Ella Langley’s country smash “Choosin’ Texas” has become wildly successful following previous hits like “Weren’t For The Wind” and “You Look Like You Love Me,” with Riley Green. The heartbreak hit skyrocketed to the No. 1 position on the Billboard Hot 100, making the Alabama-born star the first woman in history to achieve a triple No. 1 across the Hot 100, Hot Country Songs, and Country Airplay charts.
The song has also earned Langley the title of becoming just the third female artist in history to have a No. 1 on both the Hot Country Songs chart and the Billboard Hot 100, at the same time. The only other women to pull that off were Taylor Swift with “All Too Well (Taylor’s Version)” and “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” and Beyoncé with “Texas Hold ‘Em.”
But Langley’s not the only one celebrating her massive charttopper.
Co-written by fellow country powerhouse Miranda Lambert, alongside Joybeth Taylor, and Luke Dick, the song has earned more than 310 million global streams and RIAA Platinum certification. Speaking about how the song came together, Langley shared that it came about during a writing retreat about a year ago.
“I had the amazing opportunity to sit down in a room with Miranda, Luke, and Joybeth on a writing retreat about a year ago. We wrote a bunch of songs together, but the second one really stuck with me,” she explained. “Miranda, being from Texas, started telling us one of her wild stories about drinkin’ and doing something ridiculous, and I said, ‘Well, she’s from Texas, I can tell.’ As soon as I said that, we all just looked at each other like, ‘Yep, that’s it! That’s the next song.’”
The song has continued to take on a life of its own. Lambert even performed “Choosin’ Texas” during her headlining set at the Daytona International Speedway for the Daytona 500, bringing the hit full circle in front of a massive crowd.
“Choosin’ Texas” will appear on Langley’s forthcoming sophomore album, Dandelion, due out April 10, 2026, via SAWGOD/Columbia Records. The project is executive produced by Langley alongside Lambert and Ben West, marking an incredible new chapter for both women and their friendship.
Ahead of the Daytona 500, Lambert, who has enjoyed a decorated decades-long career, spoke about mentoring Langley behind the scenes and stepping into a new role as producer for her upcoming project.
“It’s been so fun to work with Ella and to become really close with her and watch her journey and watch her process,” Lambert told journalists at a recent press conference. “I’ve had an over 20-year career now, so I love that I can use my experience to sort of help guide whatever she needs. Producing and co-writing with her is a new space I’m stepping into, and it’s really been such a cool experience for me. I’ve learned a ton.”
The Texas native went on to add that seeing the song’s success has been especially rewarding.
“It helps when the song works, and it’s blowing up, so it gives you validation and confidence to keep going. You’re doing the right thing,” she explained.
Lambert has also been vocal about her excitement for Dandelion. Earlier this year, she took to Instagram to show her support, writing, “Thank you, Ella, for ‘Choosin’ Texas’ (🙋♀️😘) and for letting me help you produce this amazing record. It’s been an honor working with you and Ben. I cherish your friendship, sister. You are a Dandelion, and I can’t wait for the world to hear this.”
That admiration is mutual.
Fans may recall that Langley joined Lambert onstage at the 2025 ACM Awards to perform “Kerosene.” In a recent interview with the Big D & Bubba Radio Show, Langley revealed that working alongside Lambert had been on her vision board long before it became reality.
“I had a big picture of Miranda Lambert on there two years ago, and it had a little book next to it about writing,” she said. “I got to write with her last year for the first time, and it was just really cool… I even showed it to her. I was like, ‘Don’t think I’m weird!’”
Ella Langley’s Dandelion arrives April 10.
