Ella Langley and Megan Moroney Chart Historic Successes for Women in Country Music

The landscape of country music is undergoing a significant shift, with female artists achieving unprecedented chart success. Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” recently reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, while Megan Moroney’s album ‘Cloud 9’ simultaneously topped the Billboard 200 chart – a historic first for women in the country genre.

Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” Makes Chart History

Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” ascended to the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, marking her first No. 1 hit. Billboard reports the song also holds the No. 1 position on both the Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts simultaneously. This achievement makes Langley the first female artist to lead all three charts at the same time.

Previously, only three songs had accomplished this feat: Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” Post Malone’s “I Had Some Help” featuring Morgan Wallen, and Morgan Wallen’s “Last Night.” Country Now highlights the significance of this accomplishment, particularly as a solo female artist without collaborations or pop crossovers.

As of February 2026, “Choosin’ Texas” has surpassed 310 million streams worldwide and received RIAA Platinum certification. It also topped the U.S. Spotify Chart and Apple Music’s U.S. Songs Chart, and became the fourth country song by a female lead to top the Billboard Streaming Songs chart. The song’s success was bolstered by a final push encouraged by Langley on social media, urging fans to stream and purchase the track.

Megan Moroney’s ‘Cloud 9’ Debuts at No. 1

In the same week as Langley’s achievement, Megan Moroney’s album ‘Cloud 9’ debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. This marks the first time a female country musician has simultaneously topped both the Hot 100 and Billboard 200 charts. Billboard notes that this is a rare occurrence, with only four previous instances of the country genre dominating both major charts, and those were primarily by male artists or groups.

‘Cloud 9’ moved 147,000 units in its debut week, with 78,000 units coming from album sales, securing the No. 1 position on the Top Album Sales chart. The album also garnered 71.54 million streams, equivalent to 69,000 units, landing it at No. 2 on the Top Streaming Album Chart. This is Moroney’s third chart entry, following ‘Am I Okay?’ (9th place in 2024) and ‘Lucky’ (38th place in 2023).

A Turning Point for Women in Country Music

The simultaneous successes of Langley and Moroney represent a potential turning point for female artists in country music. These achievements demonstrate a growing audience and streaming engagement for women in the genre, signaling a possible expansion of their influence in both streaming and radio. This is the first country album by a female artist to reach number one since Beyoncé’s ‘Cowboy Carter’ in April 2024.