Ella Langley's 'Choosin' Texas' Ties 14-Week Hot 100 Mark Set by Houston and Carey

Q: With country artists like Ella Langley dominating, is the era of pop music's reign finally over?

No. Ella Langley’s run shows country is having a major crossover moment, not that pop’s reign is finished. The evidence points to a broader diversification of mainstream music. Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” has spent 14 weeks at No. 1 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100, while also dominating Hot Country Songs, and she has two other top-10 hits. Stella Lefty’s “Boston” reaching No. 6 adds to the sense that country is expanding beyond its traditional base. Industry data also shows country gaining share in streaming and albums during 2026. But pop remains deeply entrenched. This same top 10 includes Taylor Swift at No. 2, Ariana Grande at No. 4, Olivia Dean with two top-10 hits, Bruno Mars at No. 10, and Tame Impala/JENNIE at No. 5. Dean also leads Radio Songs, a reminder that pop and pop-adjacent records still dominate key listening platforms. On the albums side, pop continues to produce major sellers, and market reports show pop still holding substantial share even as other genres grow. What is changing is less a handoff from pop to country than the collapse of rigid genre boundaries. Langley’s success itself reflects that: “Choosin’ Texas” is a country song, but it is also winning on streaming, sales and pop-facing radio. The 2020s have produced more country songs topping both Hot Country Songs and the Hot 100 than any previous decade. So the better reading is that pop is no longer ruling alone. Country is now a central force in a more competitive, crossover-driven market.

3 articles · Updated · Rolling Stone · Jul 20

Billboard data released Monday put “Choosin’ Texas” in a three-way tie at 14 weeks atop the Hot 100, matching Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” and Mariah Carey’s “We Belong Together” among solo women.
Only one song has ruled longer — Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” at 22 weeks — and Langley still shows momentum with three current Top 10 entries.
“Be Her” sits at No. 3 and Morgan Wallen duet “I Can’t Love You Anymore” is No. 7, while new single “Loving Life Again” is gaining country radio play.
Langley is also expanding her live reach: she played the biggest date of her Dandelion Tour in Hamilton on July 16 and returns to the road in Pikeville, Kentucky, on Thursday.

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Rolling Stone13h ago

Ella Langley's "Choosin' Texas" Ties Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey for 14 Weeks Atop Billboard Hot 100

Billboard15h ago

Ella Langley's "Choosin' Texas" Hits 14 Weeks at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100

Variety13h ago

Ella Langley's "Choosin' Texas" Ties Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey Record on Billboard Hot 100

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Ella Langley's 'Choosin' Texas' Ties 14-Week Hot 100 Mark Set by Houston and Carey

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