Breakout country star Ella Langley is rising to stardom on GCSU’s campus with the release of her new album “Dandelion” on April 10, following the massive success of her hit single “Choosin’ Texas” last fall.
“I have listened to her new album 10,000 times and love it more each time,” said Mackenzie Jones, a senior nursing major. “It’s so true to who she is as an artist and is a genius mix of fun and spunky, but also emotional and heartfelt.”
The album has 18 tracks on it, including key singles “Dandelion,” “Choosin’ Texas,” “Be Her” and “Loving Life Again.” It also features a song with Miranda Lambert called “Butterfly Season.”
Langley initially rose to fame on TikTok by posting videos of her singing original songs and covers. Then, in 2024, she and singer Riley Green released a duet called “You Look Like You Love Me,” which reached a huge audience and solidified her plunge into the music industry.
Langley’s hit single “Choosin’ Texas” has dominated charts, spending multiple weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
“‘Choosin’ Texas’ is definitely the summer 2026 song everyone was waiting on,” Jones said.
After Langley’s success over the past couple of years, Jones expressed why she enjoys listening to her music so much.
“All of her music is pure honesty and authenticity,” Jones said. “You can tell she’s singing from the heart and not trying to fit into the ‘new’ country music world. It’s relatable to so many different seasons of life, and that’s what I love about her and her music.”
From being talked about in both pop and country spaces to forming her own unique sound, students believe Langley is having a major moment in her career.
“People are really drawn to artists who feel genuine, and she definitely does,” Jones said. “She’s not trying to fit into a mold, she’s just being herself, and that stands out. Plus, her music is catchy but still meaningful, so it appeals to a lot of different listeners.”
Another reason fans might say she is getting so much attention is from music going viral on social media platforms, specifically TikTok.
“I don’t listen to her much and have not listened to the whole album yet, but I have heard the song ‘Dandelion’ on TikTok,” said Clark Carroll, a senior business management major. “That song is very catchy, and I think that’s why I’m most familiar with it.”
On TikTok, music becomes a “trend” where people use a specific song or sound to do things such as a dance challenge or make a joke.
“People just find the song catchy, and it becomes a ‘trend’ on TikTok, so she is in the spotlight right now,” Carroll said.
Students believe that Langley creates music that is reminiscent of classic country twang and takes a step further into vulnerability.
“I like the black sheep vibes that she brings to female country music,” said Meghan Bennett, a senior music major. “Her album is fantastic. It’s a nice, vulnerable change from her previous albums. My favorites are the title song, ‘Loving Life Again’ and ‘Butterfly Season.’”
Today, country and pop listeners tend to enjoy artists who stay true to their own voice and unique sound.
“After ‘Choosin’ Texas’ was trending, I think people are just naturally drawn to how different her music is and reminds us of early Miranda Lambert,” Bennett said.
Students are loving Langley’s newest album. Song after song, she continues to use her voice to blend classic country with modern pop.
For students interested in learning more about Ella Langley and wanting to give her music a listen, check out her newest album, “Dandelion,” on streaming platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music.
