If this isn’t the definition of a cinematic-level-full-circle moment, then I don’t know what is.
Like, c’mon, you can’t tell me that this story isn’t a Disney Channel Original movie in the making. Earlier this month, a high school teacher from the same school Alabama native Ella Langley attended went massively viral thanks to his touching story about how he helped inspire the then-budding country music star.
A Hooper Academy legend, history teacher Maury Popwell, aka “Coach Pops,” shared his heartfelt tale with WSFA12 News in Montgomery. While Langley had been singing for most of her life, putting on at-home kitchen shows for her grandparents and regularly performing at her local church, Coach Pops helped her hone her guitar skills.
The long-time educator of 57 years noted that he would sit with Langley early every Friday morning and practice guitar with her before the class bell rang. He said that she was mesmerized by his 12-string guitar: “Langley fell in love with its distinct sound, and that sound stayed with her.”
Down the road, the two reconnected when Langley had decided to drop out of college, just two years into her time at Auburn University, and wanted to pursue music full time in Nashville instead. Continuing his strong-held faith and support in the now-viral country mega star, Coach Pop’s gave her a final parting gift: his 12-string guitar.
“When I found out she was going to Nashville, I called her right before school started, and I told her come by the school today, and she did. I gave her that guitar. So she took it with her.”
The two have remained in touch over the years, with her former teacher even making an appearance at one of her Birmingham shows in the past. However, their reunion this past weekend took their full-circle story to a whole new level.
Coach Pops got to witness his once bright-eyed aspiring singer dominate a sold-out crowd of roughly 9,000 fans at Night 2 of her Auburn shows on Saturday night, August 29. Beyond the insane fact that Langley returned to the school she once dropped out of for two back-to-back nights in front of screaming fans, the reunion no doubt had to be incredibly sentimental for the former student and teacher.
Hooper Academy’s Booster Club shared a snapshot of Langley and Coach Pop backstage at the Neville Arena with her number one ella fella, of course, repping his t-shirt and “Choosin’ Auburn” hat. Heartwarmingly, the image is almost a carbon copy of Langley’s post from 2019, showcasing her holding her 12-string gift from Coach Pop, with his arm wrapped around her.
Flash forward nearly seven years later on the dot, and Coach Pop is now the one holding up his very own Dandelion guitar from his chart-topping protige. Langley not only signed the top of the guitar featuring a picture of her album’s artwork but also wrote, “Love you, Coach Pop!!”
Coach Pop was also spotted in the crowd alongside his wife, admiring his former student on stage singing her fan-favorite hit, “Be Her.” I don’t think a teacher can get much prouder than that.
Luckily for Langley, she gets to recoup from this jam-packed weekend with a few days off before heading back to the stage next Thursday, September 10 in Newark, NJ. And given her inescapable summer anthem “Choosin’ Texas” just became the longest-running non-holiday No.1 hit ever on the Billboard Hot 100, it’s safe to assume she’s got a lot of celebrating to do in the meantime.
Tour Dates:
- 9/10/26 – Newark, NJ – Prudential Center (#, &)
- 9/11/26 – State College, PA – Bryce Jordan Center (#, &)
- 9/12/26 – Charleston, WV – Charleston Coliseum (#, &)
- 9/17/26 – Oxford, MS – SJB Pavilion (@, %)
- 9/18/26 – Athens, GA – Akins Ford Arena (@, %)
- 9/19/26 – Jacksonville, FL – VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena (@, %)
- 9/24/26 – Knoxville, TN – Food City Center (@, %)
- 9/25/26 – Columbus, OH – Schottenstein Center (@, %)
- 9/26/26 – Moline, IL – Vibrant Arena (@, %)
- 10/7/26 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre (@, &)
- 10/9/26- Tulsa, OK – BOK Center (@, %)
- 10/10/26 – Lubbock, TX – United Supermarkets Arena (@, %)
- 10/13/26 – Los Angeles, CA – The Greek Theatre (@, %)
- 10/14/26 – Los Angeles, CA – The Greek Theatre (@, %)
- 10/29/26 – Des Moines, IA – Casey’s Center (@, &)
- 10/30/26 – Lincoln, NE – Pinnacle Bank Arena (@, &)
- 10/31/26 – Saint Paul, MN – Grand Casino Arena (@, &)