Choosing Choosin’
With 14 weeks and counting atop the charts, why is it so hard for us to call 2026 the summer of Ella Langley?
It’s late July, the time of year when the days are long, the parents are restless, and everyone is consumed with a seasonal debate: What exactly is the Song of the Summer? Though this amorphous title isn’t usually anointed until around Labor Day, the chatter starts almost as soon as the season heats up. In today’s social media-centric, algorithm-driven market, however, it’s harder than ever to reach consensus. Still, one thing seems pretty clear to me — Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” is hands down the song of Summer 2026.
So, why aren’t we admitting it yet?
If the song stays Number One on the Hot 100 this week, “Choosin’ Texas” will surpass Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” and Mariah Carey’s “We Belong Together” as the only non-holiday song by a woman to hold the top spot for more than 15 weeks. According to the Billboard Summer Songs Chart, it’s already the clear winner, with Drake and Taylor Swift trailing behind. Langley’s defining hit is still viral on TikTok, and it’s on both country radio and the dance floor — even Drake, one of Langley’s competitors for this year’s title, played it himself during a DJ set, while others have been offering up their own remixed takes.
