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.”
