While chatting to Holler during her stint in the UK, Ella Langley has paid tribute to one of her closest friends and longstanding co-writer, Joybeth Taylor. Taylor helped pen 12 out of the 18 songs on Langley's lauded new album, Dandelion, and also had a hand in creating Langley's new Morgan Wallen duet, ‘I Can't Love You Anymore’.

Taylor has been a pivotal force in Langley's ascent over the past few years, with the prolific songwriter also contributing a multitude of tracks to the latter's still hungover project in 2024. They regularly show love to one another via socials, with Langley making a concerted effort whenever she reaches a new milestone in her career - of which there have been plenty lately - to underline Taylor's key role in this.

During a conversation with Holler in 2024 while Langley was across The Pond for London's BST Hyde Park, the Alabama native touched on the creative process behind ‘nicotine’, a fan-favourite from hungover. Langley explained, “I wrote that one on a writer's retreat with Joybeth Taylor, who I think has 11 cuts on this whole record”.

The ‘Choosin’ Texas’ chart-topper warmly recalls how the two bonded over their shared home-state, “She's from Alabama, but we met in Nashville. She's my sister in songwriting”.

When ‘weren't from the wind’ - another stand-out from Langley's hungover era co-written with Taylor - hit No. 1 at Country Radio and became their first shared chart-topper (and Langley's second overall after ‘you look like you love me’), the ‘That's Why We Fight’ crooner took to social media to share a heartfelt homage to her friend.

Langley wrote, “Sentimental post incoming… Theres no telling how many hours me and @joybethtaylor have put into having this moment together. Since that day on my back porch (the day we wrote our first song) we’ve dreamt about getting a #1 together”.

The country titan went on, “Sure, there have been many days that it seemed pretty much impossible, but we always believed. Always. I’ve never seen someone so dedicated to the craft of songwriting the way Joybeth is. It inspires me daily. Day in and day out I’ve watched her work her tail off. Writing damn near 300 songs a year if not more (probably more lol). There’s no one more deserving than you JBT. If you love my music, you also love Joybeth. I wouldn’t be the same without my sister in song and my favorite/best writing buddy. Sitting on plane flying back to Nashville with tears rolling out of my eyes thinking about how much we’ve talked about this moment and what it means to actually have it together”.

Langley singed off with an emotional “We did it JB”, sharing a flurry of photos from when the duo were two aspiring writers in Nashville, attempting to make a name for themselves.

Now, with ‘Choosin‘ Texas’ - co-written by Langley, Taylor, Miranda Lambert and Luke Dick - spending a staggering ninth week at the pinnacle of the Billboard Hot 100, and ‘I Can't Love You Anymore’ continuing to gain steam, it's safe to say this formidable songwriting alliance between Langley and Taylor shows no signs of slowing.

But more meaningful than the multitude of well-deserved accolades, trophies and No. 1s is the heart and warmth that permeates Langley and Taylor's songwriting, with the duo's friendship radiating throughout their tracks, regardless of whether they're writing a crushing heartbreak ballad or a joyful feel-good anthem.

It's a level of intricacy and intimacy that can only be captured in rare moments in Nashville, where most tracks emerge from a writing room with innumerable cooks in the kitchen. We can't wait to hear what Langley and Taylor have up their sleeves next.

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