After 24 Weeks, Someone Finally Knocked Ella Langley Off No. 1 — And You Can Guess Who It Was

Stop scrolling, because the longest reign in Hot 100 history is OVER. Ella Langley's record-smashing 24-week run at No. 1 just got ended by Taylor Swift, and honestly, the chart gods love a plot twist.

The Tea ☕

• Swift's "Patient Zero" debuts at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, per Billboard.
• That ends the record 24-week stay of Langley's "Choosin' Texas," which drops to No. 2.
• Swift's three other new songs from the "Encore" reissue land at Nos. 3, 4 and 5.

Goodbye, Choosin' Texas (For Now)

Page Six reports that "Choosin' Texas" had led the chart since February. That run was long enough to pass Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You," which spent 22 weeks on top.

Langley had a complicated few weeks after that milestone. Per Page Six, she told a Columbus, Ohio crowd she'd had more opinions aimed at her in the last year than ever, and said she's "proud of that girl that everybody seems to be picking on." Fair play to her. 24 weeks is 24 weeks, and no one can take that away.

The Showgirl Takeover

"Patient Zero" is one of four new songs on The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore, the deluxe edition that dropped Sept. 25. According to Billboard, it opened with 34.5 million official streams, 28.5 million radio audience impressions and 65,000 copies sold in the U.S.

The other three new tracks, "Cleveland!," "Babylon" and "Pink Clouding," debuted at Nos. 3, 4 and 5. So that's four songs from one reissue in the top five. Yes, really.

The album itself also vaulted from No. 21 to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 for a 13th week on top, Billboard reports, with 173,000 equivalent units.

The Record Books Are Shaking

Billboard's stat rundown is unhinged, so here are the highlights:

• 16th career No. 1, which puts Swift third all-time behind The Beatles (20) and Mariah Carey (19).
• 10th No. 1 debut, tying Drake for the most ever.
• 50 total weeks at No. 1, making her the sixth artist to hit that milestone.
• 74 career top 10s, the most of any woman.
• 14 top 10s from The Life of a Showgirl, the most ever from a single album.
• Three new No. 1s in 2026 ("Opalite," "I Knew It, I Knew You" and now "Patient Zero"), a feat last managed by Kendrick Lamar in 2024.

She also co-wrote and co-produced the song with Max Martin and Shellback, per Billboard. Martin now has 31 Hot 100 No. 1s as a songwriter, one shy of Paul McCartney's 32.

The Video Factor

The Swift-directed "Patient Zero" video, starring Swift, Dakota Johnson and Colin Farrell, premiered during the VMAs on Sept. 27. Billboard also notes the song hit No. 1 on its global charts, so this isn't just a US thing.

Your Turn

Is this a fair changing of the guard, or do you think "Choosin' Texas" still had gas in the tank? And with Swift now eyeing Mariah's 19, how long until she catches up?

Team Taylor or Team Ella? Sound off below.

Sources: Page Six | Billboard (Hot 100) | Billboard (Billboard 200)