Sorry, Tennessee. America is choosin' Texas.
Ella Langley's "Choosin' Texas" earned its 20th week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, giving the Alabama-born singer-songwriter the longest run ever atop the chart for a non-holiday song, Billboard announced on Aug. 31.
She now trails only Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You," which has spent 22 weeks at the top — the longest for any song in the 68-year history of Billboard's flagship chart for all genres.
The earworm of a song about a love triangle — co-written with Luke Dick and Miranda Lambert — has beaten Shaboozey's "A Bar Song (Tipsy)" and Lil Nas X featuring Billy Ray Cyrus's "Old Town Road" — each held the top spot at their peak.
In total, the song has 24.2 million official streams
in the U.S. and 56.8 million radio airplay audience impressions, according to Billboard. The country hit has also sold about 7,000 copies as digital downloads.
To celebrate, here's a look back at all the Texas gems referenced in what might just be the song of the year.
'Back to Abilene'
As the Abilene Reporter-News, part of the USA TODAY Network, puts it, "Choosin' Texas" put the West Texas town back on the map, as it's not a stranger being referenced in country music.
Some of the prominent country artists like Waylon Jennings and George Hamilton IV have been singing about the town between Lubbock and Fort Worth since its early cattle-shipping days.
With a population of 125,182, the town is known as the Official Storybook Capital of America, according to Tour Texas, and also has a zoo.
'Amarillo by Morning'
Now, if you didn't catch this reference, you can't call yourself a country fan.
The lyric, "He always loved 'Amarillo by Morning'" is a nod to a George Strait ballad about a town in the Texas Panhandle as the narrator drives on up from San Antone (San Antonio).
With a population of 203,729, the city lies on the iconic Route 66 and is the gateway to the Palo Duro Canyon State Park. It's also home to the Cadillac Ranch, the roadside art installation where visitors are invited to spray-paint the buried Cadillacs.
'I-40 gets lonelier with every mile'
This is a more obscure reference to the interstate that runs through the Texas Panhandle, connecting the state with New Mexico to the west and Oklahoma to the east.
The interstate runs past the Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo and The Big Texan Steak Ranch — home of the 72-ounce steak challenge, free if diners finish it within an hour.
The interstate also runs parallel to the historic Route 66.
'Two steppin' 'round the room'
This lyric refers to the Texas two-step, which consists of two quick walking steps followed by two longer, slower steps with a partner.
Notably, "Choosin' Texas" is in a 4/4 time signature, making it a good two steppin' song to grab a partner to dance with.
Ella Langley's Texas tour dates
Langley is on her first solo tour, named after her sophomore album, "Dandelion."
While her tour has already visited most of her Texas tour locations in Austin, Fort Worth and Corpus Christi, there is one more opportunity to see her — Oct. 10 in Lubbock.
Mateo Rosiles is the Texas Connect reporter for USA TODAY and its regional papers in Texas. Got a news tip for him? Email him at mrosiles@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Sorry Tennessee. Ella Langley's 'Choosin' Texas' just made chart history
