A one-of-a-kind artist both on and off the stage.
It’s hard to argue that there’s a bigger artist, not just in the genre but music as a whole, than Ella Langley in 2026. In case you haven’t been keeping up with her and “Choosin’ Texas’” success, it just spent its 21st 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 artist this century, 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 has now tied Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” for the longest-running #1 EVER 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 would also capture other records on the Hot 100, such as becoming the first country artist IN HISTORY to hold the Top 2 songs in the United States simultaneously for more than one week and the first female country artist to score three of the Top 4 hits on the Hot 100 in a single week, becoming one of only nine artists in any genre to accomplish this feat.
Simply put, she has been everywhere. Whether it’s selling out arenas across the country on her own Dandelion Tour and opening up for Morgan Wallen on his potentially record-breaking Still The Problem Tour or scoring collabs with major brands such as American Eagle, Shiner Bock beer, Noyz perfume and more.
One thing that has become incredibly apparent is just how much respect she’s gained from just about everyone in the industry over the past few years — from both a talent and character standpoint. Beyond the record-breaking success recently, she’s earned high praise from the likes of “Choosin’ Texas” co-writer, Miranda Lambert, Eric Church, Jamey Johnson, Shania Twain, Lainey Wilson, Koe Wetzel — all of whom typically focus on her as a person rather than her success.
Over the weekend, Brantley Gilbert, who has scored a plethora of hits over the years, such as “You Don’t Know Her Like I Do,” “Bottoms Up,” “Kick It In the Sticks” and more, shared an incredibly touching moment backstage between Ella and his daughter, Bray, before her show.
As Gilbert explained in the caption, all Bray wanted for her seventh birthday was to see the “Loving Life Again” singer. Noting that he had only met Langley briefly once before at Toby Keith’s tribute show back in 2024, he didn’t know what to expect from her. After an incredible amount of anticipation, Ella finally entered the room, leaving Bray speechless and starstruck — something he noted rarely happens to the seven-year-old.
“My daughter Bray turned 7 and wanted to see Ella Langley. I go way back with her manager and a few people on her team who I now owe giant favors. I’d heard good things about Ella, and we’d briefly met at a Toby tribute, but I was there for Bray. I didn’t really know what to expect.
I’ve seldom seen my daughter nervous. Every time that door opened, her eyes got wide and her world stopped. When Ella walked in, Bray was something she’d never been in her entire life… speechless, and welded to my wife.”
What stuck out to Gilbert, in particular, was how Langley treated her. Recalling their meeting, he’d explain that Ella spent several minutes getting to know Bray and “making her feel special” — something he says he’ll never forget.
“I’ve seen kids starstruck at meet and greets for years. It’s different when the little girl is yours. Watching Ella spend the next several minutes disarming her and making her feel so special is something I’ll never forget. There were other kids in the room and she made every one of them feel the same.”
After praising opener, Kameron Marlowe, Langley, her production team and band, Gilbert would then explain that it was the conversation he had after that really stuck out to him and impressed him the most. Noting that many artist-to-artist conversations in the industry can be very hit or miss — surface-level at its core — the Georgia native called his conversation with Ella the opposite.
Here, he’d offer up high praise to Langley, celebrating her love for her fans, her work ethic and overall humility. As many have said, he’d also point out how “Choosin’ Texas” and the rest of her success didn’t come by accident. Instead, it’s years of hard work, love for the craft and connections made paying off in the long run.
“Before she left I got to talk to her for a few. Artist-to-artist stuff in this business can be hit or miss. Quick. Respectful but obligatory. That was my expectation. This was the opposite. I met an incredible young woman who loves her fans, her music, and the people around her. She’s paid old school dues, earned new school stripes, and gives credit where it’s due. She’s got a record-breaking song for a reason. This ain’t about ‘Choosin’ Texas.’ It’s about choosing to work, pray, sing, and play a dream into reality.”
In response to the heartfelt post, Langley would comment, thanking Gilbert for the kind words and telling him she loved meeting Bray.
“Thank you so much for the kind words. Loved getting to meet Bray! See y’all soon!”
There’s truly no one doing it quite like Ella Langley is right now, and it’s incredible to see her not only carrying the torch for many women in country music but also touching the lives of some of her youngest fans along the way.
Dandelion Tour Dates
9/24/26 Knoxville, TN Food City Center Arena (@, %)
9/25/26 Columbus, OH Schottenstein Center (@, %)
9/26/26 Moline, IL Vibrant Arena (@, %)
10/7/26 Morrison, CO Red Rocks Amphitheatre (@, &)
10/9/26 Tulsa, OK BOK Center (@, %)
10/10/26 Lubbock, TX United Supermarkets Arena (@, %)
10/13/26 Los Angeles, CA The Greek Theatre (@, %)
10/14/26 Los Angeles, CA The Greek Theatre (@, %)
10/29/26 Des Moines, IA Casey’s Center (@, &)
10/30/26 Lincoln, NE Pinnacle Bank Arena (@, &)
10/31/26 Saint Paul, MN Grand Casino Arena (@, &)
Support Acts
@ Kameron Marlowe & Gabriella Rose
% Laci Kaye Booth
