Sep 22, 2026 - Business
Mariah Carey dethroned for longest-running No. 1 song
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Ella Langley's "Choosin' Texas" reached 23 weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100, surpassing Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You" for the longest tenure at No. 1.
Why it matters: The country song from the 27-year-old Alabaman is a triumph of the digital era: its popularity grew organically across mediums, not dependent on any one ecosystem.
- Modern hits often break through on TikTok, streaming or radio. "Choosin' Texas" caught fire across all three, the Washington Post wrote in April.
Catch up quick: The song was released last October and debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 shortly afterward. It shot into the top 10 in January and had its first week at No. 1 in February.
- Carey's 1994 holiday hit accumulated its previous record across recurring trips to No. 1 between 2019 and 2026. It could add to its total again this winter.
Methodology: The Billboard Hot 100 combines data across U.S. streaming, digital and physical sales and radio play.
