{
  "id": 9170628,
  "title": "How Ella Langley’s ‘Choosin’ Texas’ became the longest-running No. 1 hit of all time",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/how-ella-langleys-choosin-texas-became-the-longest-running-no-1-hit",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-22T16:03:37.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "CityNews",
    "slug": "citynews",
    "url": "https://toronto.citynews.ca/2026/09/22/how-ella-langleys-choosin-texas-became-the-longest-running-no-1-hit-of-all-time/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Ella Langley's \"Choosin' Texas\" has shattered records and emerged as the longest-running No. 1 hit in U.S. music history. The song, released in October 2023, spent an impressive 23 weeks at the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100, surpassing hits like Shaboozey's \"A Bar Song (Tipsy),\" Lil Nas X's \"Old Town Road,\" Whitney Houston's \"I Will Always Love You,\" and Mariah Carey's \"All I Want For Christmas Is You.\" The laid-back sound of \"Choosin' Texas\" blends genres, incorporating disco grooves reminiscent of Kacey Musgraves, rock elements, and soul influences. Its cross-genre appeal, along with its relatable heartache narrative, has drawn in a diverse audience, including those outside of traditional country music fans. Luminate data reveals that the song has garnered 911 million on-demand streams in the U.S. and 1.26 billion globally, with Langley's listener base growing from under 1 million on Spotify in early 2023 to over 32 million today. The success of \"Choosin' Texas\" can be attributed to its widespread appeal, characterized by its captivating rhythm, clever lyrics, and a perfect balance of mellow and danceable elements.",
  "summary": "NEW YORK (AP) — Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas,” a simmering, midtempo, country-and-then-some heartbreak song released last October, is indisputably 2026’s biggest hit.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}