Riley Green is tipping his hat to one of his own.
As Ella Langley celebrates making history with “Choosin’ Texas,” fellow Alabama native Riley Green is making it clear he is not surprised in the slightest. The breakout star behind the smash single officially topped the Billboard Hot 100 dated February 14, while simultaneously holding the No. 1 spot on Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay, becoming the first woman ever to lead all three charts at the same time with the same song.
For Green, the milestone feels personal.
“I’ve always been such a big fan of Ella,” Green shared in a recent interview. “Being from Alabama and a small town like me, it’s so cool to see it working. We have a lot of the same influences musically and definitely more traditional in our styles. I think the more success she can have, the easier it makes for me to have success and vice versa.”
Langley’s rise with “Choosin’ Texas,” the lead single from her upcoming sophomore album Dandelion, due April 10, 2026, has been anything but ordinary. The track climbed steadily before landing at No. 1 on the Hot 100, marking her first career leader on the all-genre chart. At the same time, it logged its eleventh week atop Hot Country Songs and secured her first No. 1 on Country Airplay.
According to Billboard, Langley is just the seventh solo female artist to top both the Hot 100 and Hot Country Songs charts simultaneously with the same track, joining legends like Jeannie C. Riley, Dolly Parton, and Taylor Swift. But she stands alone as the first woman to complete the triple crown by leading Country Airplay in the same frame.
Green had a front-row seat to Langley’s work ethic well before the record-breaking headlines. The two previously collaborated on “You Look Like You Love Me,” a duet that showcased Langley’s grit and commitment to storytelling. While that collaboration introduced many listeners to her edge and vocal power, her solo explosion with “Choosin’ Texas” has taken things to another level.
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Green has spoken about watching Langley labor over lyrics and melodies, determined to get every line right. That traditional leaning approach, rooted in strong songwriting rather than chasing trends, mirrors his own path.
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Beyond the chart numbers, “Choosin’ Texas” has become an anthem built on pride, independence, and Southern roots. It is a crossover moment that still feels unmistakably country, something that has not always been guaranteed on the Hot 100.
Green also pointed to the broader surge of female voices reshaping the format. Artists like Lainey Wilson, Kelsea Ballerini, Megan Moroney, and Langley are not just participating in country music’s current wave. They are driving it.
“There’s a ton of talented female artists in our genre,” Green said, recalling watching Lainey Wilson’s breakout moment while they were on tour with Luke Combs. “It’s exciting to see that something like that can happen to someone kind of quickly.”
Still, Langley’s success does not feel overnight to those who have followed closely. From small-town Alabama stages to commanding festival crowds, she has built her momentum song by song.
That shared Alabama foundation is part of why Green’s praise carries weight. It is not just industry courtesy. It is recognition from someone who understands the climb from local bars to national headlines.
With Dandelion arriving April 10 and “Choosin’ Texas” still dominating the charts, Langley’s moment appears far from over.
For Riley Green, seeing another Alabama artist rewrite the record books is more than a chart statistic.
It is proof that traditional country storytelling still belongs at the very top.
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