If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission. For Ella Langley, 2026 has been one long victory lap. The Alabama-born country star’s “Choosin’ Texas” has become a bona fide crossover phenomenon, spending 15 weeks atop the Hot 100 — a record for a non-holiday song by a woman — while her sophomore album, “Dandelion,” arrived in April.
Langley swept all seven of her nominations at the 2026 ACM Awards, setting a new record for the most wins by an artist in a single year, including female artist of the year and song and single of the year for “Choosin’ Texas.” She followed that with two American Music Awards, for best female country artist and best country song. And the victory lap isn’t over: “Choosin’ Texas” was just nominated for best country at the 2026 MTV VMAs. Somewhere amid all of that, Langley is still living out of a tour bus.
Her first arena-headlining Dandelion Tour has been extended through October, with upcoming stops including Red Rocks and two nights at Los Angeles’ Greek Theatre. Variety caught up with Langley between shows to talk tour-bus essentials, advice from Miranda Lambert and who’s on her collaboration wish list. My management team and I talk about the show and what makes sense for the fans and also artists I believe in and am a fan of in general.
I am such a big fan of Kaitlin Butts, Gabriella Rose and Laci Kaye Booth, so it was a YES when we found out they were available and wanted to. It was also a blessing to add in the Hamilton show to have Avery Anna and Madeline Edwards this month. Then Ernest, Kameron Marlowe, Dylan Marlowe are some great friends in town who I have always been a fan of and love to work with.
I’ve written with each of them and it’s fun to have them a part of the show to mix it up for the fans. We just try to make it make sense and a great show for the Dandelion Tour. I’ve been obsessed with American Eagle’s Super Low-Rise Kick Bootcut Jeans ever since I wore them on set from our first shoot back in December.
They’re the kind of jeans I want to wear whether I’m headed to a show, grabbing dinner with friends or headed to an interview with Miranda and Reba! A great pair of jean shorts and a breezy linen dress are definitely essentials for me because they’re pieces you can style in so many different ways. I love dressing these pieces up or down with accessories depending on where I’m headed.
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