Coming from an icon like Shania Twain, that is an even bigger compliment.
Ella Langley is the hottest star in country music, and throughout 2024 and 2025, the Alabama native has become nothing short of a phenomenon thanks to the mega hit that is “Choosin’ Texas,” which just spent its 14th week at #1 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100. As it stands today, “Choosin’ Texas” is the longest-running #1 hit by a female country artist on the Hot 100, the only country song by a woman to triple up and go #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100, Hot Country and Country Airplay charts simultaneously and just one of 25 songs in history to stay at #1 for 12+ weeks on the Hot 100.
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.
She’s just on fire right now, simply put, and is also selling out shows all over the country on her Dandelion tour, and it’s really cool to see her getting the attention she deserves and becoming a household name.
And country queen herself, Shania, says she believes that Ella’s authenticity has a lot to do with how her career has taken off, and she believes Ella is connecting with so many people because she is totally herself. She means what she says and you believe it.
In a conversation with Rolling Stone, Shania explained that Ella’s unique sound, coupled with her songwriting chops, have combined to make her a rare talent.
She added that her unapologetic attitude simply commands respect and people take notice, and she has all of the making of a superstar, hence the fact that she is everywhere. Shania also noted that she had never met Ella before, though Shania hosted the ACM Awards in May where Ella swept the night and I believe they at least met briefly then, so I’m not sure exactly when this podcast was recorded though it was just released today:
“I’ve never met Ella Langley, but just from what I’m observing, like all of is, she seems very authentic. She doesn’t come across to em as somebody that’s trying to be somebody else, or trying to write a song that, you know… with an agenda. I see her as an authentic songwriter.
She sounds original, that’s already a bonus, right. She does have a unique sound. So now we already can hear the difference, and she really does seem very unapologetic, and I think that commands respect, it really does. I’m not sorry that I’m a girl, and if I don’t make it, then I’m still gonna get up on stage and sing. I sense that in her aura and her persona.
And the way she delivers a song, she writes the songs, so I think that also makes her more authentic. She means it. I believe her. I believe what she’s saying, I don’t think she’s just making up songs, I think she’s saying what she really thinks.”
I think she’s spot on with her analysis, and Shania added that she also thinks Ella could have “made it” sooner had different door been “wider” for the ladies, saying that, obviously, Ella is extremely talented, and that didn’t just come out of nowhere:
“So is that why she’s really blowing up? Part of it is also, I think, there is more awareness now in the genre that maybe we were a little imbalanced, let’s make some space. In saying that, I would imagine if the awareness and the doors were wider open a few years ago, she would have been there a few years ago.
She’s not just great now, she didn’t’ just come out of nowhere. We feel like she has, her talent has not just come out of nowhere… I’d have to ask her that, maybe she just woke up one day and said, ‘Hey, I can do this.'”
She’s right in that authenticity simply cannot be faked, and people sense it. When it comes to Ella, they have certainly made their choice clear… and I agree wholeheartedly in that she is an authentic artist with an original sound who simply loves music. Plus, we’ve been following her music since 2018, since she was just a college kid sharing covers on social media… she IS 100% authentic, we know that.
Shania didn’t have her first top ten hit until after she was 30-years-old with her 1995 hit “Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under?”, so relatively speaking, I feel like Ella is actually at a lightning speed pace considering she just turned 27 in May. Regardless of age, Ella just has that “it” factor, and while sounding quite different, I feel like Shania and Ella have a lot in common in terms of their crossover appeal.
I could only dream of a collab one day… I think they would just make so much sense.
The full interview is available below.
Shania is gearing up to release her new album Little Miss Twain on July 24th.
Not long ago, Ella shared a cover of Shania’s hit “You’re Still The One,” which was absolutely perfect. She shared the video with the caption:
“I’ll never get over this song Shania.”
Shania responded saying she was “flattered,” and loved getting to meet Ella at the recent ACM Award show, where Shania hosted and Ella had a massive night, sweeping the categories she was nominated in:
“So flattered. Loved getting to connect at ACMs.”
Do yourself a favor and check it out… Ella doesn’t miss:
@ellalangleymusic1 I’ll never get over this song @Shania Twain #cover ♬ original sound – Ella Langley
