It’s been a headline-making week for both Eric Church and Ella Langley — and their surprise onstage pairing only added fuel to the excitement.
Langley continues a breakout run powered by her hit Choosin’ Texas, which rocketed her into rare chart territory and cemented her as one of country music’s fastest-rising voices. At the same time, Church has been celebrating momentum of his own following his Grammy-nominated album Evangeline vs. The Machine and the theatrical release of his immersive concert film, Evangeline vs. The Machine Comes Alive, which showcased his signature arena spectacle.
The two artists have already been sharing the road, with Langley opening dates on Church’s tour in support of her album Dandelion. Until recently, though, fans hadn’t seen them perform together — something that changed during a stop in Buffalo, New York.
After Langley energized the crowd, Church took the stage with a sweeping performance that blended new material and fan favorites. Then came the surprise: he invited Langley back out for a duet of New York State of Mind, the classic written by Billy Joel. The unexpected song choice paid off. Langley carried much of the vocal spotlight with poise and warmth, while Church layered in harmonies that elevated the moment.
@rachelmcap New York State of mind 😍🤠🎤#ericchurch #ellalangleylive
♬ [Raw recording] Record playback noise 01 (3 minutes) – Icy Light
The result felt less like a novelty cameo and more like a natural musical partnership — one that left the crowd buzzing and fans hoping it won’t be the last time these two share a stage.