The Irony of Doja Cat’s Cutting Comments on Ella Langley
It’s only a matter of time until Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” is officially crowned the biggest single in American music history. It’s already the longest-running #1 single on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 for a song that’s not a Christmas track at 20 weeks this week. There was some wonder if a Dolly Parton song might sneak up and surpass “Choosin’ Texas” in the wake of the country legend’s passing, but that didn’t happen. Nor have singles from massive superstars like Taylor Swift, Drake, and Olivia Rodrigo been able to surpass it.
The only hurdle left to jump is surpassing Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” which of course receives an annual boost by being showcased around the Holidays as a standard, and has topped the chart for 22 non-consecutive weeks.
Due to the overwhelming success of “Choosin’ Texas,” there’s of course some polarization, and frankly, jealousy surrounding the song. When asked on an August, 23rd episode of the podcast Sundae Conversation if she was a fan of Ella Langley, pop/hip-hop star Doja Cat responded, “I don’t know what that is.”
Doja Cat later said on an Instagram live stream, “I really don’t just give a [expletive] about country music, and I don’t understand what’s so hard to believe about that. I never cared. I like that one Keith Urban song from 2004 … I don’t care for that type of s— at all. It doesn’t inspire me. It doesn’t make me feel good.”
Doja Cat went on to say that Ella Langley is “probably a fine lady,” but after listening to “Choosin’ Texas” said, “This is not my vibe, but she has a very pretty voice. If this is No. 1 on the charts, I’m sure it’s on the radio. I could see them playing this [expletive] on the radio. I don’t like it, but that’s fine. It’s very earwormy it sounds like, it’s like [a] catchy melody. I get it, and she’s pretty.”
The dismissive attitude from Doja Cat is not surprising, even if her candidness is pretty uncommon in popular music. This is how many people feel about country music, while if a country artists said this about a hip-hop star, it probably would have made more headlines, and seen as problematic.
Whenever you post something about a polarizing artist online, one common refrain on social media is “never heard of her,” even if it’s not even a woman being referred to, and even if the people issuing the line don’t know its origins. But the origination of the line is actually the one woman Ella Langley has left to best on the Billboard Hot 100 all-time chart: Mariah Carey.
The meme comes from a 2003 red carpet interview with Mariah Carey when she was asked to comment on Jennifer Lopez. Carey responded, “I don’t know her.” Over time, the quote got transmogrified to “Never heard of her.” Carey has subsequently on numerous occasions defended herself saying that she wasn’t trying to land a cut on Lopez, but sincerely didn’t know her on a personal basis at that time, and was simply answering honestly.
After issuing the “I don’t know what that is” line about Ella Langley, it’s definitely fair to say that Doja Cat doubled down on her dismissive criticism, probably showing her hand that she knew exactly what she was speaking about. Ella Langely’s response was pretty mild, and measured, simply posting a carousel of photos from tour on Instagram with the caption, “Ella Langley, What is that?”
But when Ella Langley likely overtakes Mariah Carey’s Christmas song, it will be Ella Langley with the last laugh.
September 2, 2026 @ 11:16 am
Funny, because I had to look up who Doja Cat was when this story first came across my timeline. I don’t like rap or pop and don’t listen to it and had no idea who she was. If she doesn’t listen to country music, I can see why she may not have known who Ella was, but she should have been more diplomatic about it.
Trigger, any thoughts on Sony and Langley forcing Cletus T. Judd to take down his “Be Her” parody? Been seeing a bit of backlash from fans over that.
September 2, 2026 @ 11:44 am
Did this really happen? I mean, it is a really, really bad parody. As in so bad it parodies the idea of parodies. I’m not sure if that’s the point or not, but if it isn’t, then Cletus has lost his edge over the years. That, or his schtick always had an expiration date.
September 2, 2026 @ 11:52 am
I never saw it. Just suddenly he was all over my feeds crying in videos about it.
September 2, 2026 @ 1:06 pm
Parody songs are protected by the 1st Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. Cletus T Judd has every right to post his song, and Elly Langley’s label has no right to demand it be taken down. That doesn’t mean they didn’t. I’m still waiting for the other shoe to fall with this, specifically to see if Ella Langley’s camp responds. Because the story makes no sense, and Cletus has a history of …well … he has a history.
September 2, 2026 @ 11:30 am
IDGAF
September 2, 2026 @ 11:43 am
I don’t know what the hell a doja cat is.
September 2, 2026 @ 11:46 am
I am sorta surprised this site loves Langley so much. While there’s some steel guitar and she says the word Texas like 100 times it still a pop song. Both the production and lyrics are super pop oriented, especially the over processed vocals, and whatever is going on with the drums. I don’t think it’s bad, just surprised you all like it so much. If you like pop country I would really recommend Elizabeth Nichols. The production is somehow both less pop and less country, but it is really good. The lyrics are awesome.
TLDR-check out Elizabeth Nichols.
September 2, 2026 @ 12:56 pm
“Choosin’ Texas” is a traditional-leaning country song, full stop. It’s not just a straight country song. It’s not a pop country song. It’s not even a country pop song. And it absolutely is not a pop song, whatsoever, full stop.
I hate to come across as arrogant or pedantic with that proclamation, but it’s just truth. Simply including any steel guitar means the song is recused from being considered straight pop. The people proclaiming it as a pop song are coming from an aged perspective. Pop in 2026 is Doja Cat. Pull up Spotify or wherever you stream music, pick any Doja Cat song, and listen. That’s pop, and it is in no way apt to compare to “Choosin’ Texas.”
I’ve seen some say that “Choosin’ Texas” would have been considered pop country in 1980. They might be right about that. But 1980 was 46 years ago. I see this same misunderstanding of perspective when people criticize 20 somethings making ’90s-sounding country. They’re not trying to sound “retro” or rehash anything. They weren’t even born in 1989. THey’re playing the country music they grew up with that their parents were playing.
“Super pop” songs don’t mention two step dancing, or Texas, and “super pop” production doesn’t have live drums and steel guitar.
“Choosin’ Texas” is a traditional-leaning country song. And this site doesn’t “love” it as much as it’s a historic moment for ANY song to become the longest-running #1 in history. For that song to be a country song makes it required coverage by a country outlet. It would be wild for it to not be covered here.
September 2, 2026 @ 11:51 am
Per her Wikipedia page:
“As a teenager in 2012, Doja Cat gained her stage name from one of her cats as well as her favorite strain of marijuana”
Sounds about right.
September 2, 2026 @ 12:04 pm
I’m not going to blame Doja Cat for not liking a song. It’s her opinion and I’m fine with that.
September 2, 2026 @ 12:07 pm
Whatever. At least Ella Langley didn’t begin her career as a product of a predator. Doja Cat would not have a career if not for Dr. Luke.
September 2, 2026 @ 12:18 pm
Weird to assume you know everything about Langley’s producers and management. Also weird to blame Dojo Cat for something Dr. Luke did. I think Me Too may have ran it’s course if we are at the point we’re degrading female co-workers of the men who transgressed.
September 2, 2026 @ 12:14 pm
Im sorry Trigger, that quote from Doja Cat is not worth making a blog post on. “I dont like that song because Country Music is not my vibe, its a catchy song and shes pretty tho” should not warrant outrage or click bait. If we are gonna have a harsh reaction (or any reaction) to that, then we dont have a snowballs chance in Hell in getting beyond ai slop intended to get different people calling each other n*zis over completely irrelevant but rage baited crap.
September 2, 2026 @ 12:22 pm
Most of the comments so far are people denigrating Dojo Cat. It’s so strange to get riled up about what she said. I said it in an earlier comment, but this readership absolutely loves Langley. I think we’ve been served shit over the radio for so long the first time a hot chick rhymes” texas” with “exes” they get hard.
September 2, 2026 @ 1:09 pm
Guess when George Strait (pun somewhere in there) did it it wasn’t enough eh?
Also I really like Ella Langleys stuff too, and most of my friends who don’t care about country have heard Choosin Texas and generally like it. In not sure why it matters if not everyone cares… the “I don’t know her” reference is a stretch imo.
September 2, 2026 @ 1:03 pm
Yeah, this is not an “outrage” article or a rant. What I said was,
“The dismissive attitude from Doja Cat is not surprising, even if her candidness is pretty uncommon in popular music. This is how many people feel about country music.”
The point of this article was to dovetail Doja Cat’s comments with Mariah Carey’s, and then point out that it’s Mariah’s record that Ella Langley is currently chasing. In no way am I trying to stir outrage. I was pointing out the irony. That’s what was said in the title.
September 2, 2026 @ 12:19 pm
Doja Cat? A new name to me. Has she had a number 1. Not classy comments but she does not sound like someone with much class. Its her opinion and she is entitled to it. For Langley’s song to be number 1 for so long is staggering. Even more staggering is that it is a rather good country song. I am not really sure anyone will care about Doja’s opinion.
September 2, 2026 @ 12:24 pm
She was specifically asked her opinion. It seems like someone cared.
September 2, 2026 @ 12:30 pm
Yes Doja cat has had 2 number one singles, in 2020 with Nikki Minaj and in 2023 as a solo artist. The more you know
September 2, 2026 @ 12:39 pm
A mud-wrestling contest should settle this.
September 2, 2026 @ 12:52 pm
“Whenever you post something about a polarizing artist online, one common refrain on social media is ‘never heard of her'”
In the age of Echo and Narcissus, that could well be true.