Ella Langley's 'Dandelion' Tour Is Doing Something 'Extraordinary': Booking Women as Openers
June 19, 2026
Since Ella Langley released “Choosin’ Texas” last year, she’s been breaking records left and right. She surpassed Taylor Swift for the longest-running country Number One, became the first female artist to top the Billboard Hot 100, Hot Country Songs, and Country Airplay simultaneously, and took home seven ACM awards. And as she resumes her Dandelion headlining tour this weekend, she’s proving that she’s much more interested in being a first, not a last, by taking a string of fellow female artists out on the road.
Langley has recruited women to open for every date, choosing Gabriella Rose, Kaitlin Butts, Avery Anna, Laci Kaye Booth, and Madeline Edwards for the tour, which kicked off in May and concludes this August in, appropriately, Texas. But what’s even more notable is that while country music customarily prioritizes lower-risk openers for mainstream tours (read: successful on country radio), Langley seems intent to platform female artists regardless of whether they’ve made headway on the airwaves. Which, as we know, is not exactly an equal playing field. (Male country artists Dylan Marlowe and Kameron Marlowe are also on select dates.)
“Ella is such a role model for what skyrocketing with grace looks like,” Butts tells Rolling Stone, who credits Langley with changing her life when she posted a TikTok video using Butts’ “You Ain’t Gotta Die (To Be Dead To Me)” trend. “She’s put me up for an acting role in her iconic music video for ‘Choosin’ Texas’ and now she’s taking me on tour with her. That’s what I love about her, a win for her means a win for all of us women in country music because she’s one of the ones that’s turning around to help the next in line.”
Everything in Langley’s world seems to be about paying tribute to those who opened doors for her, and how she can do the same in return. Dandelion was co-produced by Miranda Lambert, who also co-wrote “Choosin’ Texas.” It was Lambert (and Carrie Underwood) who first started to disrupt the mold of “balancing” a woman headliner with male acts: her 2019 Roadside Bars & Pink Guitar tours took out Maren Morris, Ashley McBryde, Elle King, Tenille Townes, and Caylee Hammack. Morris went on to do the same, recruiting Cassadee Pope, RaeLynn, Kassi Ashton, Hailey Whitters, and Tenille Townes for her GIRL World Tour. When country radio fails to budge — which, despite Langley’s success, still plays women around once an hour at best — such tour slots can make all the difference in helping to level the playing field.
Editor’s picks
The 250 Greatest Albums of the 21st Century So Far
The 100 Best TV Episodes of All Time
The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
100 Best Movies of the 21st Century
“The strength it takes to be a woman at the top of this industry is almost unfathomable,” Booth says. “And the grace it takes to turn around and extend a hand to other women along the way is something extraordinary.”
Edwards, who had one of Rolling Stone’s best country albums of 2025 and will be an opening act on the Dandelion tour on July 16th, first met Langley at a songwriting festival in Maui a few years back, during one of the most vulnerable times of her life. Grappling with her brother’s worsening mental health, she confided in Langley. “I was disoriented, guilt-ridden, and far from home in the days leading up to his diagnosis,” Edwards says. “I’ll never forget the grace and space she offered a practical stranger as I tried to make sense of it all.”
Trending Stories
Lizzo’s New Album Didn’t Even Chart. What Happened?
Taylor Swift and Lainey Wilson Surprise Duet 'Love Story' at Travis Kelce’s NFL Concert
Neil Young Quietly Released a Blazing, Hourlong Concert Film for Free
Peter, Paul and Mary's Noel Stookey Had a Front Row Seat to the Sixties. He Remembers All of It
Bringing women on the road is even more important in a summer where, according to the work of Book More Women, they’re barely represented on major country and Americana festivals. Tortuga is only 12.7 percent women, a decline from previous years; Under the Big Sky, Railbird, Tailgates n’ Tallboys, and Stagecoach all come in under 15 percent.
Edwards praises Langley for not just taking more women out on the road, but choosing women who “really have something to say,” notes Edwards. “She’s not just a ‘girl’s girl’ for the aesthetic of it. She’s curating a top-to-bottom experience that inspires her audience to really feel something. Real recognizes real.”
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
