Culture & Society · 6 Intermediate · September 23, 2026

Country Song Breaks US Chart Record

Photo: Wikimedia Commons via Wikimedia Commons

Vocabulary

surpassed sərˈpæst verb

exceeded or went beyond a previous record or achievement

Choosin' Texas surpassed the previous record held by Mariah Carey's song.

creative retreat kriˈeɪtɪv rɪˈtrit noun phrase

a planned time away from daily life focused on artistic or creative work

Langley wrote Choosin' Texas with Miranda Lambert during a creative retreat in 2024.

lyric ˈlɪrɪk noun

the words of a song

The song's opening lyric came from an unusual conversation between the writers.

Article

Ella Langley's country song Choosin' Texas has set a new record by spending 23 weeks at number one on the US Billboard chart. The song, released in October, tells the story of a woman who suspects her boyfriend may leave her for someone else. It surpassed the previous record held by Mariah Carey's All I Want for Christmas Is You, which spent 16 weeks at the top before eventually returning to the charts each December and accumulating more weeks overall.

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