If you love Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas”, start with Miranda Lambert, Megan Moroney, Lainey Wilson and Zach Top.

Those artists capture different parts of the song’s appeal.

Some specialise in traditional country storytelling.

Others combine country music with rock, soul and modern pop influences.

“Choosin’ Texas” became one of the defining songs of 2026, reaching No. 1 in both the United States and United Kingdom.

It also broke Billboard’s record for the longest-running No. 1 on the Hot 100.

That’s an extraordinary achievement for a country song.

But the recording’s appeal extends beyond its chart performance.

It sounds nostalgic without feeling old-fashioned.

The production is relaxed.

The lyrics tell a clear story.

And Langley’s distinctive voice gives the narrator considerable personality.

If you’re looking for similar music, these fifteen songs are an excellent starting point.

What makes “Choosin’ Texas” sound different?

The groove.

Unlike many modern country hits that borrow heavily from hip-hop or electronic pop, “Choosin’ Texas” feels rooted in older country traditions.

The arrangement uses traditional instrumentation.

The rhythm has a gentle two-step feel.

The production leaves room for the story.

There’s also something unusual about Langley’s vocal.

She doesn’t sound as though she’s trying to create the biggest possible chorus.

Her delivery is relatively restrained.

That makes the heartbreak feel more believable.

1. Megan Moroney – Tennessee Orange

Probably the closest lyrical recommendation.

“Tennessee Orange” uses regional identity to tell a relationship story.

The narrator is a Tennessee woman who becomes romantically involved with somebody connected to Georgia.

Football colours become a symbol of changing loyalties.

Like “Choosin’ Texas”, the song uses geographical details to communicate complicated romantic feelings.

It’s clever country storytelling.

And the musical atmosphere is similarly relaxed.

2. Ella Langley featuring Riley Green – You Look Like You Love Me

An essential next listen.

This duet helped introduce Langley to a much wider audience.

The recording combines traditional country influences with an unusually conversational arrangement.

The singers almost act out the story.

If “Choosin’ Texas” appeals to you because of Langley’s personality, this is the obvious next track.

3. Miranda Lambert – Bluebird

Miranda Lambert helped write “Choosin’ Texas”.

That connection makes her catalogue a natural place to explore.

“Bluebird” is a relatively gentle song about maintaining hope during difficult circumstances.

The arrangement combines traditional country with contemporary production.

It’s an excellent introduction to Lambert’s more reflective songwriting.

4. Lainey Wilson – Heart Like a Truck

For listeners who enjoy strength mixed with vulnerability.

Wilson’s vocal is powerful and distinctive.

“Heart Like a Truck” uses country imagery to explore emotional resilience.

The production is more dramatic than “Choosin’ Texas”.

But the songwriting shares an interest in making personal experiences feel rooted in recognisable country life.

5. Zach Top – I Never Lie

A brilliant recommendation for listeners drawn to traditional country.

Zach Top’s music incorporates strong influences from 1990s country.

“I Never Lie” combines conversational storytelling with a relaxed arrangement.

The recording feels familiar without sounding like a direct imitation of one older artist.

If “Choosin’ Texas” has made you interested in classic country sounds, Zach Top deserves attention.

6. George Strait – Amarillo by Morning

This recommendation is particularly important.

“Choosin’ Texas” directly references the George Strait classic.

“Amarillo by Morning” tells the story of a rodeo cowboy whose life revolves around travel and competition.

The arrangement is restrained.

The emotion is understated.

Strait demonstrates how much country songwriting can achieve without enormous production.

Listening to both songs reveals the tradition Langley is drawing from.

7. Dolly Parton – Jolene

Another song built around romantic insecurity.

The narrator fears that another woman may take the person she loves.

The arrangement is simple.

The story is immediately understandable.

Langley’s recording approaches a related situation from a different perspective.

In “Jolene”, the narrator hopes to prevent the loss.

In “Choosin’ Texas”, she gradually realises the choice may already have been made.

8. Kacey Musgraves – Slow Burn

For the softer side of modern country.

“Slow Burn” combines acoustic instrumentation with gentle, reflective songwriting.

The production is more atmospheric than Langley’s.

But both artists avoid unnecessary aggression.

The songs allow the listener to settle into the mood.

A beautiful recommendation for quieter listening.

9. Chris Stapleton – Tennessee Whiskey

More soulful.

Stapleton combines country with blues and classic soul influences.

“Tennessee Whiskey” is a particularly strong example.

The arrangement is restrained.

The groove moves slowly.

The vocal carries much of the emotion.

If you enjoy the soul influences sometimes audible in Langley’s music, Stapleton is essential.

10. Miranda Lambert – Mama’s Broken Heart

Now turn up the energy.

“Mama’s Broken Heart” is sharp, funny and full of personality.

Lambert plays a narrator struggling to behave appropriately after a breakup.

The song has considerably more attitude than “Choosin’ Texas”.

But both recordings demonstrate how country music can make heartbreak entertaining without trivialising it.

11. Lainey Wilson – 4x4xU

A warm country love song.

Wilson uses familiar country imagery while focusing on the importance of being with the right person.

The recording feels relaxed and accessible.

It’s a useful recommendation for listeners who enjoy modern country without wanting the production to move too far towards mainstream pop.

12. Brooks & Dunn – Neon Moon

A classic country heartbreak recording.

“Neon Moon” follows somebody spending time in a bar while remembering a lost relationship.

The arrangement is restrained.

The chorus is memorable.

The emotional atmosphere is surprisingly close to modern country ballads.

If you’re discovering traditional country through Langley, Brooks & Dunn should be near the top of your list.

13. Ashley McBryde – Girl Goin’ Nowhere

For listeners who value storytelling.

McBryde has built a reputation for thoughtful songwriting and powerful vocals.

“Girl Goin’ Nowhere” is about persistence and proving doubters wrong.

Its subject differs from “Choosin’ Texas”.

But the direct, character-driven writing is closely related.

14. ERNEST featuring Morgan Wallen – Flower Shops

A modern country heartbreak favourite.

The recording draws heavily from older country-ballad traditions.

Pedal steel.

Conversational lyrics.

A relaxed rhythm.

The narrator knows a relationship is in trouble and wants to repair the damage.

If you enjoy the traditional musical character of “Choosin’ Texas”, this is an excellent next song.

15. Ella Langley – Be Her

Finish by exploring Langley’s own catalogue.

“Be Her” demonstrates another side of her songwriting.

The recording focuses on personal identity and the kind of person the narrator wants to become.

It also helps establish that Langley’s appeal is not limited to one enormous hit.

Her voice and storytelling remain central across different subjects.

What genre is “Choosin’ Texas”?

Country.

More specifically, traditional-country-influenced contemporary country.

There are also elements of:

country-pop

Southern rock

and soul.

The production combines older musical vocabulary with modern recording techniques.

That makes it accessible to listeners who don’t normally consider themselves country fans.

Why is traditional country becoming popular again?

Because listeners appear increasingly interested in songs with clear stories and recognisable instrumentation.

Contemporary country now contains several different musical directions.

Some artists borrow heavily from pop and hip-hop.

Others are returning to:

fiddle

pedal steel

acoustic guitar

and traditional storytelling.

Langley sits closer to that second direction while retaining mainstream appeal.

Which three songs are closest?

For lyrical storytelling:

Megan Moroney – Tennessee Orange.

For traditional production:

Zach Top – I Never Lie.

For emotional country songwriting:

Miranda Lambert – Bluebird.

Then explore George Strait and Brooks & Dunn to understand the older country traditions behind the sound.

What should you listen to after these fifteen songs?

Follow the stories.

Country music is particularly good at turning small details into enormous emotions.

A road.

A truck.

A state.

A particular bar.

An old song playing on the radio.

Those details become symbols of relationships and personal history.

That’s exactly what Langley achieves with Texas.

You don’t need to have visited the state to understand the feeling.

And that’s why “Choosin’ Texas” works so well beyond country music’s traditional audience.