Elizabeth Camille Langley (born May 3, 1999), known professionally as Ella Langley, is an American
country music
Country (also called country and western) is a popular music, music genre originating in the southern regions of the United States, both the American South and American southwest, the Southwest. First produced in the 1920s, country music is p ...
singer-songwriter from
Hope Hull, Alabama
Hope Hull, also known as McGehee's Switch, is an unincorporated community in Montgomery County, Alabama, United States, southwest of Montgomery.
It is home to the drive-through zoological park ''Alabama Safari Park''.
History
Hope Hull, a stop ...
signed to
Sony Music Nashville
Sony Music Nashville is the country music branch of the Sony Music, Sony Music Group.
Based in Nashville, Tennessee, Sony Music Nashville includes its three country recording labels Arista Nashville, Columbia Records#Columbia Nashville, Colu ...
and
.
Her debut album ''
Hungover
A hangover is the experience of various unpleasant physiological and psychological effects usually following the consumption of alcohol, such as wine, beer, and liquor. Hangovers can last for several hours or for more than 24 hours. Typical s ...
'' was released on August 2, 2024. This album includes her breakthrough number-one hit "
You Look Like You Love Me" with
Riley Green
Johnathan Riley Green (born October 18, 1988) is an American country music singer and songwriter, signed to Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment (formerly BMLG) since 2019. He has released three albums: ''Different 'Round Here'' in 2019, ''Ai ...
.
Early life
Langley was raised in a musically inclined family alongside two brothers and a sister. Her early exposure to music came through singing in local
Baptist
Baptists are a Christian denomination, denomination within Protestant Christianity distinguished by baptizing only professing Christian believers (believer's baptism) and doing so by complete Immersion baptism, immersion. Baptist churches ge ...
churches and informal jam sessions within her community. She loved sitting with her grandfather at the piano, singing "
Frog Went a-Courting
"Frog Went a-Courtin ( Roud No. 16; ) is an English-language folk song. Its first known appearance is in Wedderburn's '' Complaynt of Scotland'' (1549) under the name "The Frog cam to the Myl dur", though this is in Scots rather than English. ...
." After her grandfather passed, her father restrung his guitar for her at 14. That same night, she taught herself to play "
Three Little Birds
"Three Little Birds" is a song by Bob Marley and the Wailers. It is the fourth track on side two of their 1977 album '' Exodus'' and was released as a single in 1980. The song reached the Top 20 in the UK, peaking at number 17. It is one of Mar ...
" by
Bob Marley
Robert Nesta Marley (6 February 1945 – 11 May 1981) was a Jamaican singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Considered one of the pioneers of reggae, he fused elements of reggae, ska and rocksteady and was renowned for his distinctive voca ...
.
In 2016, she gave her first public performance at her high school, Hooper Academy, to perform in the talent show. Afterwards, she began performing at local venues. Initially accepted to
Troy University
Troy University is a public university in Troy, Alabama, United States. It was founded in 1887 as Troy State Normal School within the Alabama State University System, and is now the flagship university of the Troy University System. It was one ...
, she later transferred to
Auburn University
Auburn University (AU or Auburn) is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 26,800 undergraduate students, over 6,100 post-graduate students, and a tota ...
to study
forestry
Forestry is the science and craft of creating, managing, planting, using, conserving and repairing forests and woodlands for associated resources for human and Natural environment, environmental benefits. Forestry is practiced in plantations and ...
.
Career
Early career (2017–2021)
In 2017, Langley co-wrote her first song "Clear the Clouds" with her aunt, starting from a melody she played on the porch.
The song was recorded in
Elmore County, Alabama
Elmore County is a County (United States), county located in the east central portion of the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 87,977. Its county seat is Wetumpka, Alabama, Wetumpka. Its ...
at Guest House Studios and released on
YouTube
YouTube is an American social media and online video sharing platform owned by Google. YouTube was founded on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim who were three former employees of PayPal. Headquartered in ...
. Her debut single, "Perfect" was released on May 24, 2018, though it, along with much of her early catalog, was later removed from streaming platforms. Over the next two years, she continued to perform at bars and festivals throughout Alabama.
In 2019, Langley relocated to
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, often known as Music City, is the capital and List of municipalities in Tennessee, most populous city in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is the county seat, seat of Davidson County, Tennessee, Davidson County in Middle Tennessee, locat ...
, where she immersed herself in the local songwriting community and participated in numerous writers' rounds. Through this period, she gained support from independent country platforms such as "Raised Rowdy" and "65 South". During the
COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...
, Langley shifted focus to livestreaming and expanding her online presence, particularly on
TikTok
TikTok, known in mainland China and Hong Kong as Douyin (), is a social media and Short-form content, short-form online video platform owned by Chinese Internet company ByteDance. It hosts user-submitted videos, which may range in duration f ...
. In 2021, she signed her first publishing deal with
Sony Music Publishing Nashville. That same year, she released "If You Have To" after previewing the single on social media. In early 2022, Langley joined
Randy Houser
Shawn Randolph Houser (born December 18, 1975) is an American country music singer and songwriter. Houser has racked up over half a dozen hits and over 1 billion streams. His How Country Feels album topped the country radio charts with the title ...
as an opening act on tour.
''Excuse the Mess'' (2022–2023)
On October 28, 2022, Langley released the promotional single "Country Boy's Dream Girl". In February 2023, she signed a record deal with
Sony Music Nashville
Sony Music Nashville is the country music branch of the Sony Music, Sony Music Group.
Based in Nashville, Tennessee, Sony Music Nashville includes its three country recording labels Arista Nashville, Columbia Records#Columbia Nashville, Colu ...
and
,
and made her
Grand Ole Opry
The ''Grand Ole Opry'' is a regular live country music, country-music Radio broadcasting, radio broadcast originating from Nashville, Tennessee, Nashville, Tennessee, on WSM (AM), WSM, held between two and five nights per week, depending on the ...
debut on February 17, 2023. Langley collaborated with
Koe Wetzel on "That's Why We Fight", released on April 21, 2023.
The following month, she released her debut
EP, ''Excuse the Mess'', on May 19, 2023.
In addition to her solo work, Langley co-wrote multiple tracks for other artists, including five songs on
Elle King
Tanner Elle Schneider (born July 3, 1989), known professionally as Elle King, is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Her musical style is influenced by Country music, country, Rock music, rock, and blues. She signed with RCA Records to ...
’s ''
Come Get Your Wife'' and the
Runaway June
Runaway June is an American country music group consisting of Stevie Woodward (lead vocals, guitar, piano, harmonica, autoharp), Jennifer Wayne (guitar, vocals), and Natalie Stovall (guitar, fiddle, banjo, mandolin, vocals). Wayne co-founded the ...
single "Make Me Wanna Smoke." She also recorded a duet with
Kameron Marlowe
Kameron Marlowe (born June 11, 1997 in Kannapolis, North Carolina) is an American country music singer-songwriter signed to Columbia Nashville. He was a contestant on season 15 of NBC's '' The Voice''. His debut single, "Giving You Up" was release ...
titled "Strangers", which served as the lead single from his second studio album, ''Keepin' the Lights On''. From 2023 through 2024, she opened for artists
Jon Pardi
Jonathan Ryan Pardi (born May 20, 1985) is an American country music singer and songwriter. Signed to Capitol Records Nashville, Capitol Nashville, he has released five studio albums: ''Write You a Song'' (2014), ''California Sunrise'' (2016), ...
and
Riley Green
Johnathan Riley Green (born October 18, 1988) is an American country music singer and songwriter, signed to Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment (formerly BMLG) since 2019. He has released three albums: ''Different 'Round Here'' in 2019, ''Ai ...
.
''Hungover'' (2024–present)
Langley's full-length debut studio album, ''
Hungover
A hangover is the experience of various unpleasant physiological and psychological effects usually following the consumption of alcohol, such as wine, beer, and liquor. Hangovers can last for several hours or for more than 24 hours. Typical s ...
'', was released on August 2, 2024.
It debuted at number 77 on the
''Billboard'' 200 and number 11 on the
''Billboard'' Top Country Albums chart. Following the release of the deluxe edition, ''Still Hungover'', on November 1, 2024, the album re-entered the ''Billboard'' 200 at number 49. Among several promotional singles, "
You Look Like You Love Me," featuring Riley Green, gained significant traction after going viral on TikTok. It became her first entry on the
''Billboard'' Hot 100, debuting at number 53.
Released to country radio on August 5, 2024, the song peaked at number 30 on the
''Billboard'' Country Airplay, ultimately earning
Platinum
Platinum is a chemical element; it has Symbol (chemistry), symbol Pt and atomic number 78. It is a density, dense, malleable, ductility, ductile, highly unreactive, precious metal, precious, silverish-white transition metal. Its name origina ...
certification and reaching number 1—making her the only woman in 2024 to achieve this milestone.
In June 2024, Langley announced The Hungover Tour to support her debut album. A subsequent headlining run, the Still Hungover Tour, took place from January through April 2025. The second single from the deluxe album, "
Weren’t for the Wind," was released to country radio on January 2, 2025. It became her highest-charting single on the Hot 100, peaking at No. 18 and her second country radio number one.
Artistry
Langley's influences span
rock
Rock most often refers to:
* Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids
* Rock music, a genre of popular music
Rock or Rocks may also refer to:
Places United Kingdom
* Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wale ...
,
country
A country is a distinct part of the world, such as a state, nation, or other political entity. When referring to a specific polity, the term "country" may refer to a sovereign state, state with limited recognition, constituent country, ...
and
folk
Folk or Folks may refer to:
Sociology
*Nation
*People
* Folklore
** Folk art
** Folk dance
** Folk hero
** Folk horror
** Folk music
*** Folk metal
*** Folk punk
*** Folk rock
** Folk religion
* Folk taxonomy
Arts, entertainment, and media
* Fo ...
. Growing up, she was surrounded by music—classic rock and country in her dad's truck, 80s new wave and folk in her mom's car. She admires artists like
Stevie Nicks
Stephanie Lynn Nicks (born May 26, 1948) is an American singer-songwriter, known for her work with the band Fleetwood Mac and as a solo artist.
After starting her career as a duo with her then-boyfriend Lindsey Buckingham, releasing the album ...
and
Willie Nelson
Willie Hugh Nelson (born April 29, 1933) is an American singer, guitarist, songwriter, actor and activist. He was one of the main figures of the outlaw country subgenre that developed in the late 1960s as a reaction to the conservative restr ...
for their raw, honest songwriting.
She combines
Southern rock
Southern rock is a subgenre of rock music and a genre of Americana. It developed in the Southern United States from rock and roll, country and blues, and is focused generally on electric guitars and vocals.
History 1950s and 1960s: origin ...
, folk, and country influences to create a raw, authentic sound shaped by her musical upbringing.
Personal life
Langley has been outspoken about her
Christian
A Christian () is a person who follows or adheres to Christianity, a Monotheism, monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus in Christianity, Jesus Christ. Christians form the largest religious community in the wo ...
faith and her journey with
mental health
Mental health is often mistakenly equated with the absence of mental illness. However, mental health refers to a person's overall emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It influences how individuals think, feel, and behave, and how t ...
.
Discography
Studio albums
Extended plays
Singles
As lead artist
As featured artist
Promotional singles
Other charted songs
Tours
Headlining
* Hungover Tour (2024)
* Still Hungover Tour (2025)
* Damn Country Music Tour (2025) (with
Riley Green
Johnathan Riley Green (born October 18, 1988) is an American country music singer and songwriter, signed to Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment (formerly BMLG) since 2019. He has released three albums: ''Different 'Round Here'' in 2019, ''Ai ...
)
Opening
* Live in Concert (2022) (with
Randy Houser
Shawn Randolph Houser (born December 18, 1975) is an American country music singer and songwriter. Houser has racked up over half a dozen hits and over 1 billion streams. His How Country Feels album topped the country radio charts with the title ...
)
* Mr. Saturday Night World Tour (2023) (with
Jon Pardi
Jonathan Ryan Pardi (born May 20, 1985) is an American country music singer and songwriter. Signed to Capitol Records Nashville, Capitol Nashville, he has released five studio albums: ''Write You a Song'' (2014), ''California Sunrise'' (2016), ...
)
* One Night at a Time (2024) (with
Morgan Wallen
Morgan Cole Wallen (born May 13, 1993) is an American country pop singer from Sneedville, Tennessee. He competed in the The Voice (American season 6), sixth season of ''The Voice (American TV series), The Voice''. After being eliminated in the ...
)
* Ain't My Last Rodeo Tour (2024) (with
Riley Green
Johnathan Riley Green (born October 18, 1988) is an American country music singer and songwriter, signed to Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment (formerly BMLG) since 2019. He has released three albums: ''Different 'Round Here'' in 2019, ''Ai ...
)
Awards and nominations
!
, -
, rowspan="6", 2024
, rowspan="6",
Academy of Country Music Awards
The Academy of Country Music Awards, also known as the ACM Awards, were first held in 1966, honoring the industry's accomplishments during the previous year. It was the first country music awards program held by a major organization. The academy ...
, Female Artist of the Year
,
, align="center" rowspan="6",
, -
, New Female Artist of the Year
,
, -
, Single of the Year – "
You Look Like You Love Me"
,
, -
, Song of the Year – "You Look Like You Love Me"
,
, -
, Musical Event of the Year – "You Look Like You Love Me"
,
, -
, Visual Media of the Year – "You Look Like You Love Me"
,
, -
Notes
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Langley, Ella
Living people
American women country singers
American country singer-songwriters
Country musicians from Alabama
Year of birth missing (living people)