Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” has broken Mariah Carey’s record for the most weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, with 23 weeks as of September 2026, according to Yahoo News Canada.
The achievement marks the longest-running No. 1 hit for a country song, outlasting Carey’s 22 weeks spent at No. 1 since its release in 1994. Langley, who performed the track at the 61st Academy of Country Music Awards on May 17, 2026, described the milestone as “surreal” earlier this year.
Breaking the Record
“Choosin’ Texas” appeared at No. 1 for a 23rd consecutive week on Tuesday, surpassing Mariah Carey’s 22 weeks. The song, which also claimed Billboard’s Song of the Summer
title earlier this year, has dominated the chart, becoming the first song by a female artist to simultaneously hold the No. 1 spot on Billboard Hot 100, Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay.
Dominance on TouchTunes
Langley’s success extends beyond the Billboard Hot 100. According to Billboard, “Choosin’ Texas” has remained the most-played song on TouchTunes jukeboxes for the second quarter in a row on the TouchTunes Frontline Chart for Q2 of 2026. The track topped the TouchTunes Frontline Chart for Q2, with a 44% rise in plays quarter over quarter. Its dominance is further highlighted by its position as the No. 1 song on the Frontline list. Langley’s other hit, “Be Her,” also ranked No. 3 on the same chart, as “Be Her” zooms to No. 3 after a No. 23 debut for the first quarter with a gain of over 300%.
The TouchTunes data reveals a significant shift in streaming and physical-play habits. With TouchTunes has jukeboxes in more than 60,000 locations worldwide, the Frontline Chart’s methodology—Its data is not factored into other Billboard charts—highlights “Choosin’ Texas”’s unique traction in public spaces. The song’s 17 weeks atop the list in all, as reported by Billboard, aligns with its consistent presence on TouchTunes, suggesting a synergy between digital and on-premises music consumption.
Industry Implications
Langley’s record-breaking success signals a pivotal moment for female artists in country music. “Choosin’ Texas” is the first song by a female artist to simultaneously hold the No. 1 spot on Billboard Hot 100, Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay. This achievement challenges historical underrepresentation of women in the genre’s top tiers. Additionally, the song’s dominance has propelled Langley into a rarefied space, as Billboard noted her as the first time ever that country songs held the top three spots (Taylor Swift’s I Knew It, I Knew You
was No. 2), with her other current hit, “Be Her,” ranked by Billboard at No. 3 on the list.
The broader implications of this success are evident in the competitive landscape. Morgan Wallen’s I’m the Problem
remains at No. 2 for the second-straight quarter, while T.I.’s “Let ‘Em Know” and Drake’s “Janice STFU” entered the top 10. However, Langley’s dual presence on the Hot 100 and TouchTunes underscores her ability to resonate across formats, a rarity in an industry often divided between streaming and traditional radio.
While “Choosin’ Texas” is expected to stay at the No. 1 spot for at least another few weeks, Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas Is You
is also all but guaranteed to earn another week (or two or three or four) on the chart this holiday season. The song, released more than 30 years ago, didn’t hit the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s Hot 100 until 2019 but it has done so for at least two weeks every holiday season since. Three times (around Christmas in 2022, 2024 and 2025) it did so for four consecutive weeks. However, Langley’s record may stand for years, given the current trajectory of her song’s longevity.
For Langley, the milestone represents a career-defining moment. The singer, who has been recognized for her contributions to country music, now holds a place in Billboard history. As the music industry observes this shift, the focus will likely turn to how other artists can replicate her success—both in terms of chart longevity and genre-blending appeal. With “Choosin’ Texas” already cemented as a cultural touchstone, the question remains: what’s next for the artist who has rewritten the rules of the charts?