Pull up a porch chair, friends, because this week’s country music news had one big idea running through it: the song is the whole show. Ella Langley set an all-time chart record, Nashville’s best writers got their flowers, and a Florida legend’s signature tune became a state anthem. Here’s your ACountry Friday Roundup.
Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” Sets an All-Time Hot 100 Record
“Choosin’ Texas” climbed back to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 (chart dated Oct. 31), its 25th week on top. That is the longest run at No. 1 since the chart began in 1958, ahead of Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” at 22 weeks. The song took the top spot back from Taylor Swift‘s “Patient Zero,” which had held it for three weeks.
Why it matters: A country song by a woman now owns the most durable No. 1 in Hot 100 history, and it got there on staying power, not one giant debut week. Fans kept choosing it, week after week.
Sources: Billboard, Boston 25 News
Taylor Swift, Lyle Lovett and George Strait Celebrated at the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame
On Monday night at Music City Center, the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inducted Swift, Lyle Lovett, Shawn Camp, Lee Thomas Miller, Bruce Channel and the late J.I. Allison of The Crickets. Brad Paisley introduced Swift, Lainey Wilson sang a bluegrass “Love Story,” and George Strait received the rare Career Maker Award (read our full story). Nice timing, too: Lovett turns 69 on Nov. 1, as Monday’s history post pointed out.
Why it matters: The same week, Vince Gill said on the Playlisted Pod that “getting paid for your work” keeps getting harder for writers in the streaming era. Nights like this remind everyone who builds the hits, and why their paychecks are worth fighting for.
Sources: AP via ABC News, Billboard, Whiskey Riff (Gill)
John Anderson’s “Seminole Wind” Becomes Florida’s Official Anthem
Less than a week after Florida said goodbye to John Anderson, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed an executive order on Oct. 27 naming “Seminole Wind” the state’s official anthem. The order also calls for historic markers in Anderson’s hometown of Apopka and names a wildlife drive and trail system at Lake Apopka North Shore in his honor. John Rich had publicly asked for this honor, as we noted in last week’s roundup.
Why it matters: A song about protecting Florida’s wild places now officially belongs to Florida, and it will be sung there long after the tributes fade. A fitting send-off for a Hall of Famer.
Sources: WCTV, FOX 35 Orlando, Country Now
Brooks & Dunn Confirm They’re Working on a New Record
Talking with David Begnaud on CBS Mornings, Ronnie Dunn said, “We’re working on a new record.” Kix Brooks added that the two are trading and critiquing each other’s new songs as they write. There’s no title or release date yet.
Why it matters: Brooks & Dunn have spent recent years celebrating their catalog on the road. New songs would mean the legends still have something to say, not just something to celebrate.
Sources: Whiskey Riff, Saving Country Music
Miranda Lambert Heads Home for the Cowboys’ Thanksgiving Halftime Show
Miranda Lambert will headline the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Kickoff halftime show when the Dallas Cowboys host the Philadelphia Eagles on Thanksgiving, Nov. 26, on FOX. It’s the 30th year of the tradition. “I can’t wait to be back home in Texas this Thanksgiving,” she said.
Why it matters: Thanksgiving football draws one of the biggest TV crowds of the year, so a Texas-born country star at midfield puts the genre in living rooms that might never tune in to an awards show.
Sources: DallasCowboys.com, FOX 4
Zach Bryan and Kacey Musgraves Headline Under the Big Sky 2027
Montana’s Under the Big Sky festival named Zach Bryan, Kacey Musgraves and Nathaniel Rateliff as headliners for July 16-18, 2027, at Big Mountain Ranch in the Flathead Valley. Midland, The Dead South, The Wallflowers and Brandon Flowers are among 30-plus acts. Presale opens Nov. 6.
Why it matters: Independent festivals like this are where country, Americana and red-dirt fans share one field, and landing two of the genre’s biggest names shows the “outsider” lane has become a main road.
Sources: Flathead Beacon, Daily Inter Lake
Your Turn
Ella’s record run, George Strait thanking the songwriters, or “Seminole Wind” becoming Florida’s anthem: which moment from this week will you still be talking about in ten years? Tell us in the comments.
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