Ella Langley's Explosive Rise to the 2026 CMA Stage

"I think she would combust."

That is what Ella Langley says when asked what she would tell her 2023 self about the life waiting for her.

Three years ago, Langley was releasing "That's Why We Fight" with Koe Wetzel.

That song came out in April 2023.

It was one of the first songs of hers she ever heard on the radio.

Now she is one of the headlining performers at the 2026 CMA Awards.

She leads this year's nominees with nine CMA nominations.

She already took home three CMA Awards last year.

Her sophomore album, "Dandelion," debuted at #1 on the all-genre Billboard 200.

It sold 169,000 equivalent album units in the U.S. in its first week.

That made her just the second woman in history to hold the #1 album and #1 song in the U.S. simultaneously with a country song and album.

The song is "Choosin' Texas."

It was released on October 17, 2025.

Since then, it has become the longest-running #1 hit by a female artist this century.

It is the only country song by a woman to go #1 on Billboard's Hot 100, Hot Country and Country Airplay charts simultaneously.

In September 2026, it made U.S. history.

It officially captured the longest-running #1 hit in U.S. history with 23 weeks at #1 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100.

That passed Mariah Carey's long-standing record of 22 weeks.

"Choosin' Texas" is also the first song in history to remain at #1 on the Hot 100 for over half a calendar year.

It has dominated the chart for 26 weeks throughout 2026.

Only nine other songs have topped the Hot 100 so far this year.

Those include Taylor Swift's "Patient Zero" and "I Knew It, I Knew You," Drake's "Janice STFU" and Bad Bunny's "DtMF."

All of this has happened in a span of just three years.

Langley shows no signs of slowing down.

She has spoken publicly about some personal struggles with adjusting to this newfound fame and success.

During a recent interview on SiriusXM The Highway, she was asked what she would tell her 2023 self when she first released "That's Why We Fight" with Koe.

Her answer was direct.

There is "absolutely nothing" she would tell her younger self.

She explained that if she knew everything that came with the success, "she would combust."

The 2026 CMA Awards will take place on Wednesday, November 18, at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena.

The show will air live on ABC and Disney+ at 8/7c.

It will be available to stream on Hulu the next day.

Lainey Wilson will host for the third consecutive year.

The first batch of performers announced includes Cody Johnson, Miranda Lambert, Ella Langley, Tim McGraw, Kacey Musgraves, The Red Clay Strays, Zach Top and Tucker Wetmore.

There will also be a special tribute performance for the late Dolly Parton.

Taylor Swift -- nominated for Single of the Year for her hit "I Knew It, I Knew You" -- revealed she will attend the CMA Awards for the first time in 10 years.

"LOOKS LIKE I HAVEN'T YEE'D MY LAST HAW THANK YOU CMA!!!! See you there Nov. 18," Swift wrote on her Instagram Stories.

Langley's rise began with songs like "Country Boy's Dream Girl" and "paint the town blue."

Her breakout single with Koe Wetzel, "That's Why We Fight," was released in April 2023.

In 2024, she had her first major hit with the Riley Green collaboration "you look like you love me."

Other hits included "weren't for the wind."