Introduction
Country star Ella Langley is settling into a new chapter, recently purchasing her first home: a lakefront retreat near her childhood home in Montgomery, Alabama. The 26-year-old “You Look Like You Love Me” singer, who splits her time between Nashville, TN, and her home state, shared with Audacy that she chose Alabama for her first real estate venture because it’s where she feels most authentic.
“It just brings me back to who I am at the root of me every time I go back there,” Langley explained. “And when it comes to writing songs and being in that state of mind, I think it’s important to have a place like that.”
A Balancing Act Between Roots and Career
While Nashville remains the hub of country music and her primary residence, Langley emphasized the importance of maintaining strong ties to her Alabama roots. “I think I’ll always have to live in Tennessee to some extent in my life, but being from Alabama, it’s so close. It’s under four hours to get there,” she noted, highlighting the easy access to her family.
For many, buying a first home can be a daunting process, but Langley acknowledged her fortunate position. “I honestly been having a blast,” she admitted. “I have great business management. They just get all the phone calls, yes or no, this is what I want to do, and they figure out all the little logistics, so very thankful for them.”
New Music on the Horizon (Eventually)
In the same interview, Langley revealed that fans will have to wait a bit longer for new music. “My next record’s not going to be out until 2026,” she stated. This deliberate pace, she explained, allows for a more enduring connection with her work. “I feel like people move on from their records so fast… and I think there’s something to be said with taking your time with making the record and putting all those pieces in place where it can last a long time, last in a way where fans can keep digging into it and digging into it and finding new songs that they love and finding new little pieces about the record that’s different.”
A String of Accolades
Langley’s home purchase comes on the heels of a triumphant run at the Academy of Country Music Awards on May 8, where she took home an impressive five awards. Among them was the prestigious Single of the Year Award, presented by Realtor.com®, for her hit duet “You Look Like You Love Me” with Riley Green.
The Alabama native, who moved to Nashville in 2019 to pursue her musical dreams, also secured wins for Music Event of the Year, Female Artist of the Year, and two awards in the visual media category. The unexpected success left her momentarily speechless, but she quickly found her voice to express gratitude to her fans and praise Green for teaching her “to just not care so much and write what you love.”
Nashville’s Influence and Alabama’s Foundation
Langley’s move to Nashville was a pivotal moment, offering a nurturing environment for her artistry. “The music family here is just really special; people are so willing to be a mentor or help you grow in a way I just couldn’t do back home,” she told Raised Rowdy. This sentiment echoes that of country legend Reba McEntire, who also found Nashville to be the ideal place to cultivate her career while carrying the warmth of her Oklahoma upbringing with her.
Despite her success and the demands of life in the music capital, Langley’s Alabama roots remain a core part of her identity and creative process. Growing up a “tomboy” between two brothers shaped her resilience and directness, qualities she now embraces in her music and life. Her family’s unwavering support, even when she chose to leave Auburn University to pursue music full-time, provided a strong foundation. As Langley previously told CountryNow, “If you ask any of my family, they’re like, ‘Yeah, we all knew that this was what she was going to do.’ So there wasn’t ever really any question when I wanted to move.”
Langley is now faced with the pleasant dilemma of where to display her new trophies, humorously admitting to Billboard, “I really don’t know [where I’m going to put them]. I might try them out in a couple of different places. Test it out. Maybe the coffee table or maybe above the kitchen, I don’t know.”