Ella Langley: Country Star's Arena Tour Revealed
Ella Langley is no longer the 18-year-old walking into a bar with nothing but grit and a business card. At 26, the raven-haired singer-songwriter has become a force in country music, tying Lainey Wilson for the most nominations at the 2025 Academy of Country Music (ACM) and Country Music Association (CMA) Awards. With six nods each, she claimed four wins, including Song and Single of the Year for her triple-platinum duet "You Look Like You Love Me" with Riley Green. Now, Langley is taking her raw, relatable sound to the big leagues with the announcement of her inaugural arena tour, "The Dandelion Tour."
From Bar Stools to Billboard Tops
Langley's journey reads like a classic underdog story in the heart of Southern music. Raised in a home filled with her father's '80s hair bands and old-school country, alongside her mother's eclectic mix of Pearl Jam, Depeche Mode, and folk icons like Peter, Paul and Mary, she absorbed a diverse palette that shapes her sound today. But it was a bold move at 18 that ignited her career. Armed with a self-made business card, she approached the owner of Bourbon Street in Auburn, Alabama, declaring, "You never have to book me again, if you’ll give me one chance."
That gig, a sorority event on an off-night, turned heads. Ryan Noll, the venue's operator, snapped a photo of her card and texted it to Bradley Jordan, a veteran promoter and co-manager at Peachtree Entertainment. "This girl’s great," the message read. Jordan, who had helped build careers like Luke Combs', saw potential in the freshman phenom. Despite Nashville's tough landscape for female artists, he offered guidance, booking her into regional shows via the 65 South collective.
"Bradley told me he didn’t like the song I had out, and because he was honest, I trusted him," Langley recalls. That trust paid off. By her early 20s, she was opening for heavyweights like Morgan Wallen in stadiums, Koe Wetzel in arenas, and Luke Combs, the CMA and ACM Entertainer of the Year. Her bar-honed presence and road-seasoned performances held their own on male-dominated bills, blending hippie glam aesthetics reminiscent of Stevie Nicks and Jessi Colter.
Award-Winning Breakthrough Hits
Langley's catalog speaks to a generation of young women embracing authenticity over glamour. Her double-platinum track "Weren’t For the Wind" captures the unfiltered emotions of small-town life, while her recent No. 1 single "Choosin’ Texas," co-written with Miranda Lambert, celebrates Southern pride with a fierce edge. But it's "You Look Like You Love Me" that catapulted her to stardom. The femme-swagger duet not only went triple platinum but swept awards, earning Video and Vocal Event honors alongside the top song accolades at the 2025 CMAs.
These successes aren't flukes; they're the result of Langley's songwriting prowess and collaborative spirit. Tying Lainey Wilson for nominations underscores her rapid ascent, positioning her as a voice for teen and 20-something girls who value realness over reinvention.
The Dandelion Tour: Headlining Arenas
Last week, Langley announced Dandelion, her highly anticipated second major-label album on Columbia Records, set for release on April 17. True to her momentum, she's pairing it with "The Dandelion Tour," her first arena headlining run. Kicking off on May 7 at Toledo, Ohio's Huntington Center, the tour emphasizes her Southeastern roots with stops at St. Louis’ Chaifetz Arena, Gilford, New Hampshire’s Bank NH Pavilion, and Canandaigua, New York’s CMAC.
The itinerary builds to a Texas finale: Austin’s Moody Center on August 13, Corpus Christi's American Bank Center on August 14 (corrected from source for accuracy), and Fort Worth’s Dickies Arena on August 15. This 20+ date trek marks a milestone, evolving from club shows to arena spectacles. Fans can expect high-energy sets infused with her signature moxie, drawing from two years of sold-out headlining gigs and support slots for artists like Dierks Bentley, Cody Johnson, and Jon Pardi.
Style, Influences, and Stardom on the Horizon
Visually, Langley channels a 21st-century outlaw vibe—think flowing bohemian layers with a country edge—that sets her apart in a genre often dominated by polished aesthetics. Her influences shine through: Jordan once suggested she check out Stoney LaRue, and her enthusiastic response, "I love him," highlighted their shared appreciation for red dirt authenticity.
Co-managed by Jordan and Megan Hinde since her earliest days, Langley's team has nurtured her without micromanaging. Peachtree Entertainment's involvement, including Jordan's bar ownership insights, has kept her grounded. As she told Pollstar, her family's musical undercurrent fueled her drive, turning under-the-radar opportunities into platinum realities.
With Dandelion poised to expand her narrative, Langley is undeniably on the cusp of legend status. Critics hail her as "a legend in the making," and with arena crowds awaiting, she's proving them right. For UK fans, while the tour focuses on the US, her global appeal via streaming and awards buzz suggests international expansion soon. Stay tuned—this is country music's next chapter, written by a woman who's always chosen her own path.
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