Introduction:
Ella Langley Says New Album Won’t Arrive Until 2026, Promises a Conceptual Leap
Rising country star Ella Langley isn’t rushing into her sophomore album. Fresh off the success of her debut project Hungover and its deluxe re-release Still Hungover in 2024, the Alabama native says she wants to let her first collection breathe before unveiling the next chapter of her artistry.
In a recent interview, Langley confirmed that fans will need to wait a little longer: “My next record is not going to be out until 2026,” she revealed. While she’s already deep into the creative process, Langley says she doesn’t want to fall into the industry cycle of putting out a 20-song record, pushing one single, and then immediately moving on.
And it’s not as if Hungover has run out of steam. The debut album produced multiple fan favorites and radio-ready tracks, including her smash duet with Riley Green, “you look like you love me,” which topped Billboard’s Country Airplay chart and earned CMA’s Musical Event of the Year, and her first solo No. 1, “weren’t for the wind.” Other songs such as “Nicotine,” “Hungover,” and “Better Be Tough” continue to resonate with listeners, keeping the album alive well into its second year.
Langley admitted she’d still love to push another single from Hungover, but fans won’t be left waiting in silence. She plans to release a handful of tracks that didn’t fit the concept of her upcoming record, describing them as “a different taste… a side of me fans already know.”
A Visionary Next Step
Although she’s keeping most details under wraps, Langley did tease what’s ahead. “This next record I’m going to put out is very much a concept piece. It’s different from what I’ve done, but it’s still me,” she told Country Countdown USA, where she recently guest-hosted with Lon Helton. “I’m co-producing the whole thing, and I’ve had the title locked in since the day we shot the video for ‘You Look Like You Love Me.’”
For Langley, making a record is a painstaking but rewarding process: “I think there’s something to be said in taking your time. When you don’t rush, fans can dig into the songs again and again, finding new favorites and little details they didn’t notice before.”
She added that unlike Hungover, which was built around her best early songs, this new project starts with a clear theme that guides her writing. “This time, I have a concept, and I’m writing toward that concept. It feels like creating something bigger, almost like raising a child. It’s been on my mind every day.”
Keeping Fans Engaged
Even as she works on her 2026 record, Langley has kept a full slate of performances. She recently dropped “Never Met Anyone Like You” with HARDY, likely her next radio single, and continues to expand her Still Hungover Tour, which sold out additional dates within minutes. She’s also supporting Riley Green on his Damn Country Music Tour, and joining Morgan Wallen for eight stadium shows, performing “What I Want” live each night in place of Tate McRae.
With momentum building, Langley is balancing patience with presence — holding back her sophomore album until it feels perfect, while still feeding fans a steady stream of music and unforgettable live shows.
“I’m really just trying to do what feels right to me,” she reflected. “This is my art, and I want to put it out the way that feels best for my vision. Thankfully, I have a team that believes in that with me.”