Ella Langley: 5 Hidden Musical Gems

Ella Langley is in rare air as a hitmaker, as her crossover smash “Choosin’ Texas” rules for a fifth week on the Billboard Hot 100 this week (chart dated Apr. 11). Langley joins an elite group of women who have commanded the chart pinnacle in a lead role for five or more weeks with their first No. 1, among them Olivia Rodrigo, Lizzo, Madonna, Adele, Alicia Keys, Beyoncé, Roberta Flack and Debby Boone.

“Choosin’ Texas” also tops the Hot Country Songs chart for a 19th week, and Langley just released her star-studded music video for “Choosin’ Texas,” which was filmed in Fort Worth, Texas, and features Luke Grimes, Miranda Lambert, Kaitlin Butts and Ava Phillippe in key roles, while a plethora of cowboys and other musicians also make cameos.

The song follows Langley’s previous releases including “You Look Like You Love Me” (feat. Riley Green) and “Weren’t for the Wind.”

All of this leads to the release of her upcoming album Dandelion on Friday (April 10). The 18-song project marks a new musical era for Langley, and features not only the previously released “Choosin’ Texas,” “Be Her” and “Loving Life Again,” but also an anticipated collaboration with Miranda Lambert on “Butterfly Season,” and a rendition of the Kitty Wells classic “It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels.” Langley executive produced the album with Lambert and Ben West.

“This record has so much growth in it,” Langley said in a statement when first revealing the album. “I’ve never poured more of myself into a project, into a song, into an idea, and it’s fallen out so beautifully. It’s about learning yourself, making mistakes and realizing that it’s all just part of life.”

As Langley gears up to reveal the next phase of her artistic expression, Billboard looks back at five of Langley’s essential songs, beyond obvious hits like “Choosin’ Texas” and “You Look Like You Love Me.”