Country Queens Reign: Ella Langley & Lainey Wilson Make Historic Chart Breakthrough

Published 2 weeks ago2 minute read
Precious Eseaye
Precious Eseaye
Country Queens Reign: Ella Langley & Lainey Wilson Make Historic Chart Breakthrough

In a remarkable and seldom-seen development, Ella Langley and Lainey Wilson have simultaneously claimed the top spots on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts, underscoring the growing influence of women in modern country music. Their achievements shine a spotlight on female-driven momentum in a genre often dominated by male performers.

Ella Langley earned her first No. 1 on the Hot Country Songs chart with Choosin’ Texas, a track she co-wrote alongside Miranda Lambert, Luke Dick, and Joybeth Taylor. According to Luminate, the song amassed 13.7 million U.S. streams, 11.5 million in radio audience, and 8,000 sales during the November 21–27 tracking week. This swift rise placed the song at the summit of the chart dated December 6—just six weeks after release—marking a major milestone in Langley’s fast-growing career. She has now collected five Hot Country Songs top 10 hits since October 2024, a testament to her rapidly expanding fan base.

Meanwhile, Lainey Wilson secured her fifth No. 1 on the Country Airplay chart with Somewhere Over Laredo, a Lone Star-inspired single that interpolates the beloved 1939 classic Over the Rainbow from The Wizard of Oz. The song vaulted from No. 4 to No. 1 with a 22% increase in audience impressions, reaching 28 million listeners. Wilson, known for her powerhouse voice and grounded storytelling, continues to be one of country music’s most consistent chart-toppers.

This dual triumph by solo women is exceptionally rare. Since the Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts have coexisted—beginning in October 2012—this feat has only occurred six previous times. Historic pairings include Carrie Underwood’s Blown Away and Taylor Swift’s We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together in 2012, Kelsea Ballerini’s Peter Pan ruling both charts in 2016, and notable combinations from Gabby Barrett, Maren Morris, and Miranda Lambert in later years. Barrett and Ballerini remain the only women to have topped both charts simultaneously with their own solo singles.

Understanding the structure of the charts helps explain why such moments are rare. Billboard launched Hot Country Songs in 1958, originally driven by airplay data. In 2012, it adopted a multimetric formula that incorporates streaming, sales, and airplay across all formats, making it reflective of overall consumption trends. The Country Airplay chart was created the same month to maintain a pure measurement of country radio rotation. Because these charts now track distinct forms of audience engagement, overlaps—especially led entirely by women—remain highly noteworthy milestones.

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

You may also like...