Showing love to her fellow superstar.
Though mainstream country and country radio as a whole have failed to give female artists the time and attention they so desperately deserve over the better part of the past two decades, it feels like we’re finally making some progress as of late. While, of course, we have the likes of Sierra Ferrell, Willow Avalon, Kaitlin Butts, Carter Faith and more making some of the best music coming out of the uber-talented indie/alternative country scene for years at this point, it seems like the mainstream has finally caught on to the fact that some of the most compelling acts these days are, in fact, women.
After riding the highs of 2024’s Riley Green collaboration, “you look like you love me” all the way into the end of 2025, the Alabama native dropped what can only be described as a cultural phenomenon at this point with “Choosin’ Texas.”
As it stands today, “Choosin’ Texas” is the longest-running #1 hit by a female country artist on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 (seven weeks), the only country song by a woman to triple up and go #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100, Hot Country and Country Airplay chart simultaneously and just the seventh country song solely recorded by a woman to go #1 on the Hot 100 in the history of the chart.
In case that wasn’t enough, thanks to the success of her sophomore album, Dandelion, which debuted at #1 on the all genre Billboard 200 and sold 169,000 equivalent album units in the U.S. in its first week, Langley became just the second woman in history to hold the #1 album and song in the U.S. simultaneously with a country song/album. Of course, Taylor Swift was the first, going #1 with Red (Taylor’s Version) and “All Too Well (Taylor’s Version)” back in 2021.
With “Choosin’ Texas” primed to be the biggest hit of the year, Dandelion spending its second week atop the all-genre Billboard 200 and Langley establishing herself as an all-genre star, the Alabama native was honored at the 2026 Billboard Women in Music Awards last night in Los Angeles, receiving the “Powerhouse Award,” thanks to her “commanding voice, bold storytelling, and chart success.”
Fittingly, Wilson was the one who presented Langley with the award after the red-hot star performed a stripped-back, acoustic performance of “Choosin’ Texas” to the crowd at the Hollywood Bowl.
Before the ceremony on the red carpet, the “Watermelon Moonshine” singer was asked what it means to honor Langley at the show. Candidly, Wilson express how proud she is to be in the same genre as her, calling the “Be Her” singer a “powerhouse.”
“She is my dear friend; we’ve been friends for a few years now. Just to see what has happened with her, she is a powerhouse. There’s no doubt about it. What is happening with her, I am just so proud to be in the same genre as her. She is kicking down barn doors, and I couldn’t be more proud of my friend.
Wilson, who has also made history of her own lately when she became one of just three women in history to win back-to-back Entertainer of the Year awards at the ACMs last April, would also touch on how much history Ella and her contemporaries are making lately. Joking once again that they’re giving all the boys a run for their money, she’d say how proud she is to be alongside today’s new crop of female talent in the genre.
“Oh my God, I feel like we’re just getting started to be honest. I’ve been telling the boys for a long time. I’m like, ‘Y’all ain’t seen nothing.’ And that’s exactly what’s happening right now. I mean, these girls are making history. They are doing things that we didn’t even know could happen, and I’m proud to be alongside them and hold hands and run into the finish line together.”
As staples like Carrie Underwood and Miranda Lambert enter the later stages in their careers, it’s safe to say that we found a new powerhouse duo of women in country music to carry the torch in the mainstream with Langley and Wilson. More importantly, they’ve stepped up to the plate and delivered on the biggest stages time and time again — doing it with class every time.
The Dandelion Tour Dates
5/7/2026 Toledo, OH Huntington Center (+,&)
5/8/2026 St. Louis, MO Chaifetz Arena (+,&)
5/14/2026 Estero, FL Hertz Arena (@, &)
5/15/2026 Savannah, GA Enmarket Arena (@, &)
6/18/2026 Oklahoma City, OK Zoo Amphitheatre (+,&)
6/19/2026 Independence, MO Cable Dahmer Arena (+,&)
6/25/2026 Salem, VA Salem Civic Center (+,&)
6/26/2026 Wilmington, NC Live Oak Bank Pavilion at Riverfront Park (+,&)
7/23/2026 Pikeville, KY Appalachian Wireless Arena (#, %)
7/24/2026 Cary, NC Koka Booth Amphitheatre (#, %)
7/25/2026 North Charleston, SC North Charleston Coliseum (#, %)
7/30/2026 Gilford, NH BankNH Pavilion (@, %)
7/31/2026 Canandaigua, NY CMAC (@, %)
8/13/2026 Austin, TX Moody Center (#, &)
8/14/2026 Corpus Christi, TX Hilliard Center (#, &)
8/15/2026 Fort Worth, TX Dickies Arena (#, &)
@ Kameron Marlowe
+ Dylan Marlowe
# Kaitlin Butts
& Gabriella Rose
% Laci Kaye Booth
