'Choosin' Texas' Ends Its Record 24-Week Run at No. 1 on the Hot 100

The run is over. Taylor Swift's "Patient Zero" debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 dated October 10, which ended the record reign of "Choosin' Texas" at 24 weeks on top, Billboard reported on October 5. Nothing has ever held No. 1 longer. American Songwriter reported that Ella's song fell just one spot, to No. 2.

How it happened

"Patient Zero" is one of four new songs on The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore, the deluxe version of Swift's 2025 album, which came out September 25. Swift took most of the top five that week. Her other three new songs landed at Nos. 3, 4 and 5, and "Choosin' Texas" was the only non-Swift song in that group at No. 2. It's Swift's 16th Hot 100 No. 1. That's third all-time, behind the Beatles and Mariah Carey.

What the 24 weeks mean

The song took over the top spot in February and stayed there through spring, summer and most of football season. Along the way it passed Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You", which had held the record. The final count is 24 weeks, and our 24th-week story turned out to be the last one.

Getting knocked off by a Swift debut doesn't take anything away from that. A song sitting at No. 2 after eight months is still one of the biggest songs in the country, and it isn't over: if "Patient Zero" slips, "Choosin' Texas" is right there to take the top spot back.

What's next for Ella

The timing works out. "Choosin' Texas" is up for Single, Song and Music Video of the Year at the CMA Awards on November 18, where Ella leads the field with nine nominations (full rundown here). The fall Dandelion Tour also has a handful of dates left, where it's still the song everybody waits for.