Introduction
Country music sensation Ella Langley is making waves, with her latest single, “Weren’t For The Wind,” soaring to number five on the Mediabase Country chart. I recently had the chance to chat with Langley about her rapid ascent and unique relationship with Country radio.
Langley shared her awe at the quick success of “Weren’t For The Wind,” noting its parallel to her first radio single, “You Look Like You Love Me.” “Both songs just took everything by storm,” she explained. “To see what ‘Weren’t For The Wind’ has done in such a short period of time really shows that the music is connecting. It’s just really awesome to see.”
Embracing the Radio Journey
For many emerging artists, navigating the world of radio can be intimidating. Langley admits, “I think radio is a little bit of a daunting and a scary thing to new artists. There’s a lot to learn, and a lot to figure out about how it works.” However, she’s been met with open arms. “To see the love that I’ve been shown from Country radio is just really, awesome.”
Country artists are renowned for their accessibility, and Langley believes this allows fans to connect with her on a deeper, more personal level. “I just look at this career as this big ladder,” she mused. “With every step, there is a new thing you have to learn… what’s cool is I get the opportunity, like today, for fans to hear me talk. Not on TikTok or on stage. In a normal way, and this more nonchalant way. They get to learn about me as a human being a little bit more, which is awesome.”
A Shared Milestone: First Time on Air
Recalling the momentous occasion of hearing her song on the radio for the very first time, Langley painted a vivid picture: “I was at rehearsal with my band. We all got in the truck, and we all got to hear it together. It was just an incredible experience.” She emphasized the significance of sharing that moment with the band who had been with her through countless shows and long hours on the road. “Those guys and I had played so many shows together, and we’ve worked so hard for this… to get to experience that with them for the first time was really awesome.”
Stepping into the Circle: The Grand Ole Opry
February 17, 2023, marks another pivotal date in Langley’s career: her debut at the Grand Ole Opry. Though she jokes about her memory for dates, that one is etched in her mind. “If I quit right now, I’d feel like I’ve done something with my career,” she said of the experience. “Getting to play that and getting to be in an Opry Next Stage class. The love that the Opry has shown me is just crazy.”
Langley struggles to articulate the profound feeling of being on that iconic stage. “If you’ve never been to the Grand Ole Opry, it’s hard to explain the history that you feel when you walk in there.” While playing the Ryman in 2022 was special, the Opry was different. “To get to the Grand Ole Opry, the circle, I don’t know how many people have placed their feet on that piece of wood. It’s incredible.”
She admitted that despite rarely getting nervous anymore, the Opry brought on a unique sensation. “In the past few years, I feel like I’ve only gotten that kind of nerves before walking out there and playing at the Grand Ole Opry. It’s just almost overwhelming. I had so many people from my hometown there.”
Radio’s Enduring Influence
Growing up, radio was a constant in Langley’s life. “When I was younger, I just listened to the radio,” she shared, even rattling off the specific stations and genres she tuned into in Alabama. “I was sitting at my counter, and I was listening constantly. Then in the back of my dad’s car and the back of my mom’s car. They were playing completely opposite things. We were always singing something. We’re just a big musical family.”
From a childhood spent absorbing music through the airwaves to now hearing her own songs played across the nation, Ella Langley’s journey is a testament to the power of connection—both through her music and her genuine presence.