Emmy Russell Puts Her Heart Into A Stunning Cover Of Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas”

Emmy Russell is proving once again that country music runs deep in her veins. On Monday, December 8, the American Idol finalist and granddaughter of the legendary Loretta Lynn shared a heartfelt cover of Ella Langley’s recent single, “Choosin’ Texas,” and fans couldn’t get enough.

Russell admitted she has “been singing this song every day,” and the passion behind that confession shines through in every note of her performance. Simple, raw, and beautifully vulnerable — the cover highlights everything fans love about her: a pure voice, an honest delivery, and a natural ability to make a song feel personal.

A Modern Ballad With Classic Country Pain

Originally released in October, “Choosin’ Texas” has quickly become one of Langley’s standout tracks. Co-written with Miranda Lambert, Luke Dick, and Joybeth Taylor, the ballad blends classic country storytelling with modern heartbreak.

The lyrics tell the story of a woman sitting alone at a bar while the cowboy she loves dances away with someone else. It’s a quiet realization that no matter how hard she tries, she can’t compete with the spark he feels for another woman — and another state.

The chorus hits especially hard:

“Just when I thought I got him to fall in love with Tennessee
I shoulda known better than to take him back to Abilene
I put him right back into her arms…
She’s from Texas, I can tell by the way
He’s two-steppin’ round the room…”

It’s the kind of song that feels immediately familiar, like something you’ve lived through before — and Emmy Russell captures that emotion perfectly.

A Rising Star Covering A Rising Star

Langley has been on a strong run lately. “Choosin’ Texas” arrives after her powerful cover of Toby Keith’s “Wish I Didn’t Know Now,” and her summer hit “Never Met Anyone Like You.” She also just released the deluxe edition of her debut album, still hungover, featuring 19 tracks including “paint the town blue,” “better be tough,” “weren’t for the wind,” and a fan-favorite duet with Riley Green.

While Langley continues carving her place in country music, Emmy Russell is doing the same — steadily releasing songs that highlight her emotional storytelling and musical heritage. Her recent originals include “That Girl,” “Phone Call to Heaven,” “London Bridges,” “Redemption,” and “Beautiful Things,” each one showing more growth and confidence.

Why Emmy’s Version Hit Fans Right In The Heart

Russell’s cover isn’t loud, flashy, or overproduced — it’s intimate.
It feels like she invited fans into her living room for an honest moment of pure country soul.

Her soft inflections, the way she leans into heartbreak without ever overdoing it, and the sincerity in her tone all pay tribute to the emotional weight of Langley’s original. It’s a reminder that great country music doesn’t just tell a story — it shares one.

 

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Two Female Artists Carrying Country Forward

There’s something refreshing about seeing a young artist like Emmy Russell take on a rising hit from another young woman in country music. It highlights the strength of today’s female voices — storytelling, truth-telling, and carrying the genre forward with heart.

Whether she’s singing her own songs or honoring someone else’s, Emmy Russell continues to show that she’s more than Loretta Lynn’s granddaughter. She’s an artist in her own right — and one fans should keep watching closely.