Published: August 18, 2026 · 3:41 AM EDT
The country hit posts 25 million U.S. streams and 54.6 million radio impressions as country songs occupy four of the top five positions on America’s biggest singles chart
Ella Langley is now one week away from potentially matching one of the biggest records in Billboard Hot 100 history.
“Choosin’ Texas” holds at No. 1 for an 18th week on the chart dated August 22, 2026, extending a run that began in February and moving within a single week of the longest reign ever achieved by a non-holiday song.
Only Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” and Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road,” featuring Billy Ray Cyrus, have reached 19 weeks at No. 1 among non-seasonal songs.
The overall Hot 100 record remains Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You”, which has accumulated 22 weeks at No. 1 across multiple holiday seasons.
The longest-running No. 1 songs in Hot 100 history currently include:
22 weeks — Mariah Carey, “All I Want for Christmas Is You”
19 weeks — Shaboozey, “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”
19 weeks — Lil Nas X feat. Billy Ray Cyrus, “Old Town Road”
18 weeks — Ella Langley, “Choosin’ Texas”
16 weeks — Morgan Wallen, “Last Night”
16 weeks — Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee feat. Justin Bieber, “Despacito”
16 weeks — Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men, “One Sweet Day”
Last week, Rockum reported that “Choosin’ Texas” had reached 17 weeks at No. 1, already placing the song among the longest-running leaders in Hot 100 history.
Read Rockum’s previous report on the song’s 17th week at No. 1.
The numbers behind the song show that its longevity is coming from several parts of the U.S. market rather than a single consumption source.
During the August 7-13 tracking week, “Choosin’ Texas” generated 25 million official U.S. streams, up 1% from the previous week.
It also reached an audience of 54.6 million through radio airplay and sold 8,000 copies in the United States.
The song is released through SAWGOD/Columbia Records, with Triple Tigers handling its promotion to country radio.
“Choosin’ Texas” simultaneously extends its lead across several Billboard rankings:
18 weeks — No. 1 Streaming Songs
15 weeks — No. 1 Digital Song Sales
36 weeks — No. 1 Hot Country Songs
11 weeks — No. 1 Songs of the Summer
On Radio Songs, the track remains at No. 6 after previously reaching No. 4.
Langley’s record chase comes during a broader period of unusually strong country performance on the Hot 100.
Country songs occupy four of this week’s top five positions:
No. 1 — Ella Langley, “Choosin’ Texas”
No. 2 — Taylor Swift, “I Knew It, I Knew You”
No. 3 — Morgan Wallen, “Been by Now”
No. 4 — Stella Lefty, “Boston”
No. 5 — Ariana Grande, “Hate That I Made You Love Me”
Two weeks earlier, country songs occupied the entire Hot 100 top five for the first time.
According to Billboard, all 11 instances in chart history in which country songs have simultaneously occupied at least the top three, top four or top five positions have occurred since August 2023.
The pattern points to country’s increasing strength in streaming alongside its traditional radio and sales base.
“Choosin’ Texas” is also not Langley’s only presence near the top of the chart.
Her collaboration with Morgan Wallen, “I Can’t Love You Anymore,” rises to No. 6 after previously reaching No. 4.
Langley’s “Be Her” remains at No. 10 after peaking at No. 2.
That gives her three songs inside this week’s Hot 100 top 10.
The 18-week run of “Choosin’ Texas” is becoming more than an individual chart success.
If the song remains at No. 1 for another week, it would match “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” and “Old Town Road” for the longest Hot 100 reign ever by a non-holiday single.
At the same time, the chart surrounding it reflects a larger change in the American music business: country is competing at the very top of an all-genre ranking traditionally dominated by pop and R&B/hip-hop.
Streaming, radio and direct sales are all contributing to a market in which country releases are increasingly operating as mainstream U.S. hits rather than remaining confined to country-specific charts.
As “Choosin’ Texas” enters its 18th week atop the Billboard Hot 100, Ella Langley is now within one week of a historic non-holiday record. With 25 million weekly U.S. streams, more than 54 million radio impressions and continued strength across Billboard’s country, streaming and sales charts, the song’s run also arrives during one of country music’s strongest periods ever on America’s main singles ranking.
Written by Gino Alache – Music Journalist
SOURCE: Billboard (Gary Trust) / Luminate
IMAGE CREDIT: Caylee Robillard
Watch Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” below:
