Ella Langley membuat pukulan ganda lewat album keduanya, Dandelion. Salah satu lagu dari album yang dirilis pada April 2026, yakni “Choosin’ Texas,” menduduki peringkat pertama tangga lagu Billboard Hot 100 selama 16 minggu.
Pencapaian ini mengalahkan hit legendaris “I Will Always Love You” milik Whitney Houston dan “We Belong Together” dari Mariah Carey, yang “hanya” mampu merajai Billboard Hot 100 selama 14 minggu. Lirik lagu “Choosin’ Texas” ternyata mengisahkan kenyataan pahit akibat kandasnya cinta.
Ditulis keroyokan oleh Ella Langley, Joybeth Taylor, Luke Dick, dan Miranda Lambert, “Choosin’ Texas” menyoal patah hati karena laki-laki yang dicintai jatuh ke pelukan wanita lain dari Texas. Tak ada lagi yang bisa dilakukan selain pasrah setelah melakukan beragam cara. Cinta tak bisa dipaksakan. Hati dan rasa tak bisa diatur seenaknya. Akhirnya, ia hanya bisa minum-minum sendirian untuk melampiaskan sakit hati yang tak terperi. “Choosin’ Texas” bukan satu-satunya pusaka dalam album Dandelion yang fenomenal.
Dua lagu hit lainnya yakni “Be Her” dan “Loving Life Again.” Meski gagal memuncaki Billboard Hot 100, dua lagu ini tak bisa dipandang sebelah mata. “Be Her” pernah bertengger di posisi runner-up Billboard Hot 100 dan “Loving Life Again” di urutan ke-21.
Kesuksesan Dandelion membuat perusahaan rekaman Sawgod dan Columbia Records merilis ulang dalam format Reissue dengan menambahkan lagu anyar, “I Can’t Love You Anymore.” Lagu ini direkam Ella Langley bareng Morgan Wallen yang lagi naik daun.
Performa tembang “I Can’t Love You Anymore” pun tak mengecewakan lantaran menembus top 10 Billboard Hot 100, dengan pencapaian tertinggi di peringkat keempat. Ella Langley kini jadi princess of country.
Dengan bertahan selama 16 minggu di puncak Billboard Hot 100, “Choosin’ Texas” telah menyamai rekor lagu “One Sweet Day” hasil kolaborasi Mariah Carey dan Boyz II Men.
Berikut lirik lagu “Choosin’ Texas.”
Just when i thought i got him to fall in love with Tennessee
I should’ve known better than to take him back to Abilene
I put him right back into her arms
I wasn’t a match for that kind of spark
She’s from Texas, i can tell by the way
He’s two-stepping ‘round the room
And judging by the smile that’s written on his face
There’s nothing i can do
It doesn’t take a crystal ball to see
A cowboy always finds a way to leave
Drinking Jack all by myself
He’s choosin’ Texas, i can tell
Well, i guess he forgot about the Smoky Mountain rain
Them old Hank tunes, the Memphis blues we used to sing
He always loved “Amarillo by Morning”
I should’ve taken that as a warning
She’s from Texas, i can tell by the way
He’s two-stepping ‘round the room
And judging by the smile that’s written on his face
There’s nothing i can do
It doesn’t take a crystal ball to see
A cowboy always finds a way to leave
Drinking Jack all by myself
He’s choosin’ Texas, i can tell
When i’m eastbound and down and i can’t help but cry
‘Cause i-40 gets lonelier with every mile
I’ll know that his mind wasn’t ever gonna change
‘Cause his heart still belongs to the Lone Star State
She’s from Texas, i can tell by the way
He’s two-stepping ‘round the room
And judging by the smile that’s written on his face
There’s nothing i can do, naw, yeah
It doesn’t take a crystal ball to see
A cowboy always finds a way to leave
Drinking Jack all by myself
He’s choosin’ Texas, i can tell, no
Drinking Jack all by myself
He’s choosin’ Texas, i can tell
Come on, baby, oh ho… yeah
Just when i thought i got him to fall in love with Tennessee
