Ella Langley achieved a significant breakthrough in her career this year, largely due to her first No. 1 hit, “You Look Like You Love Me,” featuring Riley Green. This success also led to a substantial increase in her fan base. Although the success might appear sudden to some of her new listeners, it is actually the result of years of hard work. In a new episode of the God’s Country podcast, Langley discusses her musical background and her journey from Alabama to Nashville. Her father, who joined her on the podcast, recalls her confidence in her singing ability from a young age. Langley corroborates this by saying, “This has been the plan for me my whole life.” While her family is full of music enthusiasts, her love for performing was especially nurtured by her grandparents.
Langley shared that her grandfather could sing and play instruments by ear, and her family gatherings were filled with music. Her father explained that Langley spent many days with her grandparents, playing the piano and learning new songs, which built her experience as a performer. The Alabama native later used these skills to perform in church and local events. She expressed her passion for music, saying she never wanted to do anything else.
After high school, Langley attended Auburn University for two years and performed cover songs with her band across the southeast. Feeling burnt out, she decided to move to Nashville at 20 years old to reignite her passion. She mentioned calling her parents to tell them she wanted to drop out of school and pursue her music dream. Five years later, she acknowledges the move was the right decision, as she found a supportive community in Nashville. Her family and new friends in Nashville have been significant in her journey.
A notable figure in Langley’s Nashville circle is Joybeth Taylor, a fellow Alabama native and songwriter. They have pursued their musical dreams together, and Langley recalled their first songwriting session. One of their dreams was to write with Miranda Lambert, which recently came true.
Langley is currently working on her sophomore album, which will pay tribute to her Alabama roots. Following her debut project, Hungover, she feels more confident and authentic in her new work. She is excited to share her hard work with the world and begin this new chapter in her music career. Langley mentioned listening to artists like Ronnie Milsap and George Jones for inspiration. She believes her upcoming record will be even better than her first, as she now has experience and a clearer vision.
In support of her debut album, Langley’s sold-out Still Hungover Tour will resume on January 23 and run through April. She will also join Riley Green on his Damn Country Music Tour throughout the year.