbow grease behind it: She’s only performed the song a couple times outside of her own concerts, and didn’t film anything for it beyond a low-lift lyric video. The song and its popularity will always be there for her when she needs it, but for now — and especially now that it’s already No. 1 — she’d be much better off just showing that she can do it again with another song. And she can.
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