Ella Langley is making a significant impact on the music scene as her single “Choosin’ Texas” leaps from No. 48 to No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, as of January 10. Released in October, the track began gathering steam late last year but was temporarily overshadowed by the influx of holiday music that typically dominates the chart in December. With the holiday songs now out of the picture, “Choosin’ Texas” can shine, propelling Langley into the top five and marking her first-ever Top 10 hit.
Langley’s achievement is noteworthy in an industry where country music by women is relatively scarce. Since 2000, only 12 women and all-female groups have reached the Hot 100’s top 10 with a country song, representing a mere 4.1% of the total 1,512 songs that have made it into the top 10 in the same period. Impressively, only 1.7% of these entries were country songs by female artists.
Providing further context, many artists who have achieved a top 10 position recently often have origins in pop music, occasionally venturing into country for specific projects. Notable examples include Beyoncé, Chappell Roan, and Tate McRae, who have crossed genres to achieve chart success.
Langley’s ascent with “Choosin’ Texas” is especially compelling, as she is among the few women whose career focuses predominantly on country music rather than coming from a pop background. This breakthrough reflects both the obstacles faced by women in country music and the significance of Langley’s success as a standalone artist whose roots remain firmly planted in the genre.
Highlighting the historical context, many of the past entries in the Hot 100’s top 10 by women in country music include heavyweights like Faith Hill, Carrie Underwood, and Taylor Swift, who have dominated the charts over the past two decades.
Ella Langley’s impressive rise not only showcases her talent and determination but also serves as a beacon of hope for aspiring women artists within the country music landscape, illustrating that success is possible despite the inherent challenges.