Ella Langley and Jo Dee Messina are truly the duo that just keeps on giving.
Representing two iconic generations of leading females in country music, both artists have continued to pay homage to one another, covering each other’s songs back and forth. And like all good modern-day friendships, Langley and Messina first connected thanks to a video the 27-year-old superstar posted online.
Back in December 2024, Langley shared a cozy at-home cover of Messina’s ’90s hit, “Lesson in Leavin’.” Her raw vocals ripping through her kitchen’s acoustics while crafting up a pan of potatoes and vegetables took the internet by storm, even catching the attention of Messina herself.
The “Heads Carolina, Tails California” singer proceeded to express her admiration in the comment section, exclaiming, “Girl!!!!! You sound AMAZING!!! Hope we get to work together someday!” At which Langley humbly responded with a weepy-eyed emoji and heart-hands.
Sure enough, down the road in November of 2025, Langley took up Messina on her offer to “work together someday” by bringing her out on stage at the Ryman for an incredible duet of the 1999 track (which, fun fact, was actually originally recorded back in 1979 by Dottie West). The pair linked up again this past March for an in-depth sit-down conversation at Country Radio Seminar, not to mention Messina joining the “Choosin’ Texas”-mania a few months earlier with her own car-cover posted to TikTok.
Continuing to tip her hat to the dominating Alabama country superstar, on a recent appearance on the God’s Country Podcast with the Brothers Hunt, Messina put her spin on the fan-favorite track, “Loving Life Again” (which she claimed was actually her own personal favorite from before the album had even been released). She tells hosts Reid and Dan Isbell that prior to Dandelion’s April 10 release, Langley sent over a snippet.
“When I first heard this song before the album was released, and she sent it to me, and I was like, ‘I heard a clip of this. I got to have it.’ And she’s like, ‘I’ll send it to you.'” Adding that she quickly became obsessed with the song and its message, “I just love the simplicity of it and the life that that simplicity brings.”
The carefree anthem co-written by Langley, ERNEST, and Devin Dawson has become a standout track for many who have related to its message of re-finding yourself after a period of burnout in the little pleasures of life. As Messina puts it, the song is all about “being plugged into your creativity, who God created you to be, and the simpleness of that,” before leading into an acoustic performance of the chorus on the podcast.
At the end, she enthusiastically sent out a message to the “Be Her” singer, letting her know, “I still love [the song] Ella!” Given it’s still one of the most played tracks on the album with over 72 million streams on Spotify alone, I’d say her fans would also have to agree.
With that being said, if you haven’t seen Langley’s own stripped-down acoustic version from her first Back Home Sessions video, it’s a MUST-watch that’ll have you falling in love with the song all over again.