Credit : Variety's X
LOS ANGELES, October 26, 2026 – Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” has reclaimed the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 from Taylor Swift’s “Patient Zero”, extending its record-breaking tally of weeks at the summit to 25, while a wave of high-profile debuts reshaped the top of the chart.
Variety reported on Monday that Swift’s single relinquished the top position after a three-week run, and the entertainment publication shared the chart news on X.
Record run extended
“Choosin’ Texas” logged 20 million on-demand streams and 58.6 million radio impressions in its 53rd week on the chart and 25th, non-consecutive, week at No. 1. The country hit had already broken the record previously held by Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” when it reached its 23rd week at the top in late September.
Variety noted that the extra weeks could serve as insurance for Langley heading into 2027, as Carey’s holiday perennial usually returns to No. 1 in the weeks just before Christmas.
Tate McRae, Rodrigo and Roan, Bryan and Del Rey arrive
Tate McRae’s “Housewife” was the week’s biggest new entry, debuting at No. 2. It posted an even larger streaming tally than the chart-topper, with 22.9 million streams, along with 12.7 million radio impressions in its first week.
The Olivia Rodrigo and Chappell Roan remix of Rodrigo’s “Expectations” entered at No. 3 with 18.2 million streams and 2.6 million airplay impressions. Technically it is not a debut, as Billboard combines all versions of a song; Rodrigo’s solo version sat at No. 63 the previous week. The duet’s strong showing also helped push Rodrigo’s album “You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love” back to the top of the Billboard 200.
Zach Bryan’s “Lies”, featuring Lana Del Rey, opened at No. 4 with 19.6 million streams — more than “Expectations” — though with limited early radio play. The track comes from Bryan’s new eight-song EP “Young Manhood and Other Donatable Organs”, which debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200.
Swift slips to No. 5
“Patient Zero” fell from No. 1 to No. 5 despite continued strong radio support. According to Billboard figures cited by Variety, the song’s physical sales dropped from 151,000 the previous week to 26,000, with no new variants or fresh shipments released. Even so, it remained the top-selling song of the week.
The arrival of three new entries pushed much of the rest of the top 10 down. Stella Lefty’s “Boston” slipped three places to No. 6, Morgan Wallen’s “Been by Now” fell to No. 7, Tame Impala and Jennie’s “Dracula” dropped to No. 8, and Adela’s “Nicole Kidman” moved down to No. 9.
Rodrigo’s “Stupid Song” rounded out the top 10, falling just two spots and giving the singer two songs in the chart’s upper tier this week.
The Hot 100 ranks the most popular songs in the United States each week based on streaming, radio airplay and sales data.
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