Ella Langley Fans in Knoxville Are Not 'Choosin' Texas' Live

Ella Langley fans were most definitely not choosin' Texas during her show in Knoxville on Thursday (Sept. 24).

Langley played a scheduled show on her 2026 The Dandelion Tour at Food City Center on Thursday night, and as always, she performed her career-changing smash hit, "Choosin' Texas," as part of the show.

Why Did Fans Boo Ella Langley in Knoxville?

However, the audience in Knoxville received the song a bit differently in light of the ongoing rivalry between the Texas Longhorns and the Tennessee Volunteers, which was slated to come to a head during a showdown game on Saturday (Sept. 26).

In the audience-shot video below, Langley sings the line, "I’ll know that his mind wasn’t ever gonna change / ‘Cause his heart still belongs to the Lone Star State."

After that, she pauses dramatically, as if she knows fully well the reaction that's coming — and it does, just seconds later, when the crowd begins to boo.

In the clip, the booing builds to a crescendo before Langley resumes a bit awkwardly:

What Is the Rivalry Between Texas and Tennessee?

The Volunteers hosted the Longhorns on Saturday in a game that was very important for Tennessee.

Both teams went into the game undefeated, but as it turned out, Texas defeated Tennessee 20-17, according to Clutch Points.

Who Is Ella Langley?

Langley is a country singer whose career has exploded in popularity over the last few years with hits including "You Look Like You Love Me," "Weren't for the Wind," "Choosin' Texas" — which has set new chart records with its massive run at No. 1 — "Be Her" and more.

Her current album is Dandelion, which she released in April of 2026.

Her The Dandelion Tour is set to run through Oct. 31, when it wraps at Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul, Minn.

The 15 Best Ella Langley Songs

Ella Langley showed up in country music's mainstream as a dark horse with an unlikely hit: "You Look Like You Love Me," a Riley Green duet that was catchy as all get-out but featured some unusual (and old-school) stylistic choices like talk-singing.

But it was a smash. And that turned out to be just the beginning of what Langley had to offer. She's continued to dominate with hits like "Weren't For the Wind" and the crossover mega-hit "Choosin' Texas," becoming one of the most high profile acts in country music and a bonafide star even beyond the genre.

Keep reading for Taste of Country's countdown of 15 Ella Langley songs that put her on the map, and then rewrote the rules of what traditional country sounds like — and how successful it can be even beyond the genre.

Gallery Credit: Carena Liptak

Source: Ella Langley Fans Boo ‘Choosin’ Texas’ at Knoxville Show Before Tennessee-Texas Showdown [Watch]

Filed Under: Ella Langley