Country music star Ella Langley is back in the news again, but not for her brilliant song delivery.
Langley is drawing attention after pausing a packed concert in New Jersey to reflect on her rapid rise and credit her faith for the success she has experienced. She made the remarks during a Sept. 10 performance at the Prudential Center in Newark, the same day the Country Music Association announced that she had earned a leading nine nominations for the 60th annual CMA Awards.
Speaking to the crowd, the 27-year-old singer said she believed God had been extraordinarily good to her and made clear that she viewed her recent achievements through the lens of her Christian faith. Rather than focusing solely on record sales, chart positions or awards, Langley used the moment to express gratitude for the opportunities she has received and for the people who have supported her career.
“God has been so good to me, has been just so, so good to me. I’m just a poor girl from a small town with a big dream. Pretty cliche, I know, but it’s true. I’ve done countless things. Ridiculous, dumb things in my life. I don’t feel like I always deserve it, but I am so grateful that I’ve been given the opportunity to stand up here and sing songs that I love,” Langley told the crowd.
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@sabrinafromqueens & she deserves every bit of it @Ella Langley #ellalangley #cmaawards ? original sound – Sabrina from Queens
Video of the remarks quickly spread online, adding another viral moment to what has already been a remarkable year for the Alabama native. Langley leads all artists with nine nominations at this year’s CMA Awards, including her first nomination for Entertainer of the Year. She is also nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year and Album of the Year for “Dandelion.” Her songs “Be Her” and “Choosin’ Texas” each received nominations for both Single of the Year and Song of the Year.
Langley also earned nominations for Musical Event of the Year for “I Can’t Love You Anymore,” her collaboration with Morgan Wallen, and Music Video of the Year for “Choosin’ Texas.” The nine nominations put Langley among a small group of artists to receive that many CMA nods in a single year. Only Alan Jackson, who received 10 nominations in 2002, has earned more in one year, according to country music industry reporting.
Her success follows a major commercial breakthrough driven largely by *Dandelion* and its hit singles. “Choosin’ Texas” became the first song by a woman to simultaneously reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts, while “Be Her” became one of the fastest solo female singles to reach the top of country radio in recent years.
Earlier this year, Langley also swept all seven categories in which she was nominated at the Academy of Country Music Awards, including Female Artist of the Year. The Newark concert was part of Langley’s Dandelion Tour, which has taken her to arenas across the country throughout the summer and fall. Her New Jersey appearance came just hours after the CMA nominations were unveiled, making the concert one of her first opportunities to publicly react to the latest milestone in front of fans.
