Ella Langley isn't second-guessing her decision to cancel a concertover safety concerns.
A day after calling off her Tulsa, Oklahoma, show following a "serious security threat," the country singer returned to the stage in Lubbock, Texas, with a message for fans: Their safety comes before the music.
"I would have made yesterday's decision 10 billion times over – and I'd do it tomorrow, and I'd do it the next day because, while I'm grateful to get to do what I do, it's not the most important thing in this life," Langley told the crowd Oct. 10, according to avideo of her statement posted on X. "What's the most important thing in this life is the people around that love you and are there for you no matter what. The most important thing in this life is making
sure you wake up every day and feel like, 'You know what? I'm good today, and I'm so grateful to have woken up today.'"
The 27-year-old said she would only move forward with a performance if she felt fans could safely gather to enjoy it. While she was thankful for her career, she said, performing mattered less than being alive and having loved ones to lean on.
Langley also revealed she had considered canceling the Lubbock concert at United Supermarkets Arena. Ultimately, she said she felt reassured that the show could go ahead safely.
"When it comes to keeping you safe and making sure that this show is a safe place for us to come and enjoy our music, then it will happen. But the second it feels like it will not, I'm not doing it," Langley said.
USA TODAY reached out to Langley's representatives for a comment.
Why did Ella Langley cancel her Tulsa concert?
Langley's remarks came after she canceled her Oct. 9 performance at Tulsa's BOK Center, citing concerns for fans, venue employees and her team.
In her initial announcement, Langley said the cancellation followed advice from local authorities, the venue and her security team.
"Due to a serious security threat involving the safety of my fans, the venue staff, and my team, the incredibly difficult decision was made to cancel tonight's show," Langley wrote on an Instagram post that is no longer up. "This decision was made under the advisement of local authorities, the venue, and my security team.
"I know how much time, travel, money, and planning goes into coming to a show, and I can't tell you how sorry I am. This is not a decision that was made lightly. I was so looking forward to spending tonight with you, but your safety will always mean more to me than anything else. I refuse to put anyone in harm's way," Langley wrote.
Tulsa police offered a different account, saying officers found no credible threat. Capt. Richard Meulenberg said officers searched the venue with bomb-sniffing dogs, then returned for another sweep after a caller warned of potential gunfire and bombs. Neither search uncovered a credible threat, he said.
"We came out again in an overabundance of caution, used our bomb dogs again, searched the entire area," Meulenberg said in a video posted to Facebook "We could not find a credible threat here at the BOK Center."
Langley has spoken candidly about life in the spotlight
The cancellation follows a period of heightened attention for Langley amid the success of "Choosin' Texas."
During a September tour stop in Columbus, Ohio, she told concertgoers that criticism of her appearance, voice and performances had initially made her question whether she could handle fame.
"I don't know if I'm strong enough for this," Langley said. Reflecting on her early years chasing a music career helped shift her perspective, she said.
"The girl that they're kind of picking on is the girl that got me where I'm sitting here today," the country singer said. "That's the girl that rode in a 15-passenger van night after night after night. She rode in a Honda Accord night after night after night, chased her dream, living on bar food, living on tip jar money."
Contributing: Bryan West, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ella Langley addresses concert cancellation in Oklahoma over safety issue
