Ella Langley’s ‘Choosin’ Texas’ Tops Billboard Hot 100, Bad Bunny & Noah Kahan Craft Waves

Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” ascended to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart dated February 14, 2026, marking the singer-songwriter’s first leader on the list. Notably, both Langley and Miranda Lambert appear among the song’s writers and producers, each achieving a first in those roles on the Hot 100. The song also distinguishes itself as the first by a woman to simultaneously hold the No. 1 position on the Hot 100, Hot Country Songs, and Country Airplay charts.

Chart Success for ‘Choosin’ Texas’

“Choosin’ Texas” has maintained its position atop the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for eleven weeks and reached No. 1 on the Country Airplay ranking for the first time. The single is featured on Langley’s upcoming album, Dandelion, scheduled for release on April 10.

Other Chart Highlights

Noah Kahan achieved his highest-charting hit with the debut of “The Great Divide” at No. 6 on the Hot 100. Bad Bunny’s “DtMF” re-entered the chart at No. 10 following his performance at the Grammy Awards on February 1.

‘DtMF’ and Photographic Titles

Bad Bunny’s “DtMF” (which translates to “I Should’ve Taken More Photos”) joins Ringo Starr’s 1973 hit “Photograph” as one of only two No. 1 songs on the Hot 100 to include a form of the word “photo” in their titles. Nickelback’s “Photograph” reached No. 2 in 2005, and Ed Sheeran’s “Photograph” peaked at No. 10 in 2015.

Abbreviated Titles on the Hot 100

“DtMF” continues a trend of abbreviated titles reaching the top of the Hot 100. In 2011, Katy Perry featuring Kanye West with “E.T.”, Rihanna featuring Britney Spears with “S&M,” and Perry again with “Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)” all reached No. 1.

New York-Themed Hits

Bad Bunny’s “Nuevayol” reached a new peak of No. 5 on the Hot 100, becoming the highest-charting song specifically referencing New York in its title. Other top 40 hits referencing New York include The Manhattan Transfer’s “Boy From New York City” (No. 7, 1981), The Ad Libs’ “The Boy From New York City” (No. 8, 1965), Ace Frehley’s “New York Groove” (No. 13, 1979), and Taylor Swift’s “Welcome to New York (Taylor’s Version)” (No. 14, 2023).

‘Choose’ and ‘Choice’ in Song Titles

Prior to “Choosin’ Texas,” Color Me Badd’s “Choose” reached No. 23 in 1994 as the highest-charting song with a form of “choose” or “choice” in its title.

Ella Fitzgerald’s Chart Legacy

Before Ella Langley, Ella Fitzgerald had a significant presence on Billboard charts prior to the Hot 100’s inception in 1958, with hits like “Cow-Cow Boogie,” “I’m Making Believe,” “Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall,” and “Stone Cold Dead in the Market.” Her version of “Mack the Knife” reached No. 27 in 1960.

Previous ‘Ella’ Chart Successes

Before Langley, Ella Mai’s “Boo’d Up” reached No. 5 in 2018 as the highest-charting Hot 100 hit by an artist named Ella. Eslabón Armado and Peso Pluma’s “Ella Baila Sola” reached No. 4 in 2023.