American country singer Ella Langley has spent a 16th consecutive week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Choosin’ Texas”, the longest run ever for a female artist outside of Christmas songs.
The record was reported on August 6, 2026 by DR, which described the 27-year-old singer from Alabama as still relatively unknown in Denmark. According to DR, the previous non-Christmas record for a female artist was 14 weeks, shared by Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston.
The chart run is documented by Billboard, which tracks the song’s 16 straight weeks at No. 1. The music magazine Rolling Stone has named “Choosin’ Texas” the song of the summer of 2026.
Attention in the United States has grown alongside the chart run. CNN published a piece on July 29, 2026 examining the track’s rapid rise and questioning whether its own readers knew the singer at all.
Speaking on DR’s P1 program “K-Live”, country music commentator Evelina Gold linked the breakthrough to social media. Per Gold, Langley belongs to a generation that uses TikTok and similar platforms to skip industry steps and reach fans directly.
Gold also pointed to a large group of dedicated fans and influencers who share content about the singer. As she described it, a notable part of that audience consists of male country fans across ages and states who travel to shows and maintain a non-toxic community.
According to Gold, country music is enjoying wider popularity in both sound and style. She cited the drama series “Yellowstone” and the video game “Red Dead Redemption”, and in particular their soundtracks, as contributing factors.
Langley is frequently compared to Dolly Parton, DR notes. Gold said Langley has built an image as a down-to-earth woman, speaks often about faith and God, and has so far avoided political statements. Gold referred to a 2020 post in which Langley wore a T-shirt with checkboxes for Republicans, Democrats and country, with only country ticked.
Established artists have backed her, according to Gold. Miranda Lambert has acted as a self-appointed mentor, co-produced the album “Dandelion” and co-wrote “Choosin’ Texas”. Gold added that Shania Twain has called Langley authentic, a key seal of approval in the genre.
Criticism in Denmark
The song has not been universally praised on the Danish music scene. The outlet Soundvenue wrote in July 2026, when the track had 15 weeks at No. 1, that the songwriting was uninspired and the lyrics a string of clichés.
Gold told DR that Langley is a neotraditionalist who returns to 1990s country instruments and themes, while adding pop beats. She also said Langley has received less criticism than much other mainstream country of the past decade.
