Choosin' Texas

"Choosin' Texas" is a song by American country music singer Ella Langley. It was released on October 17, 2025 as the lead single from her upcoming second studio album, Dandelion. She wrote it with Luke Dick, Miranda Lambert and Joybeth Taylor, and produced it with Ben West. The song features background vocals from Lambert.

Background

The song was created at a writing retreat in October 2024. Miranda Lambert told Ella Langley some humorous stories from her younger years, including one in which she was pulled over with her pet kangaroo in the passenger seat and commented to the female officer that she had Texas license plates. From there, Langley came up with the phrase "She's from Texas, I can tell", which developed into the lyrics "She's from Texas, I can tell by the way he's two-steppin' around the room". In about 30 minutes, the song was composed.
Langley debuted the song live in February 2025, during a concert at Banita Creek Hall in Nacogdoches, Texas.
Langley has been rumored to be involved in a love triangle with country singers Riley Green and Megan Moroney, though all of them have denied it. Some pointed out that the cover art looked strikingly similar to a fan-snapped photo of two people believed to be Green and Moroney driving in Alabama. However, it also includes a road sign reading "Welcome to Amarillo" and none of the three are from Texas, which is the focus of the song. During a performance of the song at the Georgia Theatre in October 2025, Langley changed the lyrics "Lone Star state" to "Bulldog state" to reflect the state where she was performing, which is a common practice among country artists. Some interpreted that this was directed at Moroney and Green, since Moroney is a Georgia native and fan of the Georgia Bulldogs. Nevertheless, Langley has publicly refused to disclose who the song is about.

Composition

The song contains guitar, including steel guitar. Lyrically, Ella Langley croons about a lover who has left her for a Texas woman. In the first verse, she reflects on her initial belief that he was falling in love with her and Tennessee. Later on, she wrestles with her regret and accepts the truth as she realizes his heart has always belonged to Texas. Langley recalls the signs that foreshadowed this fact earlier in their relationship, such as his love for the song "Amarillo by Morning" by Texan artist George Strait. The song also references "East Bound and Down", a track by Jerry Reed, who is from Tennessee, and Ronnie Milsap's "Smoky Mountain Rain".

Critical reception

Caitlin Hall of Holler wrote "Sonically, 'Choosin' Texas' fits right into Langley's wheelhouse; upbeat, catchy, and full of that Southern grit she's become known for. It's got that modern Country Radio polish but still keeps its twang". She also stated "The melody swings like a line dance, effortlessly upbeat even while the lyrics sting. It's the kind of song you could cry to in the car or sing along with at a live show, the best kind of country contradiction". Jessica Nicholson of Billboard remarked, "The production, the rhythm, the message and Langley's unmistakable voice meld mightily to make this an irresistible track and further cement Langley as one of the genre's brightest newcomers".

Commercial performance

"Choosin' Texas" debuted at No. 39 on the Billboard Hot 100, her highest debut to date. On February 2, 2026, it peaked at No. 2, becoming her first top 10 entry on the all-genre chart. She became the twelfth woman since 2000 to break the top five. The song also became her first number one on the Hot Country Songs chart and the Billboard Streaming Songs chart.