‘Choosin’ Texas’ singer Ella Langley faces public scrutiny amid rise

Why Ella Langley is drowning in public scrutiny against the backdrop of a career high.

Key points

• A native of Hope Hull, Alabama, Langley has been taking country music by storm since the release of her debut album, "Hungover, " in 2024.
• Ella Langley fans in Knoxville jokingly booed during "Choosin' Texas" as hype builds for Tennessee's showdown with top ranked Texas.
• And at Sunday's MTV Video Music Awards, Langley won her first moon person for best country video.
• Langley has additionally earned a stamp of approval from the "Queen of Country Pop, " Shania Twain.
• Her follow-up studio effort, "Dandelion, " was published in April and signaled a tipping point in Langley's rising star status.

Why Ella Langley is drowning in public scrutiny against the backdrop of a career high. Edward Segarra USA TODAY. See Ella Langley gets playful boos in Tennessee over 'Choosin' Texas'.

Ella Langley may be music's newest It girl, but that doesn't mean she's winning the popularity contest.

Meanwhile, the 27-year-old country music newcomer, who's experiencing a mainstream breakthrough with her megahit "Choosin' Texas, " is additionally facing a wave of public scrutiny against the backdrop of her rise to fame.

"I don't think I've ever had more opinions on myself in my life than I have in this last year, " Langley remarked at a Sept. 25 concert in Columbus, Ohio. "The way I look, the way I speak, the way I dress, the way I move, the way I sing, the way I write."

Langley's candid remarks come against the backdrop of a career high for the CMA Award-winning singer. Earlier this week, "Choosin' Texas" racked up its 24th week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, extending its historic streak as the longest-running hit of all time on the chart.

But these accolades are belied by an uptick in online criticism, with a number of commenters blasting Langley's meteoric success and questioning her talent. The quip, "'Choosin' Texas'? Never heard of it, " has even emerged on social media as a shorthand for fans' distaste.

"If this is what I'm signed up to do, I don't know about this, you know?" Langley remarked at her recent concert. "I signed up to sing music, and I love to do what I do, but if this is what it's going to be the whole entire time, I mean. I don't know if I'm solid enough for this." Who is Ella Langley?

Notably, a native of Hope Hull, Alabama, Langley has been taking country music by storm since the release of her debut album, "Hungover, " in 2024. The album rapidly put the burgeoning singer-songwriter on the map, hitting the top 5 of Billboard's Top Country Albums chart and spawning the hit Riley Green duet "You Look Like You Love Me."

Her follow-up studio effort, "Dandelion, " was published in April and signaled a tipping point in Langley's rising star status. The platinum-certified album topped the Billboard 200 chart and earned the singer her first No. 1 on the Hot 100 with lead single "Choosin' Texas." More Ella Langley news: Singer impresses Shania Twain with viral cover.

Langley has additionally earned a stamp of approval from the "Queen of Country Pop, " Shania Twain. This person opened up concerning her love for the singer's music in a May interview with USA TODAY.

"She brings me back to the early country that I grew up with and was singing as a child, " Twain remarked. "I've heard a lot of producers and writers say, 'Well, we don't want to be too country, ' or, 'That's too country.' And I'm thinking, 'What is too country?' So, Ella Langley to me is really country Western, and I've missed that in the genre." Ella Langley 'Texas' success gets backlash: 'Way overrated'.

Langley has additionally attracted her fair share of detractors against the backdrop of her musical ascent.

"Unpopular opinion, but Ella Langley is way overrated, " @ysteve747 wrote on X. "Her vocals are mid at best. Not sure what all the accolades are regarding."

Ella Langley speaks out: Country star addresses criticism in emotional concert speech.

"I'm excited for someone to end Ella Langley, " another X user commented, taking aim at the weekslong reign of her song "Choosin' Texas."

"I ain't ever heard nobody said, 'Aye yo, turn on that Ella Langley, '" @s3xonthebeat wrote. Despite the backlash, more fans have come to Langley's defense.

"Ella Langley owning that top spot after such a run is seriously impressive, " X user @Natazbig wrote of the continued success of "Choosin' Texas." "What a moment for country music."

"Ella Langley's song is a hit, and her album is really good, " @blaq__ wrote on Threads. "Just because you didn't tune in or consume the media because it was in your blind spot, doesn't mean it didn't happen."

For her part, Langley is learning to tune out the noise of people's opinions.

During her recent concert in Columbus, Ohio, Langley reflected on the public scrutiny she's been facing. The singer remarked her perspective on the criticism began to change when she thought concerning her younger self and the sacrifices she created while pursuing her dream.

"The girl that they're kind of picking on is the girl that got me where I'm sitting here today, " Langley informed concertgoers. "That's the girl that rode in a 15-passenger van night after night after night. She rode in a Honda Accord night after night after night, chased her dream, living on bar food, living on tip jar funds."

It's that same determination that Langley remarked will assist her navigate this tumultuous chapter in her career.

" didn't have anything but a dream and the ability to get up and do it every single day, " Langley remarked. "So, I'm going to tell you right now, I am proud of that girl that everybody seems to be picking on all the time." Contributing: Sameen Chaudhry and Ralphie Aversa, USA TODAY. SMS Facebook Twitter Email. Share your feedback to support improve our site! Share your feedback to support improve our site!

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