Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” made Billboard history Tuesday, logging a 23rd week at No. 1 on the Hot 100 and overtaking Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” for the most weeks ever atop the chart.
The country smash now stands as the longest-running No. 1 in the 68-year history of Billboard’s flagship singles chart. The milestone also cements the song as one of the decade’s biggest hits; it is already 6-times platinum, according to the RIAA.“Choosin’ Texas” first reached No. 1 the week of Feb. 14.
It then spent months bouncing on and off the top as songs by Bad Bunny, Taylor Swift, BTS, Bruno Mars, Olivia Rodrigo, Drake and Ariana Grande briefly knocked it down. By July, the chart belonged to Langley alone.
The single has since spent 13 consecutive weeks at No. 1 on its way to the all-time record.
Carey passed both last holiday season when “All I Want for Christmas Is You” returned to No. 1.The record is also a coup for Columbia Records, the label behind “Choosin’ Texas,” Carey’s Christmas anthem and “Old Town Road.” That gives Columbia three of the four longest-reigning Hot 100 No. 1s of all time.
How long Langley keeps the crown is another question. Carey’s holiday standard has become an almost annual lock for the top of the chart each winter, making a permanent record hard to hold. Every winter still belongs to Carey. This summer, at least, belonged to Langley.