Ella Langley’s ‘Choosin’ Texas’ Finally Breaks Mariah Carey’s All-Time Record for Weeks at No. 1, Eclipsing ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You’

Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” has now logged an unprecedented 23 weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100, breaking the record it had briefly tied with Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas.” Carey’s 1994 seasonal staple, which resurfaces at No. 1 each December, had held the all-time mark at 22 weeks. The holiday track could retake the record as early as January, yet with no obvious challenger on the horizon, Langley may widen her advantage before the festive period arrives. For context, the Hot 100 has been published since 1958, and only a handful of songs have ever spent more than 16 weeks at the summit—making any run beyond 20 weeks a genuine outlier in chart history.

What makes this streak even more striking is the single’s continued discovery by new listeners. “Choosin’ Texas” has now notched 48 weeks on the chart, with nearly half of those at No. 1. Conventional wisdom might suggest that even devoted fans would tire of a track after so long, but the opposite has played out. Pop radio programmers, who once balked at embracing Nashville artists, have steadily added the song to their rotations, exposing it to audiences far beyond the country format. In today’s fragmented listening landscape, that crossover pull has been essential to keeping the single’s momentum alive rather than letting it dwindle. As one veteran industry observer put it, “She’s not just having a moment—she’s redefining what a country crossover can look like in the streaming era.”

Langley’s album “Dandelion” remains a commercial force in its own right. Last week it climbed back to No. 1 on the Billboard 200, though this week it slips to No. 2 after Jhene Aiko’s “Westside Whimsy” debuts at the top. While the album may not match the record-setting pace of its lead single, it continues to perform strongly. Aiko, a Grammy-nominated R&B artist known for albums like “Souled Out” and “Chilombo,” now adds another chart-topping debut to her growing list of achievements. The Billboard 200, which ranks albums by equivalent units combining streaming, sales, and track downloads, has seen Aiko place consistently high since her 2013 debut, but “Westside Whimsy” marks her first time opening at No. 1.

Looking ahead, Langley faces a packed fall schedule. Grammy nominations will be revealed on Nov. 16, and she is widely expected to be a major contender, potentially ending a long drought for country acts in the top four general-field categories. Just two days later, on Nov. 18, the CMA Awards will air from Nashville, where Langley leads all nominees with nine nods. The CMAs, organized by the Country Music Association since 1967, remain one of the genre’s most prestigious honors, and a strong showing there could further cement her standing. Whether this momentum translates into major trophies remains to be seen, but the buzz surrounding her is undeniable.