Elizabeth Camille Langley[5] was born inHope Hull, Alabama on May 3, 1999[6] and grew up in a musically inclined family alongside her two brothers and sister. Her early exposure to music came through singing in localBaptist churches and informal jam sessions within her community.[7][8] She loved sitting next to her grandfather at the piano, singing "Frog Went a-Courting". Her grandfather played many musical instruments and almost everyone in her family sings. After her grandfather passed, her father had his guitar restrung for her when she was 14. That same night, she looked up the chords to "Three Little Birds" byBob Marley, teaching herself to play the song.[9]
In her father's truck, she heard well known rock bands and old school country music as well as disco. In her mother's car, her mother playedPeter, Paul and Mary, 80s new wave, andPearl Jam songs. In 2016, she gave her first public performance at Hooper Academy in Hope Hull, to perform in the student talent show. Afterwards, she began performing at local venues leading up to her graduation in 2017.[10][11] Initially accepted toTroy University inTroy, Alabama, she transferred toAuburn University inAuburn, Alabama to studyforestry.[12][13]
In 2017, Ella Langley co-wrote her first song "Clear the Clouds" with her aunt, starting from a melody she played on her porch at home.[9] The song was recorded at Guest House Studios inEclectic, Alabama and released onYouTube.[14] Her debut single, "Perfect" was released on May 24, 2018, although it and much of her early catalog, was later removed from streaming platforms.[15][16] Over the next two years, she continued to perform at bars and festivals in the River Region ofAlabama and nearLake Martin and the city of Auburn.[1][17]
In 2019, Langley moved toNashville and immersed herself in the local songwriting community and participated in numerous writers' rounds. She gained support from independent country platforms including "Raised Rowdy" and "65 South" during that time.[18] During theCOVID-19 pandemic, she shifted her focus to livestreaming and expanding her online presence, in particular onTikTok.[19] In 2021, she signed her first publishing deal withSony Music Publishing Nashville.[20] Also in 2021, she released "If You Have To" after previewing the single on social media.[21] In early 2022, Langley joinedRandy Houser as a guest artist on his tour.[22]
On October 28, 2022, Langley released the promotional single "Country Boy's Dream Girl".[23] In February 2023, she signed a record deal withSony Music Nashville andColumbia Records;[2] she made herGrand Ole Opry debut on February 17, 2023.[24][25] She collaborated withKoe Wetzel on "That's Why We Fight", released on April 21, 2023.[26] Her debutEP,Excuse the Mess, came out on May 19, 2023.[1][27]
In addition to her solo work, Langley co-wrote multiple tracks for other artists, including five songs onElle King'sCome Get Your Wife and aRunaway June single, "Make Me Wanna Smoke".[28] Langley also recorded a duet withKameron Marlowe titled "Strangers", which served as the lead single from his second studio album,Keepin' the Lights On. From 2023 through 2024, she opened for artistsJon Pardi andRiley Green.[29][26]
Langley's full-length debut studio album,Hungover, was released on August 2, 2024.[30] It debuted at No. 77 on theBillboard 200 and No. 11 on theBillboardTop Country Albums chart.[31] After the release of the deluxe edition,Still Hungover, on November 1, 2024, the album re-entered theBillboard 200 at No. 49.[32] Among several promotional singles, "You Look Like You Love Me", featuring Riley Green, gained significant traction after going viral on TikTok.[33] It became her first entry on theBillboard Hot 100, debuting at number 53.[34] Released to country radio on August 5, 2024,[35] the song peaked at No. 30 on theBillboardCountry Airplay, ultimately earningPlatinum certification and going to No. 1—making her the only woman in 2024 to achieve this milestone.[36]
In June 2024, Langley announced The Hungover Tour to support her debut album.[37] A subsequent headlining run, the Still Hungover Tour, took place from January through April 2025.[38] The second single from the deluxe album, "Weren't for the Wind", was released to country radio on January 2, 2025.[39] It became her highest-charting single on the Hot 100 chart, peaking at No. 18 and her second country radio No. 1.[40][41] Her second duet with Riley Green "Don't Mind If I Do" was her third country radio number one song.[42] She also collaborated with American rapperBigXthaPlug on hiscountry rap song "Hell at Night".[43] Langley is one of a few entertainment celebrityspokespeople forChase Bank's 2025advertising campaign promoting its Sapphire Reserve premiumcredit card.[44][45]
Langley confirmed that the release of her second album would be delayed until 2026, a decision she says is driven by her desire to take her time crafting the material rather than rushing a follow-up album.[46] In the meantime, she released standalone tracks like "Never Met Anyone Like You", a collaborative single withHardy in June, and "Choosin' Texas", co-written and co-produced withMiranda Lambert.[47][48] "Choosin' Texas" went viral on TikTok. It debuted at No. 39 on theBillboard Hot 100, her highest debut to date, and eventually peaked at No. 1.[49] This became the first song by a female artist to reach number one on the Hot 100, Hot Country Songs, and Country Airplay charts all at once.[50] On January 27, 2026, Langley announced her second albumDandelion. It is scheduled to be released on April 10, 2026.[51]
Langley's influences span rock,country andfolk. She admires artists includingStevie Nicks andWillie Nelson for their raw, honest songwriting and she also appreciates 1970s and '80s rock bands for their performances on stage, artistry, and music.[9] She combinesSouthern rock, folk, and country influences to create a raw, authentic sound shaped by her musical upbringing.[52]
"You Look Like You Love Me":"The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 29 July 2024".The ARIA Report. No. 1795.Australian Recording Industry Association. July 29, 2024. p. 4.
