Can’t be stopped.
In what seems like one of the greatest success stories in country music history, Ella Langley’s rise to all-genre superstardom has been one to behold over the past two years. If you’ve been paying close attention within the genre over the years, it was more than apparent that the Alabama native was bound to be a star, catching early buzz with tracks like “Country Boy’s Dream Girl,” “paint the town blue” and “That’s Why We Fight” with Koe Wetzel. With that being said, however, I don’t think anyone could have predicted the world-dominating, record-smashing success she’s had recently.
Launching off the success of her Riley Green collaboration, “you look like you love me” throughout 2024 and 2025, as well as other hits such as “weren’t for the wind,” the Alabama native has become nothing short of a phenomenon thanks to the megahit that is “Choosin’ Texas,” And, in turn, she has captured the hearts of nearly everyone in the country and the world over the past year.
Last week, “Choosin’ Texas” officially stood alone as the longest-running #1 hit in U.S. history with 23 weeks, passing Mariah Carey’s long-standing record of 22 atop the all-genre Billboard Hot 100.
In case you haven’t been keeping up with all the records she broke along the way to the top, here’s a brief rundown of the notable ones.
Since its release on October 17th, “Choosin’ Texas” is now 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. 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.
The two months have been particularly historic for Langley and the smash hit. With “Choosin’ Texas” spending its 15th and 16th weeks at #1, it became the longest-running #1 hit by a female artist this century. In case that wasn’t enough, she helped the genre make history when only country songs made up the Top 5 on the Hot 100 last week, including the likes of Morgan Wallen’s brand-new single, “Been By Now,” Taylor Swift’s return to country music, “I Knew It, I Knew You,” from Toy Story 5, Langley and Wallen’s collaboration, “I Can’t Love You Anymore” and Stella Lefty’s controversial viral hit, “Boston.”
After making history last week and passing Carrey’s record, this week, Langley and “Choosin’ Texas” officially extended its lead and spent its 24th week at #1, garnering 22.3 million official streams, 57.9 million airplays on radio and 9,000 units sold.
Per usual, Langley continues to dominate other Billboard charts as well. This week, the track also topped Streaming Songs (24th week), Digital Songs Sales (19th week) and Hot Country Songs (42th week), which is now just the third song ever to cross the 40-week threshold along with Bebe Rexha and Florida Georgia Line’s “Meant to Be” (50 weeks) and Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” (45 weeks).
The 19th week at #1 on Digital Songs Sales is particularly historic. Now, “Choosin’ Texas” also claims the longest-running #1 on that chart as well, passing K-pop superstars, BTS’s, “Dynamite” and “Butter” (18 weeks).
Unfortunately, it appears that “Choosin’ Texas” will spend its first week at #2 since June 22nd next week, according to chart forecasters on X (formerly Twitter), such as Talk of the Charts. Of course, this is due to Taylor Swift releasing her four-song deluxe edition of her record-breaking album, Life of a Showgirl. In particular, the lead single, “Patient Zero,” which conveniently received three alternative, physical editions, is projected to top the chart (and “Choosin’ Texas”) by nearly 100 points.
With that being said, however, it appears that “Choosin’ Texas” can rebound to #1 in the coming weeks. Either way Langley and the smash hit have already etched their name in American history, and any additional weeks at #1 are simply icing on the cake.
Longest-Running Billboard Hot 100 #1 Hits
1. “Choosin’ Texas” – Ella Langley (24 weeks)
2. “All I Want for Christmas Is You” – Mariah Carey (22 weeks)
T3. “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” – Shaboozey (19 weeks)
T3. “Old Town Road” – Lil Nas X feat. Billy Ray Cyrus (19 weeks)
4. “Last Night” – Morgan Wallen (16 weeks)
5. “Despacito” – Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee feat. Justin Bieber (16 weeks)
6. “One Sweet Day” – Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men (16 weeks)
7. “As It Was” – Harry Styles (15 weeks)
“Choosin’ Texas”
