'80s Country Classic, Named No. 1 Hit for One Week, Was Just Reimagined by Ella Langley
Country music fans got an unexpected highlight at Braves Country Fest when Ella Langley and Cody Johnson joined forces to perform Reba McEntire's classic hit "Whoever's in New England."
The surprise duet took place during Johnson's set at Truist Park in Atlanta on June 13 and quickly became one of the most talked-about moments of the festival.
Originally released in 1986, "Whoever's in New England" served as the title track of Reba McEntire's breakthrough album of the same name. The song reached No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart and became one of the defining records of McEntire's career. It also earned her a Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance and received Country Music Association nominations for Single of the Year and Music Video of the Year.
Langley and Johnson's version introduced the classic ballad to a new generation of listeners while honoring the emotional storytelling that made the original recording a country music landmark.
The collaboration was especially meaningful given Johnson's history with the song. The country star previously recorded an acoustic version of "Whoever's in New England" in 2020. In 2023, McEntire herself joined Johnson onstage at CMA Fest to perform the track together.
At Braves Country Fest, Johnson welcomed Langley for a fresh interpretation of the classic, creating a moment that immediately resonated with fans in attendance and across social media.
The duet stood out among a lineup that also included performances from Ernest, Mackenzie Carpenter, Scoot Teasley, Zach John King and Colton Bowlin. The event benefited the Atlanta Braves Foundation.
Ella Langley's Record-Breaking Year Continues
The performance arrives during a historic run for Langley, who has become one of country music's fastest-rising stars.
Her hit single "Choosin' Texas" has dominated the charts throughout 2026. The song spent 10 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and established a new Hot Country Songs record for the longest-leading hit by a woman without additional credited recording artists since the chart became the genre's primary songs ranking in 1958.
Langley's success has extended beyond a single hit. She recently became the first female country artist to simultaneously hold three songs inside the top 10 of Billboard's Country Airplay chart. Her current chart presence includes "Be Her," "Choosin' Texas" and her collaboration with Morgan Wallen, "I Can't Love You Anymore."
The Alabama native also collected several major honors at the Academy of Country Music Awards, including Female Artist of the Year, Artist-Songwriter of the Year, Song of the Year and Single of the Year.
Just days before the Braves Country Fest appearance, Langley joined Reba McEntire and Miranda Lambert for ELLE's Three Generations conversation, where the artists discussed songwriting, mentorship, and the growing support system among women in country music.
During that discussion, Langley reflected on the challenges women can face in the industry.
"I think, you know, sometimes being a woman is a little tougher to get crawl up the chain," Langley said. "But when we all do it together, you know what I mean? [We're] lot more powerful in numbers."
Forty years after Reba McEntire turned "Whoever's in New England" into a signature hit, Ella Langley and Cody Johnson reminded country music fans why the song remains one of the genre's most enduring classics.
Related: Country Star Makes Billboard Chart History With No. 1 Hit Song Lasting 28 Weeks
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This story was originally published June 16, 2026 at 4:42 PM.