Calling It Now: Ella Langley Has the 2026 “Song of the Summer”
Sure, there’s a little bit more race to run. But at this point, Ella Langley has gotten so far out in front and lapped so much of the field, it’s a forgone conclusion how this race is will end, and against some massive competitors like Taylor Swift and Drake. And Ella Langley’s win is also a win for country music, and traditional country specifically.
This week, Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” spend its 13th week at #1 atop the Billboard all-genre Hot 100. This just adds more historic benchmarks to the song’s already historic run. At this point, the only other singles in popular American music history that have done better by a solo woman are “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston (1992-93), and Mariah Carey’s “We Belong Together” (2005). They both spent 14 weeks at #1. You also have Mariah’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” but that’s another story.
If “Choosin’ Texas” spends another week at #1, it will tie those two juggernaut songs, and if it spends two weeks more it will best them. At this point, it would be a shock if it doesn’t do this. There’s really nothing else to challenge the song’s dominance. Taylor Swift tried with her Toy Story track, but it sits strongly at #2 at the moment. Ella’s only other competition is, well, Ella. He song “Be Her” is the #3 song on the Hot 100, while her duet with Morgan Wallen “I Can’t Love You Anymore” is #4.
Meanwhile, Ella’s biggest competition for “Song of the Summer,” which is Drake’s “Janice STFU,” sits at #8 on the Hot 100 this week.
Though the “Song of the Summer” is often considered more of a vibe thing than a measurable metric, Billboard does keep a chart of it. Of course, Ella Langley and “Choosin’ Texas” are leading it, and with only six weeks to go, don’t really have anyone nipping at their heels.
And just appreciate that all this is coming from a single that was initially released in October of 2025, and had made such a racket by the end of the year, was awarded Saving Country Music’s Single of the Year. Here in the dead of summer, it’s still going as strong as ever.
The only thing left to settle about “Choosin’ Texas” is if it’s the most successful country single of all-time. It’s hard to argue against it owning that distinction from a country woman at this point. From a charting standpoint, it already owns that distinction.
It’s not surprising that at this point, some have become tired of Ella Langley and “Choosin’ Texas.” After all, it’s been so dominant and ever-present for so long. But irrespective of how you feel about the song or whether you even liked it in the first place, it’s hard to not cheer for this historic moment from a woman from the country realm, and with a song that is so country. It’s like nothing we’ve ever seen before in the history of the genre. And savor it now like the summer, because we may never see a moment like this in country ever again.
– – – – – – – –
If you found this article valuable, consider leaving Saving Country Music A TIP.
July 14, 2026 @ 10:55 am
I’ve been listening to country music since I was 5 years old and just turned 54. I know a real true talent…and I do hear it in Ms. Langley. As soon as she starts singing you know it’s her. Very strong and unique voice kind of like a Patsy Cline, Kitty Wells or Dolly Parton. I’m usually for the traditional country music singer but this lady has IT!!!!! Can’t wait to hear more from this amazing artist.
July 14, 2026 @ 10:59 am
At this moment, Drake can’t really be considered serious competition. He may still be going strong and getting love from the stans – who, at this point, seem to be made more of incels than anything else. But the whole Kendrick thing did do him damage that I don’t think he can quite completely shake up. He’s pretty much running on credit.
Really, the only serious competition, at this point in time, would be Taylor, Olivia Rodrigo or the remnants of Olivia Dean’s two big hits, with Stella Lefty still ascendant, Tame Impala & JENNIE still not quite letting go and Yung Miami’s “Spend Dat” not yet in the Top 20, but gathering steam week by week. And Olivia, a bit like Drake, has one disadvantage: the fact that the numbers are being distributed by a host of songs, instead of just one or two.
So yes, even if “Choosin’ Texas” eventually starts losing steam (and it’s not; it still has a bullet on both streaming and radio), I think you’re right. It’s gotten so far ahead of the curve at this point, it feels like a foregone conclusion.