Ella LangleyArtist profile →
Christmas finally has a rival. “Choosin’ Texas” spent a 23rd week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 this week, which makes Ella Langley’s country smash the longest-running No. 1 in the chart's history and edges past Mariah Carey's perennial “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” which has 22 weeks across its holiday returns since 2019, Billboard reports.
The record arrives on the Hot 100 dated Sept. 26, based on U.S. activity from Sept. 11 to 17, per Billboard and Luminate. In that window the song drew 21.8 million official streams (down 9%), 58.3 million radio audience impressions (up 2%) and 6,000 downloads (up 4%). It jumped 6-2 on Radio Songs, a new high, and extended its run atop Streaming Songs to 23 weeks. It also spent an 18th week on Digital Song Sales, tying BTS's “Dynamite” and “Butter” for the longest reign there.
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Behind it the picture is just as country: Stella Lefty's “Boston” holds at No. 2 and Morgan Wallen's “Been by Now” moves 4-3, giving the genre the top three spots. Third on the all-time list is Lil Nas X's “Old Town Road,” with 19 weeks in 2019.
‘It feels surreal’
Langley wrote the song with Luke Dick, Miranda Lambert and Joybeth Taylor and released it in October 2025. It debuted on the Hot 100 dated Nov. 1, 2025, became her first top 10 in January and first led in February. Her take on its reach has been consistent: surprise.
I think this has been the biggest moment for me, where I’ve seen where fans can change your career.
Ella Langley, to Billboard News, Billboard
She told Rolling Stone why she thinks it connects: “Everyone can relate to wanting something that doesn’t want you back, whether it be a relationship or a job.” On her Dandelion tour she has used her openers to spotlight other women in country, including Gabriella Rose, Kaitlin Butts and Avery Anna, and Butts credits her with a role in the “Choosin’ Texas” video.
What it means
Langley is also the top nominee at the 60th CMA Awards, with nine including entertainer of the year, and Dandelion is back at No. 1 on the album chart. Drake, who has called Langley's songwriting “goated,” flipped the song with Don Toliver in his FOMO short film, per Complex, a remix that hasn't had an official streaming release. Carey, whose song could retake the top slot once the holidays begin, hasn't commented, Rolling Stone notes.
What's next: the VMAs on Sunday (Sept. 27), where “Choosin’ Texas” is up for Song of the Year and Best Country. Here's how that night turned out. After that, the song's next opponent is the calendar: the Christmas classic returns in December.
- Chart
- Billboard Hot 100 dated Sept. 26, 2026
- Weeks at No. 1
- 23 (previous record: 22, “All I Want for Christmas Is You”)
- Tracking week
- Sept. 11-17: 21.8M streams, 58.3M radio impressions, 6,000 sold
- Writers
- Ella Langley, Luke Dick, Miranda Lambert, Joybeth Taylor
Added to the High Grailed archive on October 12, 2026.
