#651 - Ella Langley

Summary

Podcast Summary: This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von – Episode #651: Ella Langley (April 7, 2026)

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EPISODE OVERVIEW

In this engaging episode, Theo Von welcomes rising country music star Ella Langley to discuss her new album "Dandelion," her Southern roots, life on the road, creative process, and all the quirks and challenges of growing up and finding your voice as an artist. The episode brims with humor, heartfelt anecdotes, stories of small-town life, and candid reflections on fame, mental health, family, and the country music scene. Ella brings her genuine Southern warmth and wit, while Theo provides his classic offbeat observations and soul-searching questions, creating a fast-moving—but also deeply honest—conversation about chasing dreams and staying grounded.

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KEY TOPICS & DISCUSSION POINTS

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1. Small Town Roots & Family Influences

• Ella’s upbringing in Alabama:
  • Grew up in a Southern Baptist family, homeschooled for several years, with church as a central social anchor.
  • Describes her town near Montgomery as close-knit (“you know everyone, their cars, their parents”) (05:38).
• Family of musicians:
  • Grandfather could play anything by ear; grandmother discovered Ella’s singing talent early (27:39).
  • First performances at family reunions, church (21:35, 28:11).
• Notable quote:
  • "My grandpa could just fix a flat tire with his tongue. That guy had some grit in him." – Theo (02:27)
  • "I learned how to read from singing hymnals." – Ella (28:19)

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2. School, Church, and Childhood Stories

• School years:
  • Ella was homeschooled, briefly attended public school (where she says she mostly got in trouble for “distracting others”), then switched back to the small local school her dad attended (06:17, 08:24).
  • Suffered from eye muscle issues as a kid ("sometimes I'd just be a little cross eyed"), requiring several surgeries (08:06).
• Church life:
  • Describes church activities, potlucks, and quirky rituals (deviled eggs fights, “Judgment Houses”—a Christian haunted house) (14:04, 15:47).
  • Memorable quote: "They had a rule at church: only two deviled eggs on the first go, because people would fight over them." – Ella (14:36)

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3. Coming Up in Music: Gigs, Grit, and First Big Breaks

• Early gigs:
  • Weddings, funerals, wing bars, college dives—Ella played everywhere, sometimes witnessing fights or odd events (20:07, 20:49).
  • Fell through a stage once because management hid a hole with a rug (21:05).
• Relating small-town life to the music industry:
  • Fame feels like living in a small town—as everyone has an opinion and word spreads quickly (10:34).
• Notable quotes:
  • "My first gig? Who would ever hire a 15-year-old to play while you're walking down the aisle? 200 bucks, baby... I am rich." – Ella (20:30)

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4. The Creative Process & Industry Pressures

• Determination and creative vision:
  • Ella describes always knowing music was her path, but never underestimating how hard it would be. She speaks openly about impostor syndrome, the mental toughness needed, and comparing herself (sometimes unfavorably) to other tireless stars like Lainey Wilson (29:25, 35:08).
• Industry fights:
  • Discusses academic control over her sound, co-producing her new record, and battling her label over creative decisions (notably with her song "You Look Like You Love Me") (70:18).
  • “I care so much about the people I work with, it being a collaborative experience… but at the end of the day, I'm the one that's going to have to do that interview, sing the song, take the pictures…” – Ella (72:40)
• Reluctance to conform:
  • Both Theo and Ella reflect on resisting “the way it’s usually done” in their careers (73:34).

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5. Coping with Popularity, Burnout & Mental Health

• On fame:
  • Ella shares the oddness of people treating her differently now and the mental challenge of constant recognition, selfies at bad timings, or fans wanting solo pictures (41:17).
  • Humorous and real: “I couldn’t smile anymore, my mouth had just—there was some disconnection between my true feelings and a smile.” – Theo (43:05)
• Burnout:
  • Both discuss the grind of touring, Ella’s years in a packed van, and how she and her team are learning to schedule rest and recovery.
  • Noted importance of mental health, needing “recharge” time at home (46:38).
• Quote:
  • "The mental game for me is definitely the hardest part of this job. I can do the gigs, but burnout... I'll fight through it, I'll figure it out—but it's hard." – Ella (47:46)

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6. Writing Songs & Artistic Purpose

• Ella’s philosophy:
  • Doesn’t overthink the “purpose” of a song; tries not to force anything and lets inspiration come naturally (36:53).
  • On being single and writing about love/independence: “I'm just writing about... whatever comes out that day... obviously, me being 26 and not married, I've been trying to figure that portion of my life out too.” (38:03)
• Audience connection:
  • When crafting her new album, prioritized big, singalong choruses and melodies that fans can catch quickly at shows (99:04).
• Notable quote: “Sometimes... you just keep pretending until the rest of you shows up and joins you. No one's ever lived life before—you know, it's my first attempt.” – Ella (18:47)

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7. Album "Dandelion" – Stories & Songs

• Making "Dandelion":
  • Ella spent over a year and a half co-producing, creating a huge sonic reference playlist and building her own creative vision.
  • "Synchronicity" is the theme—she calls dandelions "resilient" and likes how the record follows after her previous record, "Hungover" (82:38).
• Mentorship:
  • Praised Miranda Lambert’s honesty and support during recording (80:31).
• Live music moments:
  • Ella and Theo play and discuss unreleased songs “Last Call For Us”, “Bottom of Your Boots” (inspired by her dad’s pep talks), and “Broken”. Each comes with a real-life story (87:24, 93:27, 97:01).
• Chart success:
  • “Choosing Texas” has become a huge, meme-fueled hit. Theo and Ella joke about the viral memes (e.g., mondegreens like “drinking Jack off by myself” and “Jews in Texas”) (100:16).
    • “Once I put [a song] out there, who knows what'll happen? That’s what keeps songs alive.” – Ella (100:47)

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8. Community, Identity & Keeping Grounded

• Teamwork:
  • Ella talks about building a trusted team, collaborative stage show, and the challenge of leadership as you scale up in music (68:52).
• Homesickness and going home:
  • Values recharge time at her house on the lake, even as her small town turns into a place where locals blast her music from their boats (108:40).
• Gratefulness for roots and supporters:
  • “There’s so many people I know that love it [your music], and that it brings joy to their life... whatever the things are that make you you, they’re enjoyable to witness.” – Theo (109:47)

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MEMORABLE QUOTES & MOMENTS (with TIMESTAMPS)

• [14:36] Ella on church potlucks:
  "There was a rule at church that you could only have two deviled eggs on your first go because people would fight over them."
• [18:47] Ella on faking confidence:
  "Sometimes it's pretend until the rest of you shows up and joins you."
• [29:25] Ella on the drive to perform:
  "There's this thing inside of me that's like, if you don't do it, you're going to hate your life for your whole entire life."
• [35:38] On the unpredictability of a creative career:
  "Every single day, something could happen that could change our lives for the best or the worst."
• [41:17] Ella about awkward meet-and-greets:
  “Have you ever had that, when someone wants a picture, but not with you? They just want a picture of you...”
• [47:46] Ella on burnout:
  “The mental game for me is definitely the hardest part of this job. I can do the gigs... but burnout...”
• [70:18] On fighting for her music:
  "Everyone told me that song was not gonna work... I just fought [the label] really hard on it."
• [82:38] About her new album:
  "Dandelion tea is a detox for your liver. A record called Dandelion coming after 'Hungover'… you're just growing up."
• [99:10] Ella on her aim with the new songs:
  "A lot with these songs, I wanted them to be kind of easy to remember—big singing choruses."
• [109:47] Theo’s sendoff:
  "Whatever the things are that make you you, they're enjoyable to witness."

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FEATURED SONGS & PERFORMANCES

• "Last Call for Us" (87:24): Emotional ballad about closing a chapter in love.
• "Bottom of Your Boots" (93:27): Inspired by her dad’s pep talk.
• "Broken" (97:01): Cathartic anthem about allowing oneself to be sad and vulnerable.

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NOTABLE SIDE DISCUSSIONS & CULTURAL TOUCHSTONES

• Southern food and buffets (deviled eggs, Waffle House, Shoney’s, Hunt Brothers pizza).
• Odd jobs and quirky stories (cleaning out wishing wells, discovering a sword).
• Country memes and viral lyric mishearings.
• Audience participation and singalong culture in country shows.
• Unfiltered banter about mental health, napping, and what it’s like to be “voluntarily” fearless.

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FINAL IMPRESSIONS

This episode balances lighthearted, unpredictable country banter with surprisingly deep insights into the costs, quirks, and joys of creative life—especially for a woman coming up fast in the country music world. Anyone interested in the realities behind stardom, the making of a rising country star, and the power of community and roots will find this a rich and entertaining listen.

Standout Quote:
"Sometimes it's pretend until the rest of you shows up and joins you. No one's ever lived life before—it's my first attempt at life as a human being." – Ella Langley (18:47)

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Relevant Timestamps for Key Segments:

• [05:38] – Ella’s church upbringing, homeschooling
• [14:36] – Church potlucks and deviled eggs
• [20:07]/[20:49] – Early gigs and wild performance stories
• [29:25] – Knowing she had to pursue music
• [47:46] – Burnout and keeping mental health in focus
• [70:18] – Fighting for her music and creative control
• [82:38] – Inspiration for "Dandelion"
• [87:24], [93:27], [97:01] – Song performances/discussion

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For more: Ella Langley’s album "Dandelion" is out April 10, 2026, and her tour kicks off April 18 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama with Morgan Wallen.

Transcript

[Theo]

Amazon presents Jeff vs. Taco Truck Salsa. Whether it's verde roja or the orange one, for Jeff, trying any salsa is like playing Russian roulette with a flamethrower. Luckily, Jeff saved with Amazon and stocked up on antacids, ginger tea and milk. Habanero. More like habanero. Yes. Save the everyday with Amazon. Just a reminder that tickets for Busboys, the movie with myself and David Spade are on sale right now. Pre sale tickets, you can get them. It's in theaters April 17, but if you get tickets now, it'll show the movie theaters that we're going to sell them or that they are selling and then we can expand to more theaters. So if you know when you're going to go and, and you can support, that would be great. And no press if you can't. Again, the pre sale tickets are available. Busboys, movie.com. i'm excited. Thank you. Today's guest is one of the biggest country artists in the game right now and I think for the future. She's got that power in her voice. She's got that, you know, it's, it's, it's raw but refined. It's, it's delightful. Her new album Dandelion is out Friday, April 10, wherever you stream music and she'll be taking it on tour as well. I'm excited to sit down today with the one of one Ms. Ella Langley. Little warm in here. Do y' all feel that?

[Ella Langley]

I feel great.

[Theo]

Damn. All right, you feel. You want a little flow? Do that. My little brother, he ordered it. Yeah, I know he is. I met him on the way in.

[Ella Langley]

You meet the whole family now? Pretty much.

[Theo]

Hey, I have, I have. That guy was fresh off the. Fresh off the damn boat. He seemed like he had some real grit to him. We'll talk about him.

[Ella Langley]

You could say that. Yeah, he do.

[Theo]

He do. Yeah. Yeah, he do. Yeah. I met Yalls granddaddy. He was a real. He definitely seemed like he could just fix a flat tire with his tongue. That guy had some grit in him.

[Ella Langley]

What?

[Theo]

I mean, not like in a perverted way, just. I mean, he seemed like he could just hold a car up while somebody fixed a tire.

[Ella Langley]

He does love cars.

[Theo]

Does he really?

[Ella Langley]

Yeah. I didn't know that Tesla's big Tesla guy, he.

[Theo]

He's like one of them future babies or whatever.

[Ella Langley]

Sure, yeah, like.

[Theo]

But I mean, he's like a guy that, I don't know, I've pictured him more of like a garage type of guy maybe, I don't know, maybe I didn't he said he went to see the Grateful Dead. I think I remember him saying.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah, he's. He's my hippie grandpa.

[Theo]

Okay.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah. So my parents are split into kind of like. My mom's my. You met her, too?

[Theo]

Oh, yeah. I met your mom.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah, you did. You did. Me?

[Theo]

Dude, I met your mom. I talked to her for probably almost 20 minutes.

[Ella Langley]

I know. I came in and you were hanging out with my mom and my grandpa.

[Theo]

Yes.

[Ella Langley]

What's going on here?

[Theo]

I don't know what was going on. Maybe it's my real family. Yeah, it was that Jelly Roll show.

[Ella Langley]

Laney's Jelly Roll was there, though.

[Theo]

Yeah. And you were on it, too.

[Ella Langley]

I walked out there.

[Theo]

You sang?

[Ella Langley]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Theo]

You guys did a great job. It was awesome.

[Ella Langley]

That's cool.

[Theo]

Yeah, it was cool.

[Ella Langley]

She's so good.

[Theo]

Yeah, she is just really. And she, like, kind of embraced. I think some people get to certain points in their career where they kind of embrace being this, like, thing that's bigger than them, and I think she, like. She's done that kind of.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah, she's so good at giving her all. All the time.

[Theo]

Yeah.

[Ella Langley]

I feel like I have to have time away, like, recluse time. And if I don't get that, then I'm like an insane person. Even more than usual, really.

[Theo]

That's how I am.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah. But Laney, dude, she just goes and goes and goes. Like, even after the CMA Awards, we went to her bar afterwards. Here she is in her last outfit, or camo outfit. You know, like the cape, the badass thing she had on.

[Theo]

I haven't seen that. Bring up that camo. She's in a damn camo cape.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah, it was really good. I loved that outfit. But she's. Then she's in there shaking everyone's hand, you know, meeting everyone. She just hosted the awards by herself and running around and.

[Theo]

Yeah, she kind of. Yeah, she just goes.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah.

[Theo]

God, she looks like a nice, beautiful duck blind. I feel like.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah.

[Theo]

I mean, I bet a lot of fellas would show up to want to hunt from that, I think. But anyway. She's also married, I think. But anyway. Sorry, what are we talking about?

[Ella Langley]

Almost.

[Theo]

Okay, let me think about where we should start from. Sorry.

[Ella Langley]

I'm trying to grow up in church.

[Theo]

I did. I don't think it was, like, the best church or whatever, though.

[Ella Langley]

What kind? What denomination?

[Theo]

It was like, six, I think. Maybe six Baptists or something. I'm not even sure it was, like six Baptists. It was like one of the. It was not. It Was like one of them. It was. Yeah, it was pretty. It was wild.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah. No, I grew up with Southern Baptist.

[Theo]

You did?

[Ella Langley]

Yeah.

[Theo]

Oh, gosh.

[Ella Langley]

Really, really small church. It started in a barn. The house that I also grew up in, my dad grew up in. And there was an old barn across the street, and. And it started in hay bales on that barn, and then they moved it to a church. And I mean, every Sunday and Wednesday. I was 18 years old. Yeah.

[Theo]

Was it a big part of your social life, too?

[Ella Langley]

Yeah. Yeah. I was homeschooled for some years, so pretty much all we did was go to church.

[Theo]

No. And what state were you homeschooled in? Alabama.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah. South Alabama. Montgomery.

[Theo]

That's one place I don't know if I would accept homeschooling in, to be honest.

[Ella Langley]

Overall, we didn't do any much school. You know, we just played outside.

[Theo]

Oh, yeah. But that's sometimes the best school.

[Ella Langley]

It really was. Oh, like, my imagination got to live longer than most.

[Theo]

Yeah, that's a good point. Because you kind of take kids and you put them in like, this. It's almost like being in a laboratory at a school. Like, you're sitting under there on those lights or whatever, some kids eating paste or whatever, and you're supposed to, like, not say something.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah. I got in trouble a lot. I went to kindergarten in first grade, and I was always in trouble.

[Theo]

Like, what was the crime you were guilty of?

[Ella Langley]

Talking. Distracting others.

[Theo]

Yeah, dude, bro. How great was that in school when you got back on your thing? Distracting others.

[Ella Langley]

Distracting others. I had, like, a designated seat in the corner. It was like this little green metal desk, and it was facing the corner. And I just, like, sit over there. Oh, I know.

[Theo]

Distracting. And what do you think you were distracting them from?

[Ella Langley]

Probably, I don't know, anything. Just talking.

[Theo]

And were you trying to get people to see you, you think? Or you were just. You had something to say? What was going on there? Ella Langley.

[Ella Langley]

I just think that school is boring for me. I did not like that. God, I did not like it at all. The whole time. Naps hated it. What do you mean? You have to sit still, dude.

[Theo]

We had this lady named Ms. Robin. She kind of had hair like yours a little bit. And she would. On nap time, when Bat Rudy's asleep, she'd come over and kind of kick me a little bit. And she'd let me go out with her and watch her smoke cigarettes and shit.

[Ella Langley]

So, I mean, she's pretty good. Yeah. Mine, she's cool.

[Theo]

And her husband was. Apparently he had Some domestic charges or whatever. But anyway, she let me spend time with her and watch her smoke.

[Ella Langley]

That's how we needed it. Yeah, like you're a confidant at a young age.

[Theo]

Yeah, dude, I was just sitting there.

[Ella Langley]

That makes sense.

[Theo]

Just leaning on this tire, this car.

[Ella Langley]

Life lessons, this lady, you know, you're like, well, you know what I would do is I can't.

[Theo]

Yeah, Carl is a piece of shit. You know, just helping her out. But she would smoke and she had this kind of like, this kind of country, you know, sometimes that when they get that feathered, real country feathered look,

[Ella Langley]

you know, when it has a lot like barre fosity.

[Theo]

A lot of feathers.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah, a lot of feathers going on.

[Theo]

Just a damn mallard of a woman, you know? Yeah, but I remember that. That was a good time. I remember. But yeah, when you got distracting others was just like, gosh, yeah. And you were guilty of it too.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah, yeah. I had a bunch of eye surgeries when, when I was young and so like for the muscles in my eyes.

[Theo]

And what happened? You had bad eye muscles?

[Ella Langley]

Yeah, sometimes I'd just be a little cross eyed. Yeah.

[Theo]

Oh, God.

[Ella Langley]

You know. Well, you know.

[Theo]

And you were in the choir too. Was you just that cross eyed girl just singing in the choir everywhere?

[Ella Langley]

I was. Yeah, everywhere. Singing my heart out. I had some surgeries and then the teacher's like, she just is not paying attention in here. So. Homeschooled until sixth grade and then seventh grade. Went back to the same high school my dad went to. Graduated with 32 kids.

[Theo]

But how could you pay attention if your eyes weren't even team, like buddies or whatever?

[Ella Langley]

No, the doctor described it to me. I just had another one like two maybe three years ago. And it's kind of brutal, honestly. Like they have to take your eyeballs out.

[Theo]

You're lying.

[Ella Langley]

I swear, dude.

[Theo]

My God.

[Ella Langley]

In there, it's crazy.

[Theo]

And they go inside.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah, get in there.

[Theo]

What's it called?

[Ella Langley]

I don't know.

[Theo]

Damn.

[Ella Langley]

I just called it eye surgeries.

[Theo]

Yes. Yeah, yeah, that's fair.

[Ella Langley]

But she described it to me like a horse and carriage. You know when you have two horses and one can't be going this way and one can't be going this way. That is not going to work, you know, so they got to learn to work together and mine just never did.

[Theo]

And now you got them trusty steeds in your face, huh?

[Ella Langley]

Yeah, sometimes I slip up, but that's just good character.

[Theo]

You can just go like that.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah, yeah. I just look at everybody like this you know what I mean?

[Theo]

Yeah. Get him in line.

[Ella Langley]

Keep winking a lot.

[Theo]

Yeah, that's wild. Did y' all have. Did y' all have school dances at it? Well, I guess you've used homeschool, but if you got it once, you went to your dad's school, the same school he went to, did you guys have dances at school?

[Ella Langley]

Yeah, it was like normal school.

[Theo]

Did y' all have, like, Sadie Hawkins and stuff like that was like, kind of Southern style or what was the.

[Ella Langley]

No, it wasn't like a rich private school. Like, this is. Well, Sadie out in the country, Sadie Hawkins, I guess you had to buy

[Theo]

a T shirt for some. Like. Like, the girl had just like a homecoming dance. No, the girl had to ask the guy, and he had to get him a shirt that matched. Yet if you do matching shirts or whatever, you know you didn't have it. But if you had a dance, what did y' all do? With only that many students in the class,

[Ella Langley]

I would just dance.

[Theo]

I don't know.

[Ella Langley]

We just danced around. Usually we didn't stay that long. We'd go to, like, a bonfire or something afterwards.

[Theo]

But was it hard to date, like, in a school that small? Was it hard to fall? Like, was it. What was the energy? Like that.

[Ella Langley]

I mean, you've known all these people your whole life, you know, they're. You know what, they're driving. You know, their parents drive. I mean.

[Theo]

Yeah.

[Ella Langley]

I mean, you know how it is.

[Theo]

Yeah.

[Ella Langley]

That's why I really. This town and this job is very similar to a small town. You get used to, like. I kind of look at the fame thing like that now, you know, because when you're in a small town, like, I would hear shit about me all the time. I'm like, I did what? You know.

[Theo]

Yeah.

[Ella Langley]

And you. I don't know. You just get used to that.

[Theo]

So do you think not being from Nashville is better, coming into this kind of place? Like, is it. Does it. When you get here, does it get so. Like. Is like the music scene, for lack of a better term, is it more like, is it so some type of way, if you're from Nashville, do you think it feels different?

[Ella Langley]

Probably? I mean, Earns from Nashville. I mean, he's been here the whole

[Theo]

time, but I'm gonna. I guess I was like, does he feel like more of a pressure or more of a responsive? But I wonder if. I guess I just wonder if anything's different. Like, if you come from an outside group, does it feel tougher? Does it feel easier, maybe?

[Ella Langley]

Or do you I think people probably in your town that you're from look at you a little crazier. You know, I'm like 16 years old playing in weddings. 18 years old. You know, I went to Auburn for two years university, but I was playing shows the whole time.

[Theo]

Was that your first shows down there?

[Ella Langley]

No, actually my first show was at this tiny little bar called Bezlo's. It's this lake in Alabama. It's called Lake Martin. But there's all these little.

[Theo]

Dude, I've been on Lake Martin. Yeah, bring up Lake Martin. Dude, I can't even believe you said Lake Martin.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah, this is the lake I grew up going to every summer. It's one of the. Actually the biggest man made lakes. I believe in the, I want to say the world. It's not the world, but it's I think North America.

[Theo]

At least it could be the world if you're from Alabama. That is the damn world.

[Ella Langley]

Exactly.

[Theo]

I remember when going to Florida would seem like it was like, God, somebody had went to damn mall. Like they, they done it. Like if somebody come back from summertime and they'd gone to Florida, they had just done it. They had won the world. Yes. Or they had a shirt on said Florida or hard rock.

[Ella Langley]

One of those.

[Theo]

Hard rock desk or whatever.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah, whatever they do with the little air gun. What is it? Yeah, that airbrush.

[Theo]

Yeah, Ricky's in Destin or whatever. Yeah.

[Ella Langley]

Six sunglasses.

[Theo]

God. And just a fist jumping across the back.

[Ella Langley]

Everyone has like a tan line from the weird little band you have to wear. It pulls your hair the whole time.

[Theo]

God. Lake Martin in Alabama is considered the world's largest man made lake. Wow. Upon its completion in 1926. Created by the Martin Dam on the Tala Tallapoosa river, It covers approximately 40,000 to 44,000 acres. Yeah. I had a girlfriend when I was a child and we went out there and her family had a lake house out there. And we go out there, do like. What's it called when you're kind of like behind jet Skis? No, no, when you're behind the. You're like on the board and you're like behind the.

[Ella Langley]

Oh, a knee boarding.

[Theo]

Yeah, yeah. Kneeboarding leg board and all of it. Yeah, Full body boarding, footboard and footboard and. Yeah, just bored. We just bored. I mean, you'd see somebody. Oh, you'd see somebody out there on a fucking piece of plywood out there. Just managing that bitch along the wake. It was beautiful out there.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah, that's what we did all summer.

[Theo]

Yeah. I loved it and lake life at like, lake life is different. Do strange shit happens out there, especially

[Ella Langley]

late life in the country.

[Theo]

Yeah, there's some real perverts out there, too, I will say that. Some damp perverts or whatever.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah, yeah. Rednecks everywhere.

[Theo]

Yeah. Easter just happened. Did you guys. Do y' all do eggs for Easter?

[Ella Langley]

Deviled eggs.

[Theo]

Really?

[Ella Langley]

Yeah.

[Theo]

Y' all ever painted eggs growing up?

[Ella Langley]

No. Yeah, of course we did. Yeah.

[Theo]

Dyed them, painted them with that little kid or whatever.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah. So fun.

[Theo]

Yeah. Dude, that was really nice.

[Ella Langley]

But what do you do with them afterwards?

[Theo]

I don't know. I think your grandpa would eat them or something. A lot of times we would drop them at like a senior center or something because regular people were not having, like, hard boiled eggs. That was more like a senior dessert, kind of a senior delicacy.

[Ella Langley]

I think deviled eggs are amazing. Do you like them?

[Theo]

I've had them once or twice, but I haven't really had them when I cared.

[Ella Langley]

I think they had a rule at church that you could only have two deviled eggs on your first go because people would fight over them. They really would. We'd have potluck every Wednesday. So like, best Southern food you can think of. Like all these old women in there just. I mean, cobblers and.

[Theo]

And were casseroles. Were people gambling at the. Did they have that kind of thing too? Sometimes there's like a potluck gamble at a church for fundraisers.

[Ella Langley]

No, they try not to gamble. That's the thing.

[Theo]

Oh, yeah.

[Ella Langley]

Southern Baptist. They try.

[Theo]

Dude, the church bus. Yeah. I don't know what was going on with it. I do remember the church bus. They had like a. It might have been like Seventh Day, Seventh Baptist or Seventh Day Advers and then. But they. But they would put those circus peanuts in wine and they would. The kids could have those, like during communion, you know. You know those orange circus peanuts that your grandparents had, they would put disgusting, but they're not. If you soak them in like a. A wall, like a religious wine, they're. They're not. They're good. They're pretty good when you're a kid,

[Ella Langley]

you know, I've never seen that before.

[Theo]

Yeah. They would have like, a wine glass and you get one out of there. And that was just for the children.

[Ella Langley]

Did y' all ever go to Judgment Houses?

[Theo]

No. What was it?

[Ella Langley]

It's like they do it around Halloween.

[Theo]

Okay.

[Ella Langley]

It's like a haunted house.

[Theo]

Yeah.

[Ella Langley]

For Christians, I guess. Very scary. Remember, our youth group took us. You get in there and it's like this car crash scene. And it's pretty much like, convincing you that. Yes, convincing you that, like, you could die the second you walk out of here. So you better. Better settle up.

[Theo]

You better get saved. Huh?

[Ella Langley]

You better get saved. And I had already been saved. But going through this affected me so bad that at the end, they were like, anyone if you're not sure, you know, to sit down and talk. And so I, like, raised my hand, you know, and I sat down with the guy at the table in the booth, and we had the whole conversation. I'll never forget coming home and my dad was laying on the couch watching Titanic. And I said, dad, I need to talk to you about something. And I was like, I got saved again tonight. And he like. My dad pauses the tv. He's pissed off about something. You know what I mean? He's like, that's how. You know, it's like. He said, you did what? I was like, dad, I just got so scared of this thing. He's like, baby, you know, immediately just like, well, you are kind of a dumbass because, you know, that's the whole point of being saved.

[Theo]

You had to get saved twice.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah, I so scared. It was so scary.

[Theo]

Yeah, but you sound like a little bit of that danger, baby. You know, You've always seemed like, I mean, or like, I don't know you, that I don't know you very well, but you, to me, you've seemed like kind of like that danger baby, you know, to seem like a dang. Like a Hell's angel that got, you know, just took over a damn Guitar City, you know, like, it just, you know, or just got went haywire in a Gibson store, you know, you just seem like that, like, yeah, maybe you needed it two times.

[Ella Langley]

I was maybe fearless, I think, is what it is. I don't know. I'm not.

[Theo]

You feel that?

[Ella Langley]

Yeah.

[Theo]

You feel risky or you feel fearless?

[Ella Langley]

I definitely take a lot of risks, and I do have a lot of fears, which is funny that I think that, but I think. I don't know. I don't necessarily view myself as the same as I think everyone views me, which is funny. But, yeah, I say fearless would be the word. I don't know. I'm just not afraid to take a chance on something. Whatever it wants, I want. If I want to do it, then I just know, like, I'm gonna do it. I don't really. Even if part of me doesn't want to. Like, I remember thinking as a kid with this music thing, like, that seems like A lot. Are you sure that's really what we want to do? And it's like there's this thing inside of me that's like, if you don't do it, you're going to hate your life for your whole entire life. And so I was like, okay, but that still seems like a lot. But I just know when I make

[Theo]

my mind up, I don't know, it seems like that. I mean, just from an outsider's perspective, you just seem like you know what's going on. Dang it.

[Ella Langley]

Right. Try to act like it.

[Theo]

Yeah, but sometimes that's part of it. I really like.

[Ella Langley]

Really? The whole thing?

[Theo]

Yeah. It's like, sometimes it's like pretend until the rest of you shows up and joins you.

[Ella Langley]

No one's ever lived life before. Not one person has lived what? Lived life before. You know, I mean, it's my first attempt at life as a human being. You know what I mean? Every. And so it's yours and everyone else's. And it's funny, just. I think people forget that.

[Theo]

Yeah, there's never a lot of credit for that.

[Ella Langley]

It's never like, it was our first go.

[Theo]

We hold people to a lot of, like, serious stuff, and we're never like, yeah, you know what? This first time.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah. Maybe we need to nap.

[Theo]

Yeah. Yeah, dude. And first of all, if they had naps for adults, for everybody, it would all be so nice.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah. But a nap goes one or two ways for me. I either wake up and I'm like, oh, I'm so glad that I got that, or I wake up and I'm hell on earth, really mad upset. My day's kind of ruined. I don't know. I don't know. I just. I'm like. I just wish I'd go back to sleep. It's one of those things you either power through or you don't.

[Theo]

Well, you just sound damn volatile, Ella.

[Ella Langley]

I'm not.

[Theo]

You're not? You sure?

[Ella Langley]

I think you're the only one saying

[Theo]

that that could be true. You might be right. You might be right. Maybe this is that people have a perception of you that's not exact. You know, or that. I mean, nobody's perception of somebody else is, but. Or rarely. But, yeah, maybe people have that perception of you. Did. Whenever you were first doing shows, did they ever have, like, some fights at your shows or anything like that? Like, were you in some real honky tonks?

[Ella Langley]

Yeah, I've played every kind of show you can possibly imagine. Same, same, like, I mean, restaurants, weird little wing, sports bar. Things.

[Theo]

Funeral.

[Ella Langley]

Oh yeah, funerals. So many funerals. Weddings. I started out with weddings. That's my first gig ever. Who would ever hire a 15 year old to play while you're walking down the aisle?

[Theo]

I don't know if they're decent maybe or if they're cheap.

[Ella Langley]

I don't know. Yeah, well, 200 bucks, baby.

[Theo]

Hey.

[Ella Langley]

And I was like, I am rich, decent and cheap.

[Theo]

That'd be my first album if I ever had one.

[Ella Langley]

But I don't know, it was always just.

[Theo]

But did they have fights any? They ever have a good. You ever seen?

[Ella Langley]

All the time.

[Theo]

Yeah.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah. I watched one guy get arrested in Tuscaloosa selling coke right in front of me on the floor. And there I am just still playing, you know.

[Theo]

No way.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah. Random. I. I played a lot before Obama prison.

[Theo]

I can tell. Huh?

[Ella Langley]

Yeah.

[Theo]

I mean, that's crazy.

[Ella Langley]

Played one of my last gigs I played. I fell through the stage. Like my last cover gigs, I did that for a while and I did

[Theo]

like a finishing act or something. Was it like a finishing, like.

[Ella Langley]

No, I just. There. The stage was terrible.

[Theo]

Oh, you just want some bad wood or something?

[Ella Langley]

Yeah, just they put a rug over it thinking if she can't see this whole thing, you know.

[Theo]

Yeah.

[Ella Langley]

But yeah, play pretty much any and everything.

[Theo]

And what is this? Oh, that's you right there.

[Ella Langley]

Oh, wow. Yeah, it is, I guess. Oh, that's at my family reunion. I think I was like 5, 4 or 5.

[Theo]

Is that on Lake Martin?

[Ella Langley]

No, that's in Brantley, Alabama. That's way out in the country. Funny about this is when we. I remember my. When we pulled up here, my dad was like, we got the family reunion down here at the whale. A buried whale out here. And as a kid I was like a buried whale. Like, why would they bury a whale all the way out here?

[Theo]

Yeah.

[Ella Langley]

And you know it. I asked my dad about that. He said, I was saying, well, well,

[Theo]

so buried well out there, dude. Yeah. I remember I used to have to clean out wishing wells in our area. They had this thing where they was trying to do like, I guess make money for the area or some or like get a tourist thing. And so they had. They installed like a lot of wishing wells and stuff. And I got a job one summer cleaning them out. So you get down there and have to get down in them.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah, I've never seen that happen.

[Theo]

Yeah, yeah. Somebody gets in there. And I had very small kind of lean wrists and everything at the time and said, let me get down in there. And you'd bring up all the stuff and like put it on the side and you got to keep some of the change. But then some of it you had to give to the city. But you find a lot of people, a lot of just throw a lot of junk down. The recyclables, kind of a lot of to go orders to go, barbecue kind of seem like anyway, you got to

[Ella Langley]

keep some of the change.

[Theo]

Yeah.

[Ella Langley]

You just got to pick out which ones you kept.

[Theo]

No, they kind of. You gave it to them and. And then they let you. They kind of gave you some back.

[Ella Langley]

All right, well, that's kind of nice. It's a good gig, I guess.

[Theo]

I liked it. Yeah, I really enjoyed it. And I found a sword in there too. Like a. I don't want to say a what? Yeah, I found like a. I think it was.

[Ella Langley]

What kind of sword?

[Theo]

I think it was a dang. I don't want to say like a murder weapon or something, but I think it was a murder weapon.

[Ella Langley]

Sword.

[Theo]

I think it was a weapon. It looked like it had been used.

[Ella Langley]

Can you imagine you murder someone and then you throw your place to throw it in is a wishing well.

[Theo]

Yeah, I think so.

[Musician/Performer (possibly a band member or hype man)]

What?

[Theo]

I wish I hadn't killed him. Maybe just throw that bastard in there,

[Ella Langley]

hit the reverse on that well.

[Theo]

I think that's how wishing wells got their name. It's like you dropped your money in a hole and you just wish you hadn't. Probably. Yeah, maybe that's what I think. Maybe. As you guys know, Moonpay is my go to place to buy crypto. You know, people are saying, well, where are you getting? Crowd has a Moonpay. That's why I'm getting it. And now Moonpay just launched something called Moonpay Agents. It's tech that lets AI actually handle your crypto for you. Think of it like a. Like a smart assistant that can buy, sell, trade, swap coins. It can do all that. You just set up a wallet through Moonpay, verify your identity once, fund it with bank transfer, Apple Pay, Venmo, or PayPal, and your agent can get to work. Your keys stay on your device so you stay in control. And it works across major chains like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana. With tools like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Grok, MoonPay already powers crypto for millions of people in over 180 countries. Check out Moonpay [e-mail] agents. Crypto is risky and can be volatile, so do your own research and trade responsibly. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Did you know 88% of human Americans say they are feeling some form of financial stress? That was at the start of 2026. Money worries often bring anxiety and sleep and disruption and even depression. You know, you're. Even if the tooth fairy comes, people can't afford to put a dang dime under the kid's pillow. God, if you can relate to that, remember, it's not just you. And what matters is finding the right kind of support. That's where BetterHelp comes in. BetterHelp therapists work according to a strict code of conduct and are fully licensed in the US BetterHelp does the initial matching for you so you can focus on your therapy goals. When life feels overwhelming, therapy can help. Sign up and get 10% off at betterhelp.com/theo. That's better. H E L P.com T H E O I've used BetterHelp. And. And I'm. I. You know, hell, we all need help. Did you ever get in a fight at any of your spots or. No.

[Ella Langley]

No.

[Theo]

Anybody ever try you from the audience or anything like that?

[Ella Langley]

No. A lot of drunks just, you know, spilling their drinks all over the place, bumping into my microphone stand. I've had that happen a lot. Oh, that's the worst. When they hit the end of it, it just pops you right in the mouth.

[Theo]

Oh, yeah. Because you're not really expecting that.

[Ella Langley]

Well, they're just so close to the stage. And you're playing college bars.

[Theo]

Yeah. So a lot of college activity over there.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah.

[Theo]

And was your family an Auburn fan growing up then?

[Ella Langley]

Yeah, my mom's from Michigan, like I said, so she just kind of never really cared about that stuff. My dad was an Auburn fan, but, yeah, that's kind of our football thing. It's Alabama or Auburn.

[Theo]

Yeah.

[Ella Langley]

There's no NFL team in Alabama, so.

[Theo]

Yeah. And is your folks. Your folks are still together?

[Ella Langley]

Yeah. Yes, they are.

[Theo]

And do you think, like, what. What makes you laugh about that?

[Ella Langley]

It's been a wild ride. But.

[Theo]

But they haven't given up.

[Ella Langley]

Nope. Perseverance.

[Theo]

Pretty cool.

[Ella Langley]

It is really cool. It's really cool to see how they are now because I think there are a lot of years we're all like, y' all sure you like each other, you know? Yeah, but they did. They really stick. Stuck it out.

[Theo]

God.

[Ella Langley]

Mm.

[Theo]

Was there. Was there like a time when your parents were like that? They always. That they always say, like, oh, well, we knew when this happened that she was going to be. Do they have that kind of thing, you know, we're like. We knew when she.

[Ella Langley]

You know, my grandparents on my dad's side pretty much raised me at their house. I lived over there. They. They. My grandpa could play anything by ear. He would. They were a lot older. My grandma was 45 when she had my dad.

[Theo]

Oh, wow.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah. But I was, like, the first girl in the family, and I started to match pitch with her as a baby, and so she figured out I could sing, and she just, like, singing was her thing. And my grandpa could, like I said, play any instrument by ear. And so at their house, that's all we did.

[Theo]

Like you was a little baby bird, huh?

[Ella Langley]

Oh, yeah. That's all we did. And they were like, this is what she's gonna do. And so they. Yeah, that's my grandpa right there.

[Theo]

And they just put you out on the windowsill out there.

[Ella Langley]

I sang at church a lot. I learned how to read from singing hymnals. But, yeah, I mean, all I did, and I really. Just. The whole time, like, my whole family, we all just were like, this is what she's gonna do.

[Theo]

They just knew it the whole time. Was there a scary point for you, like, when you kind of, like, got a little bit spooked? I remember whenever I met you, one thing I do remember you saying is that I just knew that this is what I was. This is what I was doing. Right. I was so determined. And I've talked to, like, Trey Lewis. I know you and him are friends. And he mentioned that. Right. Whenever I ran into him one night we were watching your show at the Knitting. Knitting Factory, maybe someplace. I can't remember. Might have been the Bluebird or Threes.

[Ella Langley]

I don't know. I'm terrible at remembering these.

[Theo]

It was a musical place. And he said, she's just always been so determined. Right. Was there a part, though, when you, like, even your own determination came up against, like, this just feels like it's going to be tougher than I thought, or. I don't know if this is the way or did it never get to that point for you?

[Ella Langley]

I think I always knew it was gonna be tough. I mean, how many people move to this town in a day to do this job? I don't know. There's just. It's scary all the time because I love it. It's truly a part of who I am. My whole life, I've done it and wanted to do it and thought about it every day, like, daydreamed every time I'm in the car. I mean, hours and Hours alone, driving from gigs, like, dreaming about what?

[Theo]

Just.

[Ella Langley]

Just doing this. Literally doing what I'm doing, like, playing on stages and writing songs and getting to do this craft for a living, you know? And I just feel like not everything always works out for me in my life, and so I like to leave, like, very little room for error, you know? So I think, like, just keeping my head down. And I'm definitely my toughest critic, you know? Like, when I watch something, I'm never like, oh, yeah, I crushed that. Never ever. Very rarely do I walk off stage and I'm like, I was amazing out there. I'm always just like, I was. What is that shit that I just said that was so. What the fuck is wrong with me? Like, why would I say that?

[Theo]

Well, it must be crazy in a. Because you seem like such a. Like a. Like, kind of, like, almost say. You'll say whatever. You kind of save your.

[Ella Langley]

I do. That's the thing, then.

[Theo]

To be such a tough critic of that person is. That's a lot of. That's a lot of extra stress. It feels like.

[Musician/Performer (possibly a band member or hype man)]

Yeah.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah, I'm getting better at it, for sure. Yeah, it's weird. And I'm sure you understand this, like, looking at yourself through the eyes of others, like, no one should know this many thoughts about themselves. Like, when everyone's like, what superpower do you want? I've never understood when people were like, I want to be able to read minds. I'm like, fuck that. I do not want to know what somebody's thinking.

[Theo]

Because half these people, I wouldn't either, dude. Especially if you're at, like, someplace and everybody's just a damn pervert or something, you know?

[Ella Langley]

Oh, yeah.

[Theo]

And that would be most of it.

[Ella Langley]

No way, man. No.

[Theo]

Even if you're at, like. Even if you're just at a dang golden corral, no matter where you are, everybody was like, I bet you would read mine. You'd be like, my dad loves a

[Ella Langley]

Golden Corral or a Shoney's.

[Theo]

Dude. My stepdad, he was in one of the wars, and one of them, he would. Dude, after they would go to, like, the Golden Crown, whatever. It was like, Chinese Corral or something, or like, the Yellow Ben or whatever it was called. Uh, he would sit. He would sit my mom in the car, and then he would go back in and apologize for fighting these who. Who we thought were, like, the same ethnicity people. When he was in, like, Iwo Jima

[Ella Langley]

or something like that, he'd go back in and apologize every time.

[Theo]

Yeah, he would Go back in and just kind of say, you know, give his peace, you know? And it was like this moment that he kind of had, you know, where. And I think it's probably like that for some people that's like. They probably went and fought in a war, and then the only people they ever saw from that culture again was that like a. If a small restaurant popped up in their town 40 years later. That's got to be crazy.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah, they all. I don't know. I can't imagine that. Yeah, they're interested in that. That's one of my favorite things to read about, is historical fiction.

[Theo]

Yeah. You watch every. Any of those war movies?

[Ella Langley]

Yeah, my dad loves a war movie. Jarheads. I don't know how many times that's been on in our living room.

[Theo]

Oh, yeah. Yeah, dude. My uncle even has the soundtrack to Jarheads. I'm like, who has the soundtrack to

[Ella Langley]

this shit on CD or what?

[Theo]

I think it might be. He said it was Blu Ray. He went. He went like. He went all in on. On Blu Ray.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah.

[Theo]

And he lost a lot.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah.

[Theo]

But, yeah, dude, I like some of those war movies, I think, because it just make you feel something, you know?

[Ella Langley]

Yeah. Feels like you're learning a little.

[Theo]

Feels like you're learning a little, but also. Yeah. And it makes you feel something. I like something. If there. I'll say this. If there's a little bit of loss in something, I like that shit.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah. Keeps your attention go.

[Theo]

I like something's got a little bit of loss in it. Some of your music, and probably a decent amount of it to me, seems like it's like, about kind of like. Like wanting love or. Or hoping for love, but not like, kind of being able to make it work or. I'm trying to think. What I'm trying to say.

[Ella Langley]

I think you're doing great. That was a good question.

[Theo]

So far, they are.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah.

[Theo]

Thanks, dude. Yeah.

[Ella Langley]

I think I just get.

[Theo]

Sometimes I get worried or not. I don't know. I mean, I get nervous.

[Ella Langley]

I was so nervous before I came in here today. Were you so nervous? Yes. Why?

[Theo]

What do you mean? You're the most. I don't know, person there is.

[Ella Langley]

I don't know. I.

[Theo]

Well, you are, you know.

[Ella Langley]

Well, I mean, you got to put on the suit.

[Theo]

That's true. And the rest. You'll show up.

[Ella Langley]

That's something. Told you. I learned Southern Baptist in a small town is you learn to put on a face a little bit. You know what I mean? You can't let everyone know everything. That's going on all the time. But also it's like I run out of the ability to do that.

[Theo]

So we get burned out of it.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah. And I just. That's been something I've had to work really hard on, is the mental of this game. And I knew the whole time that would be the toughest thing for me.

[Theo]

Really.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah.

[Theo]

Well, you can't pin yourself to the way somebody else operates. That's something that I've done over the years. Like, if they can do it, I can do it. I'm not the same person as them. Right. And our paths aren't the same.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah.

[Theo]

And I. I mean, I've burnt. I've. I've floored it for 200 miles with. When I had nothing in the tank.

[Ella Langley]

Well, I think it's because you are similar in the way where you're like. You kind of fly through life by the seat of your pants. You know what I mean? And it's like you're just following your gut on what you should do with your life. And instead of like, you know, if you go to school to be a doctor, like, you know, you do this many years of school to go, and you're gonna do this and this, like, no idea how this is going to. Every single day is different. Every single day something could happen that could change our lives for the best or the worst. And you just never know.

[Theo]

Yeah.

[Ella Langley]

And so I think, like, you. You learn this skill to, you know, watch others in the way where you learn, you know. And I think in the beginning it pushed me. I would always, like, compare my work ethic to. Lainey was a great one for me, you know, But I don't know how she's superhuman. I don't know how she does what she does, but. Yeah, I'm different than that, you know, Like, I have to go be in my house and recharge.

[Theo]

Recharge, rest.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah.

[Theo]

Take time. Same I gotta do. I mean, I'm getting dang IVs. I'm petting animals for peace or whatever. They have this. Yeah, they got a peace pet in place that's out there. And you go pet those horses for peace or whatever.

[Ella Langley]

I just got some horses.

[Theo]

Did you?

[Ella Langley]

Yeah.

[Theo]

God. I'm thinking about getting a Doberman. It's big, but. Yeah, it's nothing like that.

[Ella Langley]

Be crazy if you came in riding a Doberman. It was big enough to do that. You found Clifford? What is it? Doberman this time.

[Theo]

And Ernest is on the other one. Dude.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah, yeah, but he's actually on Clifford. Yeah, he's dressed, he has a grill in for sure.

[Theo]

There's like a hundred shades of earnest. That's the crazy. And there's nobody who has like, is such a chameleon, I think, in humanity. Earnest, you know?

[Ella Langley]

What a guy.

[Theo]

Oh, my question. So I feel like a lot of your songs are about like wanting to like, find a love or connect with love, but also like, about like wanting independence, you know, do you feel like you have like, commitment issues when it comes to that kind of stuff? Or. Or do you feel like some of your songs stem from that sort of thing? Or like, do you find like a. Like a common, like, root for some of your purpose in your music?

[Ella Langley]

You know, I think that's the thing that sometimes people think about too much, honestly, where it's like, what is the purpose to everything? What is the. What is the finished product? I don't know. I'm only 26. Like. Yeah, it's like I'm just writing about. I'm not going in the room thinking, okay, I need an up tempo song today and I need it to be perfect for radio or I need to write this type of acoustic thing, you know, Like, I'm going in there and just writing songs. Like whatever comes out that day comes out, you know, I'm really big on not forcing. Not forcing, you know, just if I feel like I'm in there and I'm not having fun, I'm like, why are we doing this? I somehow got to do the job I've always wanted to do. No way. I'm not gonna let it be fun when we're sitting in here writing these songs, you know? So. Yeah, I don't know, just sometimes, like, I'll have a title that I really want to write or someone in the room will say something and then it's just like, if all of you click on that title, like, you gotta chase it. So. Yeah. I mean. And obviously, I mean, me being 26 and not married, like, I've been dating, you know, I've been trying to figure that portion of my life out too.

[Theo]

Yeah.

[Ella Langley]

Which is complicated when you have pretty much given your everything to this one thing, you know?

[Theo]

Oh, yeah. I mean, that's. Yeah, I can relate to that. I spent so much, so much time working that. Yeah, it's like this was my first love. I liked work the most. And because work was reliable, it's like I knew what I got in what, what I put into this. I'm gonna get out of this one way or the other and I'll. I'll. Know if it's fair or not. I'll know if it's a fair amount because I'll know how much I put in that part of myself I can't lie to. So it's like, I'll know and it's an even. It'll be even. It may not be exactly what I want, but it'll be. It will be fair.

[Ella Langley]

But, you know, you gave it your all.

[Theo]

Yes. And to me, I know I. I know. And so I know I will expect a certain return. And there's not somebody else there that, like when, when it's a human. For me, it's like, that's just too. It's like whenever you first learn to ride that bike and you're doing that or whatever, you know what I'm saying? And then you just, you forget that, like the, you're like turning the handlebars like this. You think they're the pedals and you just.

[Ella Langley]

Oh, if this starts happening, you're fall. You're going down. You're going down. That's the scariest feeling ever.

[Theo]

The worst. Yeah.

[Ella Langley]

Oh, so many scars from asphalt.

[Theo]

And then you hit the neighbor's gate or whatever and somebody just calls you, like a queer. Yell something like that or something, you know.

[Ella Langley]

That's the worst. I hate when that happens.

[Theo]

Yeah. And it's your dad driving by.

[Ella Langley]

Definitely your dad would. Definitely my dad.

[Theo]

And you haven't even seen him in like, two years. And you're like, this is how he shows up.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah.

[Theo]

But, yeah, that's something I think about. Knowing what you're going to like, what you put in is what you're going to get out. Do you feel like. Because now you've kind of hit this level of popularity that's a little bit different. And that's kind of scary, right? Yeah, I mean, it's cool. There's a lot of great things. But that, to me, that feels interesting because you kind of like, you almost can't put. Put it back in the tube in a way. It's like, it's like, you know, like you can't, like, once you kind of cross over a certain, like, threshold of, like, people knowing you, you kind of can't, like, you know, your life can change and maybe, you know, people come and go in. In popularity, but you kind of can't go back to not being.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah.

[Theo]

Someone that was known.

[Ella Langley]

I think that's another one of the hardest parts for me. And it's. I think it's just people treating you differently. Yeah, I. I just. It's weird when somebody comes up and they're just like, it makes sense to me because if I were to see Stevie Nicks in the grocery store, like, I would be a little like, you know. Yeah, but it's weird when it's yourself, you know, like, someone's coming up to you, and they're like, oh, my God, I'm gonna throw up on your shoes. You're like, whoa. Like, I am so weird. Like, just, you know, immediately try to, like, level myself in a way. But, yeah, that's an odd part. But it is cool. I'm starting to. I'm getting past the stage of, like, what? Like. Because it was so in the beginning, so new. Like, it was weird when somebody knew who I was. Or when I'm sitting at the table out to eat with friends or family, and somebody's like, hey, can I get seven selfies with you? And I'm like, have, like, a half a meatball in my mouth. I'm like, bro, that's crazy.

[Theo]

Are you having washed up or you just don't even feel like a.

[Ella Langley]

In the bathroom? Have you ever had one ask you, is someone in the bathroom? Like, bro, no. No. And then if you say, no, I've had a girl. I was making my whole band do this ab workout routine. We were in P Fitness somewhere around the world, and this girl comes up to me mid crunch. She's like, can I have a picture? And then I like, it was in the beginning, and now I would be like, probably not right now. I'll sign whatever. You know what I mean? Just pick better time.

[Theo]

But, oh, yeah, in the beginning, you'll give it all. You'll give abs.

[Ella Langley]

But then I get up to take the picture with her, and she just like, no, no, no. I just want to take one of you. You ever get that when they're like, want to take one of you? And. Yeah, with you? And you're like. I was like, no, no. If I'm sweating this. You are.

[Theo]

Yeah. So you're just, what, some kind of pervert or whatever? You're just making a time capsule or something. You don't say. You're just capturing me to keep.

[Ella Langley]

No, I just want to take one of you.

[Theo]

Yeah, I'm not doing all that.

[Ella Langley]

What's your pose? If someone would take one of you,

[Theo]

you know, I'll tell you a funny story. I can't. Oh, I'll tell them. No. If somebody's like, I just want to take one of you.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah.

[Theo]

You're like, no, I'm like, get you get over here, you little urchin. You're getting in this with me if I have to stand here and look like you do.

[Ella Langley]

That's what I said.

[Theo]

Yeah, dude. A couple, probably like a year and a half ago, I started to have like. Cause we would do meet and greets after every shows. And maybe some of this sounds like kind of woe is me. Like I'm about to popularity talk. And I'm not meaning that. I'm grateful that people come out to shows and I've been to a couple of your shows and I'm excited to go to more of them. I'm excited to come to that one in Tuscaloosa where you and Morgan are playing together. And then. I know your own tour and your new album that's going to come out. But. Yeah, but nice. I couldn't smile anymore. The sm. The muscles in my mouth.

[Ella Langley]

Oh, yes. Start doing that fidget thing.

[Theo]

Yes. And then it got to the point where I just didn't even believe it anymore. My mouth had just. There was some disconnection between like my true feelings and a smile. Because these were all like kind of put on smiles and some of them are real. But you know, you're. You're just like, smile. You know, it is smile. Cheese. That type of thing. So I had to start doing this. So in all my.

[Ella Langley]

That started.

[Theo]

Yes. So in all my pictures, I was like, I have to make another face and this on me. Like, it looks a little too. Like people are going to get scared of. The kids are going to kind of be scared a little bit.

[Ella Langley]

So I think that's kind of nice.

[Theo]

So I'll do like, you know, like

[Ella Langley]

just anything.

[Theo]

Yeah, because this just started.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah, that, that.

[Theo]

See?

[Ella Langley]

Yeah. And when just the. The closed mouth smile was nice. Well, no, no, that was different. You didn't do it the same that time.

[Theo]

Let me try one more time.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah, well, no, kind of close. Try one more time. But don't squint your lips so much. Let them loose. Leave them loose a little. Start from the side, how you came.

[Theo]

Okay. Oh, what's happening? Nothing much.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah, that right there.

[Theo]

Thank you.

[Ella Langley]

Take a picture of that. Practice.

[Theo]

You're an artist. You're a conductor.

[Ella Langley]

Well, thank you.

[Theo]

She's a conductor. Yeah. I remember the first time I saw. I was like. Cause I didn't know, like, as your. Your popularity really. I guess the first time that I met you and I remember I said something like, man, Lainey really does such a great job of controlling the stage. Cause I was kind of Complimenting her. Cause she really does. And you were. I can't remember what you said, but it was something like. I don't know if I said, like, something like.

[Ella Langley]

No, you were like, you should try running. You should try running around the stage like that or something.

[Theo]

Oh, yeah, yeah.

[Ella Langley]

And I was like, first of all, you ain't never, ever been to a show, so, you know, I know to

[Theo]

show up and be judgmental like that.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah. And then that. Yeah.

[Theo]

I think I was just nervous.

[Ella Langley]

I kind of move around a little bit. Well, I've thought about that moment multiple times. Because I'm like, should I move around more? Like. Is that it? Like, has some things that I should do, like. No, I thought you should come to rehearsals and let me know.

[Theo]

I think I was just nervous, and I probably didn't know what to say. And it was a woman until I was just trying to say something, and maybe it wasn't. Yeah. I just didn't do the best supportive job, probably.

[Ella Langley]

Well, it panned out, but, yeah, I've

[Theo]

seen it since, and I'm not even going to weigh in anymore. You're obviously.

[Ella Langley]

No, I really like it. No, it really made me think extra hard about that. I was like, damn, Theo thinks I'm lazy on stage.

[Theo]

I didn't think lazy. I. I didn't know. I. I had no idea.

[Ella Langley]

A little lazy.

[Theo]

No, I just can't.

[Ella Langley]

She run. I don't know how she does it. She does the whole spin thing now.

[Theo]

She does a lot.

[Ella Langley]

I told you. She is.

[Theo]

She does a whole, like, fantasy. Almost like that, like. Yeah, yeah, she does.

[Ella Langley]

She does that spin thing.

[Theo]

Oh, yeah.

[Ella Langley]

Fall down 100.

[Theo]

Just swinging that donkey around. I'm like, what is even going on out here? Yeah, she has got it.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah. That's probably what it is. I. I ain't got no balance like that.

[Theo]

You know what I mean?

[Ella Langley]

Evened out.

[Theo]

You know, she's got them ballast tanks

[Ella Langley]

she's, like, set up.

[Theo]

Oh, she's a pontoon, I'll tell you that.

[Ella Langley]

She's locked in.

[Theo]

Yes, she's locked in. But, no, what a great person to learn from and be around and even just to watch, like, the things that she does and just to notice all those things. Like, how is she able to engage with people so much, you know? I don't know how Jelly Roll did it. Jelly Roll got burnt out. He's the same way, but he got burnt out.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah. I think it happens to everybody.

[Theo]

It'll get you.

[Ella Langley]

No one's. No one's actually doing it all Yeah. I mean, everyone gets burned out.

[Theo]

Yeah. Did. Was there a moment you kind of had to take it, like a step back. You take a vacation, what do you do? Like, for that sort of thing? Have you learned to incorporate that into things? Because you're already back out here, you're gonna go on tour again?

[Ella Langley]

Yeah, I don't. I'm still figuring it out. I think my team's figuring out a little better how to schedule in the time that's needed. But when you're in this boom moment, it's hard to say no. I mean, you're saying no to stuff that I'm like, I do kind of want to do that, you know, but it's like, you know, I'm thinking of things six months down the road, I'm like, I'll be able to do that. And then I get there, I'm like, oh, my gosh. Like, I'm dying. Why did I do that?

[Theo]

What am I doing in this lemonade drink?

[Ella Langley]

Yeah. But then I'm like, if I turn it down, you know, sometimes I'm like, come on, you can't. What's wrong with you? Why you can't do that? You're gonna be. Some people would kill to be like that, you know? And then I have that whole thing. So last year, it just. Like I said, I think the mental game for me is definitely the hardest part of this job. Like, I can do the gigs, I can do the shows. I can do that. And I don't know, the burnout, I

[Theo]

guess, like, thinking you can work through it. I'll fight through it. I'll figure it out.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah. And I mean, Lord, we toured pretty much minus a couple weeks here and there from 2022 to 2025, you know, and I mean, hot and heavy, most of that was in a van, you know, and then one bus, and we're all packed on there, and it was still, like. It just happened so fast. So it's like, we're still doing these things, but these things are happening. And so everyone from the outside is like, man, that's pretty nice. And you're like, well, you know, we're still getting there. We're still doing our best.

[Theo]

Yeah. And a van, people don't get even enough credit for even being in a damn thing.

[Ella Langley]

Somebody asked me the other day, they're like, do you miss that? I'm like, hell, no, I don't miss that.

[Theo]

I think people should get a tax credit for being in a damn van, dude.

[Ella Langley]

Years of that.

[Theo]

If I see a van pull up Any van, and somebody gets out of the back of it. Yeah, I start clapping immediately.

[Ella Langley]

Immediately.

[Theo]

I don't care what they're doing. I don't care if they are, you know, very religious and that's, you know, and the side doors broken or whatever, or. They are just a big family.

[Ella Langley]

I always wondered what people thought we were traveling around when they'd see us get out at a gas station. And it was just like me, my photographer Kaylee, and a whole bunch of tattooed guys just crawling out of a van looking disheveled, smelling like Doritos, probably.

[Theo]

Oh, yeah, and whiskey. The Ritas are good at over 50 miles an hour in a damn thing.

[Ella Langley]

I lived off some gas station food for years. Taquitos from a gas station.

[Theo]

They're good.

[Ella Langley]

They're good in the moment.

[Theo]

Yeah. But some of my problem is if you. I'll get a bag and then I'll. I'll go get them in the middle of the night and get more of them.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah. You ever get a crunchy one where it just ruined the whole thing?

[Theo]

It's like the taquitos. Yeah, I like them.

[Ella Langley]

Or a hot dog.

[Theo]

Hot dogs are good, but they're just. Sometimes they don't. They don't honestly tell you how long they've been on that twirler out there on the little riverboat.

[Ella Langley]

They just put them back out there every so often.

[Theo]

What is that? They put a bunch of hair curlers together and started just grilling them bitches.

[Ella Langley]

Who knows what kind of meat is really.

[Theo]

What are you talking about? Dude, this is. This ain't no meat.

[Ella Langley]

You don't wonder. My. I have a lady that's like, doing all my. My health stuff. You don't think so? The buffalo chicken, you don't think that is.

[Theo]

I bet there ain't a half percent of meat in there, baby. This is meatless. They should just taste something warm on the outside of it. But yeah, when you get those Hunt Brothers pizzas.

[Ella Langley]

Oh, the breakfast one?

[Theo]

Yeah, dude, one I grew up on. On Hunt Brothers.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah, I think it's Hunts Brothers. Is there an S at the end?

[Theo]

Was there more than one? Oh, there you go, girl. Huh?

[Ella Langley]

I've been saying it wrong. Hold. Hunt Brothers.

[Theo]

But that's what it is. That's kind of Southern stuff, how they say it. Have you seen the country hoodlums people? Have you seen those? Instagram. Pull them up, dude, if you can. I put them on a page the other day.

[Ella Langley]

The what?

[Theo]

On my links page. This is the kind of place I grew up. I'LL show you right here.

[Ella Langley]

Oh, I can't wait to see this.

[Theo]

This is like our street. What you doing, Christy?

[Ella Langley]

I'm about to burn his. Facebook Live on my. Well, he was calling me five minutes later like, come get him.

[Theo]

Well, Christy, he love. He loves. Glass loves those. Those golf clubs. Glass love those golf clubs. This the kind of was going on on our street. No, no. You for real? No.

[Ella Langley]

And you know what he did probably?

[Theo]

Oh, yeah.

[Ella Langley]

He done fooled around and he about to find out.

[Theo]

Oh, my goodness, man, that's the kind of we need more of, I think. But yeah, this is just the kind of place. Have you ever seen them country hoodlums?

[Ella Langley]

Oh, man, this is like a whole thing.

[Theo]

They have probably like two or 300 clips now. They put up clips every day. And it's just them. It's just like people living their lives.

[Ella Langley]

Oh, oh. Like it's real life people.

[Theo]

It's not like. And this is the one earned. People always say, this guy or him and earn seem like each other. No, go hit that top left one. What you doing?

[Ella Langley]

Keep them coming, Janet.

[Theo]

Ms. Janet. He just got baptized, actually. Let's do it. Hey, Jen. And I'll say this. The women are the people. They hold it together in this group.

[Ella Langley]

Usually are.

[Theo]

Yeah. But that's kind of. I feel like that's kind of enough, man.

[Ella Langley]

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[Theo]

You know, about four years ago, I was jogging somewhere and it was a pretty good area. It was all right. I don't know. Yeah, there's some couple halfway houses. But I was going for a jog and I saw a snail out there. And he was trying his best, but, you know, they don't even have feet. But they're still going forward. They're, you know. So I picked that snail up and I moved him. I moved him probably 19 inches. Brother saved him a month of travel. I'd consider that a power move. Just like how hiring Morgan and Morgan is a power move. Morgan and Morgan is America's largest injury law firm. They have over 100 offices nationwide and more than 1,000 lawyers with over $30 billion recovered for over 500,000 clients. Morgan. And Morgan has a proven track record of fighting to get you full and fair compensation. That's what they do. If you're ever injured, you can check out Morgan and Morgan. Their fee is free unless they win. For more information, go to for the people.comtheo or dial pound law pound 529 from your cell phone. That's f o r the people.com t h e o or pound law pound 529. This is a paid advertisement. Do you. Did y' all have, like a fa. Like a most popular restaurant in your town growing up?

[Ella Langley]

Not really. I mean, a lot of chains. Like I said, the Shoney's. My dad loves a. A. Like a. What do you call it? A buffet? Oh, yeah, any buffet. The soft serve ice cream you got to get at the end.

[Theo]

At the end.

[Ella Langley]

How big can you make your own ice cream cone?

[Theo]

Make it tall, baby. Make it long. You like it long. Shoney's was something else, dude. And they would give away these stuffed animals up front, and the sewing on them was real bad. By the time you got them bitches to the car, they was more of a. They looked. They was starting to give out a little.

[Ella Langley]

Did you go to ihop?

[Theo]

We went to ihop, but Waffle House? We went to Waffle House. Yeah, dude. At our Waffle House, they had like. It was like our town was like at the end of, like, the longest bridge in the world. For a while anyway. And then they built a different one, but then that one got tore down, and so we were back. Anyway. They had a. They had a. So the people that would get DUIs on there at night or DWIs at night, the police officer would just drop them off at the Waffle House. They wouldn't arrest them. They just take them down there and drop them off. Yeah, it's really cool. I'm just like, hey, stay here and sober up. So when you was a kid, you was running around, you could just pop in there and just hang. You'd be hanging out with the drunks and eating with all these cool drunks,

[Ella Langley]

and I think that's a lot of Waffle Houses late at night. Yeah, ours was, too.

[Theo]

It's kind of like a little mini rehab.

[Ella Langley]

I'm smoking stick outside. One of the cooks, you know.

[Theo]

Oh, definitely.

[Ella Langley]

I'll be in, baby.

[Theo]

Yeah, yeah. Or do. The best is the white guy that can't even blink his eyes. So he's so geeked up and he's Just fucking making eggs, boy.

[Ella Langley]

So many, so many things.

[Theo]

Oh, he'll just rip an omelet out of a chicken's ass. That dude's.

[Ella Langley]

They're all yelling at him.

[Theo]

Yes.

[Ella Langley]

The best of the fights in there,

[Theo]

when they start fighting, it's so closed environment in there. When they do the fights. I don't like being in the cage.

[Ella Langley]

They do the fight. So you've seen them?

[Theo]

Yeah, it's like I don't like being in the cage. I want to be outside of the cage.

[Ella Langley]

If they lock, you sit on this side of the bar and they are on the that so.

[Theo]

Oh, that's. Yeah. Oh, you mean the employees fighting. Yeah.

[Ella Langley]

I don't like just random ones. I like to go to Waffle House and watch fights.

[Theo]

Yeah.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah.

[Theo]

Well, dude, the one in, in Baton Rouge used to do a look up Valentine's Day. Waffle House, Baton Rouge. They did a special thing. Did they do it at other ones you know about?

[Ella Langley]

Yeah, I. They like the decorations.

[Theo]

Yeah. They would decorate it and you could make a reservation.

[Ella Langley]

Yes. Where they put like a white tablecloth.

[Theo]

Yes.

[Ella Langley]

That it's romantic. I would really like that.

[Theo]

Waffle House for Valentine's Day 2026. Romantic and affordable. Let me read up on that a touch because I know my sister's fiance took her to this. Let's be honest, on every Valentine's Day needs candles, tuxedos and stress. Many couples now choose Waffle House for Valentine's Day because it feels real relaxed and easy on the wallet. If you been wondering whether it's actually worth trying, you're not alone. Let's walk through what experience is like and how to make it special. I like that heart shaped hash browns. You kidding me? You know they have that steak and eggs with extra sides to share.

[Ella Langley]

I think I've been to Waffle House on New Year's Day for the past like five years. Oh gosh, maybe even six.

[Theo]

Yeah.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah.

[Theo]

That's beautiful. They used to have like a badge or like a recurring partner system. Chocolate pie slices and strawberry milkshakes served as a simple date night drink.

[Ella Langley]

A steak from a Waffle House.

[Theo]

Hell yeah.

[Ella Langley]

Just doing it up, dude.

[Theo]

I met a woman off the Internet once and she was from another country. She'd never been to a Waffle House and I took her to one and she loved it.

[Ella Langley]

That's one of my red flags. If guys like, let's go. I'm like, let's go to Waffle House early in the morning. He's like, no. He says, no, let's Go to Cracker Barrel. I feel like Waffle House over Cracker Barrel. I don't know. Yeah, I don't know. It depends on the. If I want pancakes.

[Theo]

I don't know. I don't. A lot of these pancakes these days are too hot. They're too fluffy and fat for me. I like that bitch like it's. Somebody already tried to eat it and it said, hell, no. I like that thing. Tough. I like.

[Ella Langley]

What does that look like?

[Theo]

Just a pancake. I like that.

[Ella Langley]

Flat.

[Theo]

Yeah, flat.

[Ella Langley]

Kind of burnt.

[Theo]

I don't like that. Big, fluffy. It looks like part of a piece of. Like an actual part of a layer of fluffy.

[Ella Langley]

I think that's a flapjack.

[Theo]

Yeah, it could be. What is a flapjack? Bring it up, because. Yeah. People are wandering around. People are eating hot.

[Ella Langley]

What is the difference between pancake and flapjack?

[Theo]

People are eating all of them, Ella. I don't know. A British flapjack is a simple, chewy and only baked bar made by melting butter. No, don't even pull up with that shit. I'll burn you down. Golf clubs. If you pull that up again.

[Ella Langley]

It's not that bar thing.

[Theo]

No, it's not. It is a. I like that. Now some people came out with something. Here we go. A flapjack is a baked oat bar. This isn't it, man.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah, I think it is. The oat bar.

[Theo]

Well, then I've been getting something else. I call it a flapjack. I like that thing. That's real. Just kind of a little more flimsy. Kind of looks like it'll fucking slap your ass if you walking by. You know what I'm talking about?

[Ella Langley]

It would make the sound.

[Theo]

Yeah. Finally, your brother made a sound. So he's having a good time. And I'll tell you something. I don't love a ton of syrup. I like a fair amount, but I don't like too much.

[Ella Langley]

I love it.

[Theo]

You do? Do you like condiments and stuff like that? Are you a condiment person?

[Ella Langley]

Sauce. Yeah, anything. I love it.

[Theo]

You ever had that Zitzagi sauce? Bring it up. Yeah, you've had it.

[Ella Langley]

Zach sauce.

[Theo]

No. Zitzaki. Bring it up.

[Ella Langley]

No.

[Theo]

Zad Zack.

[Ella Langley]

I've never heard of that.

[Theo]

Zad Zit. Zack.

[Ella Langley]

Z Taziki.

[Theo]

Don't even tell me that's how y' all spell.

[Musician/Performer (possibly a band member or hype man)]

What did you just say?

[Ella Langley]

Zachariah sauce.

[Theo]

I said Levitans 4, 13. That's what I said, dude. I said Copernicus 12.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah, I've had that sauce before.

[Theo]

Yeah, people.

[Ella Langley]

Say it again.

[Theo]

Is it is that Zach. Is that Zeke? I want that zad Zeke baby. Yeah, people love that zad ziki. Now what I will say is this. I do like it.

[Ella Langley]

How do you prefer it that Zeke?

[Theo]

Yeah, just straight up in the little.

[Ella Langley]

Little bread thing.

[Theo]

Or I'll take it with a p. To use these. I'll have it. But I'll have a look. I mean I've never taken one and drinking one or whatever. Like my sister used to steal all those little coffee creamers from the frickin place. My stepdad would take us and she would drink them in her bed at night. All those little.

[Ella Langley]

Did the little ones.

[Theo]

The hazelnut, that cannot be good, that's sleepy. That sleepy little would finish off six of those and wondering why she's having nightmares. Because you're drinking damn stolen milk.

[Ella Langley]

Okay, I don't understand how those stay good out for so long. I don't ever understand. And why can condiments stay on the tables at restaurants for so long but they can at the house? Yeah, I got a lot of questions,

[Theo]

but no, they used to put them. They used to put the creamers on a thing of ice in some places that I think still ever.

[Ella Langley]

They still do. Yeah.

[Theo]

But some of them, those hazelnut ones, those are bad for you.

[Ella Langley]

They'll just give it to you in a coffee mug. Yeah, just like pile them in a coffee mug, hand it to you.

[Theo]

Oh yeah, somebody was a stack them in like that. But my sister would have six or 11 of them bitches in there complaining she's got an upset stomach. Of course you do.

[Ella Langley]

She's probably gonna have the upset stomach for the rest of her life due to that.

[Theo]

And she already had a damn liver transplant. You ain't getting nothing else. Mom got her that when we were kids.

[Ella Langley]

What'd you get?

[Theo]

I didn't get shit, dude. I remember I got roller skates that were way too big for me.

[Ella Langley]

What were you like? What did you do?

[Theo]

Me? I was pretty good, I guess. I don't know, I was kind of a. I like to do my own thing. I just like to hitchhike and just have angry thoughts. I think a lot as a kid.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah, what did you do? Did you like play sports or.

[Theo]

Yeah, I played basketball. What did I like to do? I like to be on my bike. When I was a kid, my dad was super old, so we was always like messing with him and shit. My dad was like. My dad was 70 when I was born. So he was an old guy? Yeah, he was old. And my brother used to Come in the room. I've told this before. My brother would come in the room and he'd be like, dad's dead. And I'll be like, what? He'd be like, yep, go in there.

[Ella Langley]

Go in there.

[Theo]

He's dead. And I'd go in there and he wouldn't be dead.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah. How many times did that happen?

[Theo]

Oh, well, then this is how we started to flip after a while. Because he'd be like, dad's dead. And I'd be like, he freaking better be dead or you're dead or I'm gonna whip your ass.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah.

[Theo]

So it got to the point where you, like, hope, like, if Dad's alive, somebody's getting their ass beat, so. Which is a crazy concept to have.

[Ella Langley]

You have to go in there and check one more time.

[Theo]

Yeah. When your dad is barely alive.

[Ella Langley]

So they're kind of pissed off. Like this.

[Theo]

There's three pictures. I mean, look at the top. Look. Top four actually are all me. Zoom in on all of those. God, that looks good. That one's me.

[Ella Langley]

No.

[Theo]

Yep.

[Ella Langley]

No, it's not. Well, is it really?

[Theo]

We had some tough years. Yeah. I mean, obviously. Bring that kid back up.

[Ella Langley]

Dude. Dude, that is not you.

[Theo]

We had some damn tough.

[Ella Langley]

What's going on with that little thing on the side?

[Theo]

Oh, honey, that's a fade, girl. That's a one into a 19. Haven't you ever seen that cut?

[Ella Langley]

That's crazy. It's like a bowl cut with, like, a weird shaped bowl.

[Theo]

That's a Christian cut right there.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah.

[Theo]

Who cut your hair growing up? Ella Langley.

[Ella Langley]

All kinds of people. I have a bad tendency to cut my own hair.

[Theo]

Yep. Yeah, I like that best. I really was. There's something about it. Why do you do that? And why have you enjoyed that?

[Ella Langley]

I don't know. Because it doesn't always go. Most of the time it goes bad. That's how I got banged in the first place. I stopped. I was wearing a cowboy hat for a while, and then I took it off because it was windy one show and it was pissing me off. And I decided, you know what? I'm gonna take it off. And I liked how my bangs, like, were kind of around my face. And like 20 minutes before I walked out on stage, I decided to cut my fringe a little bit. And it was so bad. There was, like, one piece right here. And I was shooting the COVID art for my first record that next week. And Kaylee was like.

[Theo]

She was honest with you.

[Ella Langley]

I had to get. I just told her, full send it with the bangs? Yep.

[Theo]

And now you're in.

[Ella Langley]

I don't think I can ever change it.

[Theo]

Yeah. You love it that much, huh?

[Ella Langley]

It changed my life a little bit.

[Theo]

Really?

[Ella Langley]

Yeah, I would say. I mean, I don't know. The bang thing is that it's.

[Theo]

I think it's the music.

[Ella Langley]

Well, yeah, but. Yeah, I mean, maybe a little bit the music, but mainly the bangs.

[Theo]

The bangs are nice. You know what's funny is there's a. I think there's. There's a. Like a. What's it called? Like a big poster board in the air or whatever.

[Ella Langley]

I don't know what you're referencing right now. It looks crazy.

[Theo]

Billboard. There's like, a billboard over on Hillsborough pike, and I thought it was you on it.

[Ella Langley]

I think I know what board you're talking about, dude.

[Theo]

Here's a funny thing. I'd go buy it sometimes, and I'd always just rattle off something or sing a couple of your lyrics to it. And then somebody told me. Somebody told me, it's not you.

[Ella Langley]

It's not. I. But I know what you're talking about. And what do you mean you'd sing a couple lyrics?

[Theo]

I would just rattle off something. You know, I was like, oh.

[Ella Langley]

I used to be like, what's up?

[Theo]

Yeah, there's Ella. Just seeing how she doing. Oh, she's still high and mighty up on that billboard up there with. And I think it's for an earring company. I said, with her fancy earrings or whatever. Big earrings, too. I mean, this lady had damn bird cages hanging off her head over there.

[Ella Langley]

No. What? Me?

[Theo]

It wasn't you, though.

[Ella Langley]

Wish it was.

[Theo]

God, yeah. Yeah. I'd have gotten to spend more time with you, so. Me too. Would have been nice, I think. At school sometimes we ask about Valentine's Day. Did you have a thing at school where you had Valentine's at school, or was y' all school too small to even give a Valentine? Because other people's feelings could really get hurt in that sort of closed environment.

[Ella Langley]

No, we still had Valentine's Day.

[Theo]

God.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah. We still did it. Did every Feelings did get hurt. Feelings did get hurt.

[Theo]

If there's nine kids in my class and there's Valentine's Day, dude, I couldn't cut that.

[Ella Langley]

That was. I never forget this kid. He was in our class. His name was. His name was Freddie. And he brought in this little bear and he gave it to me, and he's like, if you. For you to have this bear, you got to be my girlfriend. I was like, sorry, buddy, can't do it.

[Theo]

I'm a horse.

[Ella Langley]

And then he gave. Yeah, but then he went over to Shelly and gave her the bear.

[Theo]

No, he didn't.

[Ella Langley]

And then I was like, hey, Freddie, come back over here. I will be your girlfriend.

[Theo]

Oh, damn.

[Ella Langley]

Give me that bear back.

[Theo]

So you saw that competition, and Ella said, I ain't losing out.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah.

[Theo]

And Freddie was willing to get a woman, an animal, dude. I remember we had a guy by us, he was a taxidermist or whatever. And I just remember. I remember he had all these hard stuffed animals. I didn't know.

[Ella Langley]

Hard ones.

[Theo]

Yeah, Yeah. I was like, that dude has the hardest stuffed animals ever. And he gave me, like, a squirrel. Because my mother said I'd love it over there all the time. She'd find me over there. And he gave me, like, a squirrel. And I slept with that thing, my mom said, for, like, four years. This big taxidermied ass squirrel.

[Ella Langley]

No, you didn't.

[Theo]

With a hard tail? Yeah.

[Ella Langley]

What do you mean, a hard tail?

[Theo]

He had it. Bring up a. Look at that bitch. Yeah, look at the one. Yeah, that's a stripper.

[Ella Langley]

I've never seen one done like that before.

[Theo]

Look at the one. That's a stripper right there.

[Ella Langley]

That's the one that you had for sure.

[Theo]

I think. I mean, I don't know. I was young, but I was happy to have it. Yeah, look at the one canoeing in its own tail. That's pretty great, actually. Did it have a name? Huh? Yeah, Mr. Tucker. So he could have been trans? I have no idea. Okay, a couple questions about your album and then your new. What'd you say? Say, real quick, Ella, could you. Your mic to the right just a little bit. You come help her, Trevin. She doesn't need any help. Sorry. That's perfect. This is Ella.

[Ella Langley]

Why'd you say that?

[Theo]

Just because I'm thinking if there's one lady that doesn't need any help, it's probably you.

[Ella Langley]

I think sometimes I need help.

[Theo]

You do?

[Ella Langley]

Yeah.

[Theo]

Yeah, I know. Sometimes I do, too. I think that's one tough thing about, like, when you, like, kind of like when things start, like. I think if you're, like, a person that's kind of controlling or, you know, you like to have a say in everything you do. Do you feel like you're that kind of person like you were? That's one thing that I love about Morgan is Morgan knows exactly what he's doing. He is dialed in to a T. I feel like, on what is him and what represents him.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah, I'm Very much that way. I mean, every bit of what I do, I have my hand in it. You know, I'm co producing the record, I'm writing stuff for the music video, co directing that. I'm, you know, making the set list for the show and kind of creating that set. I literally drew out our set in my journal and was like, gave it to the set designer and he's like, this is what I want. And they literally made that for me.

[Theo]

So it's all you. So when people come to see this next door, it's all you. It's you.

[Ella Langley]

No, I mean, I have an incredible team.

[Theo]

Right. But it's all comes from you originally.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah, yeah. And it's interesting. It's hard to find people that. Sometimes people get stingy with your art in a way. And it's funny. It's like a pride thing. And I care so much about the people that I work with, it being a collaborative experience, you know, and so everyone on my team, it really is that, whether it be my stylist or my makeup artist or Kayleigh over here, who's my photographer and also a creative director, my management, you know, my band, it's kind of like, I don't get. Tell my band to get up there and play this dang thing, lick for lick. I want us to get up there and have, you know, fun and play music. And obviously there's a way a show should go. But I don't know, I just think that sometimes people put these weird perimeters around such a creative thing and something that, like, I think you look like you love me did for me was like, everyone told me that song was not gonna work, you know?

[Theo]

Yeah.

[Ella Langley]

They're all like, what? What do you. My label tried to give me the.

[Theo]

After y' all had cut it or before.

[Ella Langley]

Yes. After we had cut it, they were like, we really think you need to go back in and sing these verses. I was like, I'm not singing it. And they're like, you need to sing it. And I just fought them really hard

[Theo]

on it and they thought, you need to go back in and sing Riley's verses. Is Raleigh the one sings on that?

[Ella Langley]

Yeah, but no, like the. Yeah, the talking part, you know, I was all but 22, I think, at the time. Yeah, yeah. No, they wanted me to sing that. Go back in. They're like, this is, like, gonna be the worst performing song in the record.

[Theo]

No.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah. And so I think with that one, I mean, it was just.

[Theo]

You knew it wasn't.

[Ella Langley]

I mean, I didn't know what it was gonna do.

[Theo]

But I believed that you believed in what it was, though.

[Ella Langley]

I believed that it was different. I believed that it was something that made me smile, and I enjoyed singing it. And, you know, like I said, once I put my mind to something, like, if I go in and cut something, it's because I believe in.

[Theo]

Feels like you get to know you some in that song a little bit, too. I mean, it just. There's something about when somebody's talking to you, you know, when they're talking as well. I think there's. Yeah.

[Ella Langley]

Tells a story in a different way.

[Theo]

Yeah. Yeah, I think so. Dang. Who's out there telling Ella Langley?

[Ella Langley]

No, I don't know.

[Theo]

But have there been parts you've like. Like. Like as things got busier, you're, like, learning how to be, like, kind of like a boss, a leader. Not necessarily a boss, but like a leader.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah.

[Theo]

And then those are roles that you have to step into. I think if you want to be, like, exactly how you want to be, you know, because otherwise there's, like. Especially in music and Hollywood type of stuff, there's. It'll. It'll make something for you and serve it out there, you know? But if you want to be on top of it, it takes a lot.

[Ella Langley]

It does. I think that's one of the harder parts of this job. And kind of what I've watched from watching other artists my whole life, obviously wanting to do this, paid attention in a way, like, you really do have to get up and fight to do it the way you want to do it every day.

[Theo]

Isn't that crazy?

[Ella Langley]

You do. It's exhausting. And people all day, and the more. The more success, the more people care about what you're doing. You know what I mean? In the beginning, in a label, you know, when I was first signed, it wasn't a competitive deal. You know, they. I didn't really have that much going on, and it was more of, like, a banking on me type of a situation.

[Theo]

Right.

[Ella Langley]

So now, you know, everyone is a little. Paying a little closer attention to what's happening, obviously, and everyone has an opinion, and it's like that across the board. And that's just because it's working and everyone wants it to stay working and, you know, you know yourself the best and your artistry. And, like, at the end of the day, I'm the one that's gonna have to do that interview. I'm the one that's gonna have to sing that song every night. I'm the one that's gonna have to go take those pictures. I'm the one that's gonna have to work with these people, you know, And I think it's just constantly reminding them of that and not compromising who you are as a human being because, well, this is how it's usually done. I hate that phrase. I hate. Well, this is what you would usually do. I was like, well, I don't give a rat's ass what you usually do. I do not want to do it like that. I really don't. And I'm going to stick my heels in the mud.

[Theo]

Yeah, I don't even have any heels. And I'm just going to put my feet in there.

[Ella Langley]

You do have heels. That's the bottom of your foot.

[Theo]

This is. Oh, yeah, you're right. And I'm going to put them in the mud. I've always. I don't want to do it how you want it. That's. Dude, that's been the pilot light of my entire existence.

[Ella Langley]

Oh, yeah. Do it like this. That's the worst thing you could tell me if you don't want me to do it.

[Theo]

Dude, I don't want to do any. I never want. Dude, I couldn't even. My eyes wasn't even open and I was like, I ain't doing like. You want me to.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah, keep your eyes straight. How about that?

[Theo]

I'm coming with a remix right out the gate. That's hilarious. Oh, congratulations, you guys. Is your tour with Morgan starts April 18th in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Brian Denny Stadium.

[Ella Langley]

I know. Home state.

[Theo]

That's so crazy.

[Ella Langley]

It's cool. I think it's the first concert be in there since like, what, 19 something?

[Theo]

Bring it up.

[Ella Langley]

1970 something. I think Alabama was the last thing. Oh, hey, bring it up.

[Theo]

Oh, my God.

[Ella Langley]

Kaylee took that over there, did she?

[Theo]

God, take some of me, Kaylee. I need to live like that. I need to get a damn brooch.

[Ella Langley]

A brooch or.

[Theo]

I don't know.

[Ella Langley]

Sorry.

[Theo]

Nice. I mean, a nice necktie. I'm just joking. I'm trying to make your brother laugh. The only joy I'm having is when you guys laugh.

[Ella Langley]

That's the gig, huh?

[Theo]

Well, yeah. It's just nice when people laugh. I feel. Okay.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah.

[Theo]

Alabama Stadium show right there at Bryant. Denny. When was the last one? That's what we're asking. Honestly, this guy's just looking at pictures of men online. That's the dang football team. We just want to know when was the last. Just ask somebody. Ask, who's that? Roll Tide guy. Oh, that's Roll Tide Willie. Yeah, he's actually from here, dude. He's. He was in the military with my buddy's dad. He used to be pretty. Not normal, but better. That's where he's from.

[Ella Langley]

What?

[Theo]

Yep. God bless him. The last concert held at Brian Denny Stadium was a performance by the band Alabama in 1992, which followed a series of Bama Blast concerts in the early 1980s. A 2008 concert with Alan Jackson was scheduled but canceled. Dang. So that's been 30, 33 years.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah, I'm pretty excited about that one.

[Theo]

That's crazy.

[Ella Langley]

And we're direct support this year. We've really worked our way up on this tour. First tour we were first of four. We did with him. Last year we were second of four. This year we're direct.

[Theo]

Congratulations.

[Ella Langley]

Just climb your way. You know what I mean?

[Theo]

He says. I mean, I've spoken with him about you and just. And he's like, she's got. She has it. She has got it.

[Ella Langley]

He's been really cool.

[Theo]

He's a unique dude, man.

[Ella Langley]

Well, you know, I mean, him and Earn and Hardy and that whole crew has just been super kind to me.

[Theo]

Yeah.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah.

[Theo]

Oh, there's that whole group's so much fun. I remember, right, whenever I moved in town, we had a podcast studio. I was living over in Wedgewood, Houston. I just was renting a house and putting a podcast studio and the guy was always stopping by. I was like, you have podcast studio in here? I was like, no, and just like a lot. He's like, for some reason, this guy hated podcast. Podcast and whatever. And. And one day we got to have Morgan and came and then we had, like, kind of just snuck out Hardy and earned and we had a blast over there. But that was fun. That was like an early episode that we had here in town.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah, those shows are going to be cool.

[Theo]

It's going to be so great. And, oh, there was something else I was going to ask about. Oh, and then you're doing Stagecoach too. Yeah, me and my buddy are DJ in there.

[Ella Langley]

Really?

[Theo]

Yeah.

[Ella Langley]

DJed before?

[Theo]

No, but it looks so dang easy. Yeah, I'm just joking, Diplo. But it looks. It looks pretty damn easy. So. Yeah, that's it.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah. I don't know. I've never tried that.

[Theo]

But yeah, me and my friend Caleb Presley are play. Are going to play a Dibble's Honky Tonk.

[Ella Langley]

So Stuart met him.

[Theo]

You did? Oh, they're great, aren't they? Yeah, I love him. Glenny Balls Is the character, man. He is. Yeah. He loves a nice cheese, too. If you. If you know of a restaurant in the area, he'll tell you about cheeses in any area. He almost has like a.

[Ella Langley]

Like a. Yeah, you will. You know that. Like, he already knew that. Yeah, yeah. He loves him. Jesus.

[Theo]

You know, I met him over listening to Hardy and. Sorry, I just dropping a horrible cheese country music lyrics here.

[Ella Langley]

I thought it was great.

[Theo]

I thought it wasn't too bad.

[Ella Langley]

That's how easy it is.

[Theo]

But no, that's. So that's going to be cool. I'm excited. I'm excited to get to see you play out there. Let's talk about. And. And thanks so much for spending time with us today.

[Ella Langley]

Thanks for having me.

[Theo]

Appreciate it. We're happy to have you. We had this girl and yesterday. Have you ever seen that girl? She's like on Tick Tock. She has like. She has stenosis. She has a. Like a syndrome. Cystinosis. Cystinosis. She keeps changing the name of it, but yeah, this is her. Have you seen her? She talks about the spice. A little bit of spice, a little

[Ella Langley]

hint of spiciness, like a little hint of soy sauce, a little hint of the tomato, a little hint of the spice. Tomato and ramen. Yeah, it actually has like a hint. Little hint of tomato.

[Theo]

Oh, yeah, yeah. What is a hint? I don't even know.

[Ella Langley]

It just sounds like a good word. That's me all the time. Is it what even. What is even though? I don't know just sounds like a

[Theo]

Say it first and figure it out later.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah.

[Theo]

You have your new album, Dandelion or D line. That's how people. Some people were saying it.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah.

[Theo]

Congratulations. Did you feel like you had to hurry up and get this out or. Because I think sometimes coming off of like, you know, like you said earlier, like your career starts getting bigger and things start to feel like you don't want to lose the momentum. Right. You've worked so hard to build a flame. Did it feel like any pressures, like what were some pressures that were involved with this, or was it just completely smooth and is that a ridiculous question?

[Ella Langley]

Nothing is ever completely smooth, I don't think. For real? Some. I don't know. Well, I don't know. Maybe some things.

[Theo]

Yeah, some things, maybe. Yeah.

[Ella Langley]

But this, this, this record, I mean, I worked on it for like a year and a half, so it still took a while. But I say. I keep saying the big word for this record is synchronicity. It did just feel like a lot of things While it was, you know, I'm co producing for the first time, while I'm full time touring. Two different tours while, you know, just trying to balance everything at the same time, get the vocals done, you know, and it taught me a lot. And that's what was so cool about having Miranda to be a part of it, you know, because she's just so honest. You know, you've met her and hung out with her. She's just so real.

[Theo]

Yeah, she's great. She likes barrel racing too.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah, she does. But she just, you know, she was just honest about, you know, days where I was like. She's like, you're burnt. And take a step back. Yeah. But also, like, you know, some things I wanted to go in there. I'm like, can I say that? She's like, hell yeah, you can say that. You can say whatever the hell you want to, you know, so, like that confidence of someone that has done it and like, you look up to their career so much. Like, you know what? Hell yeah, you know what? Yes. Actually, I do want the cymbals to be louder out there. I do. And no, it was. It was really cool. This whole. This whole record. I'm so excited about it. I've never been more excited about music in my life.

[Theo]

Really.

[Ella Langley]

I think I've clicked in my artistry.

[Theo]

Let's go, Ella.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah. Yeah, I think I really had.

[Theo]

That's a pretty badass thing to say.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah. I think, especially if you're somebody.

[Theo]

You mentioned earlier that you're such a. Like a judge of yourself, you know, that you get off stage and you're like, ah, that. You know. Yeah, that was fine. But that. But there's. It wasn't as exact as I could possibly have been, you know?

[Ella Langley]

Yeah, I just. Man, this is as exact as I wanted it to be. I just.

[Theo]

Oh, yeah.

[Ella Langley]

We had such a vision for it. Like, I had 100 and something song reference playlist of what I wanted sonically for this record. And now.

[Theo]

What do you mean? What does that mean?

[Ella Langley]

I literally just went on Spotify and made a playlist of, like all of these songs of the era. I was listening for, like guitar tones and drum sounds and BGV background vocal parts.

[Theo]

And so you start with that idea before anything.

[Ella Langley]

Well, actually it started with the title, Dandelion. We had written that song. It's the oldest song on the record. It was almost gonna be put on the last record, but I pulled it at the last minute because I just kind of felt like, sonically, it's where I wanted to go. And I knew. It's like the context was like, feels like I'm growing and I'm not just so hungover and doing debauchery every day of my life, you know? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Maybe just on Tuesdays, you know, but. Yeah. So I found out that dandelion tea is a detox for your liver.

[Theo]

Oh, yeah.

[Ella Langley]

And when I heard that, it was like a light bulb went off over my head. It's like, oh, my God. A record called Dandelion coming after a record called Hungover. It's like you're just growing up. You're. You know, dandelions are resilient. They're kind of considered a weed. But, I mean, what are kids going and picking out for their moms and bringing them, you know, It's a bunch of dandelions, and they're actually spread on the wind, which is cool. If it weren't for the wind when. Yeah, so that's a little random, little nugget in there. But, I mean, so much of that stuff is in this record, and.

[Theo]

God, I love it.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah.

[Theo]

I mean, sometimes I play it when I'm in my room or whatever.

[Ella Langley]

You feel that, you feel like a

[Theo]

dandelion, I will play it. I'm not saying all that, but I will say I will play it sometimes.

[Ella Langley]

You never have felt like a dandelion.

[Theo]

I don't think so. I don't know. I mean, I could have to read through my diary, but I don't think so. Probably not. But that's okay.

[Ella Langley]

That's okay.

[Theo]

But I just. Yeah, I mean, I.

[Ella Langley]

Look, you're more of a rose.

[Theo]

Okay. I'm more of a damn. What's the plant that grows on your house even if you don't want it to? Yeah, I'm more of a kudzu.

[Ella Langley]

You are more of a kudzu.

[Theo]

Because they can't get rid of me. They're like, this bastard. I thought we put him out years ago. And it's like, I'm still.

[Ella Langley]

You were growing under the porch, the whole top.

[Theo]

Come out and I'll tap on your window.

[Ella Langley]

I'm only playing late at night.

[Theo]

Yeah. I'm like a damn fungus. Thank you.

[Ella Langley]

Sorry.

[Theo]

Thank you, sir. I like to. I like Divine. But we'll go fungus. We'll go fungus. No, but.

[Ella Langley]

No.

[Theo]

I love listening to your music. It's great. I mean, I'll be standing. I'll be standing. And who am I to judge? It's great. Dude. One time I said to Morgan, I was like, man, that song Is good. And he looked at me and he goes, that song's great. And I was like, he's right. And he was right.

[Ella Langley]

You just kind of sat there in silence for a minute.

[Theo]

I was just trying to, I think, be cool a little bit, you know? And he's like, no. And he was right.

[Ella Langley]

Got kind of sweaty right when he said that.

[Theo]

Yeah. I think we were actually working out somewhere, so it was like, you know, extra. It was just like. I don't know what was going on, but I remember him saying, that song's great. I was like, I respect his confidence about it, but no, Yeah. I love listening to your music. It's great. But quit saying that, dude. You sound like a weirdo. I like listening to your music.

[Ella Langley]

There's that smile again.

[Theo]

But here's what happens is I'll be talking to dudes and I'll be walking up and singing. Or I'm at the dang market and some guys walking by singing it, you know?

[Ella Langley]

Singing it.

[Theo]

Yeah.

[Ella Langley]

Dandelion.

[Theo]

All of it.

[Ella Langley]

Be her.

[Theo]

Yeah. Just. Yeah. Oh, dude. Yeah. My friend Alan the other day, he said, I can't get this out of my head. And I was like, well, dang, go look at some porno or something, you know, or go get a dang. One of them nudie mags or something, bucko. You know that usually.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah.

[Theo]

But anyway, I was just saying because that was. That song is more of like a women focused song.

[Ella Langley]

That's all. I wrote it with three guys.

[Theo]

Did you?

[Ella Langley]

Yeah. Hardy's one.

[Theo]

Did he. He does have long hair.

[Ella Langley]

He does.

[Theo]

And he has nice hair, too. Well, tell me, like. So when it comes down to making the final songs, like. Or did you want to play one?

[Ella Langley]

You want to pick one out to play?

[Theo]

Yeah, play a song. Really? Yeah, yeah, of course.

[Ella Langley]

I'll give you all the titles.

[Theo]

All right.

[Ella Langley]

And then you can just pick.

[Theo]

Let me see about one.

[Ella Langley]

Just pick one that's not out yet.

[Theo]

All right.

[Ella Langley]

If you. Well, how would you know? How would you know?

[Theo]

I think I will know.

[Ella Langley]

Okay. Where was that sent to me at? Thank you. Okay.

[Theo]

All right, let me see that. Just put my number in here. Sorry, I'm just watching this. Sorry. Just got taken over by the devil. The dang devil is swiping around in there. He's always looking.

[Ella Langley]

It's like you hand it to your dad and he just keeps swiping, you know?

[Theo]

And you're like, bro, if some. If you give somebody your phone and they swipe one picture, is there anything scarier? You have no Idea what that could be.

[Ella Langley]

You just swallow it's so hard immediately.

[Theo]

It could be casserole. It could be a damn somebody getting a tummy tuck.

[Ella Langley]

Is this something you meant to take to show your doctor lady?

[Theo]

Oh, you're like, that's for my doctor. You're like. You want. You're gonna show that young lady to your doctor? Yeah. Like, I don't know.

[Ella Langley]

Me and my doctor.

[Theo]

I need to go to a meeting. What about Last Call for us?

[Ella Langley]

Yeah, you could play that one.

[Theo]

Is it a fun one?

[Ella Langley]

It's not as much fun, but it isn't. If you want fun. Not that one.

[Theo]

Oh, that's true. Huh?

[Ella Langley]

But it's. I mean, I like this song.

[Theo]

Oh, my God. I'll just listen and enjoy it.

[Ella Langley]

Thank you.

[Musician/Performer (possibly a band member or hype man)]

But it's almost three and I think we both know that it's last call for us. It's a sad, sad to. But after these drinks your wet gold of me and I'll let go of

[Theo]

you Here we go.

[Musician/Performer (possibly a band member or hype man)]

We ain't ever gonna make this work let's close it out and go our separate ways soon as we go walking out that door we ain't ever gonna Ain't ever gonna be the same

[Ella Langley]

it's

[Musician/Performer (possibly a band member or hype man)]

last call for us.

[Theo]

There we go. Boy. Get a picture of Chuck tapping in.

[Ella Langley]

He's my ultimate hype man.

[Theo]

I can edit that in right there.

[Musician/Performer (possibly a band member or hype man)]

This time alone we won't come back here.

[Ella Langley]

Yes.

[Musician/Performer (possibly a band member or hype man)]

Last call for us.

[Theo]

You can fade it out some.

[Ella Langley]

I think we could play one more.

[Theo]

We can.

[Ella Langley]

And then we can just pick which one.

[Theo]

Let's do that. That's good. Because that might be sad. Because what if somebody just put their animal down or something?

[Ella Langley]

Then that's a song they want to cry to.

[Theo]

Actually, that's a good point.

[Ella Langley]

Why we put it out there.

[Theo]

Yeah. And thank you for that.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah.

[Theo]

And I'll say this. I went and saw Dermot Kennedy one time. Have you ever heard of him? Dude. And I didn't know people cried together in a big group at the Ryman. Right. And so there was a woman crying on my back because she'd lost a pet.

[Ella Langley]

You just let her?

[Theo]

I couldn't do. What am I gonna do?

[Ella Langley]

Let. Just let her.

[Theo]

She said, just push my legs back if they get up against you. And I was like, all right. But it was special.

[Ella Langley]

That's a crazy rhyming show.

[Theo]

It was all right. And I saw you at the rhyming. Remember? You asked me to sing that part and I got scared.

[Ella Langley]

Why did you get so scared?

[Theo]

Because I Couldn't remember it all.

[Ella Langley]

There were words. There's a teleprompter out there with the words on it.

[Theo]

I didn't know that. Nobody told me that.

[Ella Langley]

I did. Yes, I did.

[Theo]

I would have never. A teleprompter. I know about that. I know about words moving at slow speed in front of me.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah, there was one with the words on it and everything.

[Theo]

I didn't know any of that.

[Ella Langley]

They were like. Everyone was like. He was upset, and I was like, well, why?

[Theo]

I think I was bummed because I wanted to. I. Because I like this. I like the music. And so wanted to be helpful, and everybody else was helping out. And then I think I just got too nervous. I didn't want to mess it up.

[Ella Langley]

You would not. You could have come out there and said anything, and it would have been good.

[Theo]

I don't want to.

[Ella Langley]

That's the fun part about that song. I mess up the words all the time.

[Theo]

Yeah, all the time. You do seem pretty much like you just kind of. You're willing to just roll with it no matter what.

[Ella Langley]

Hey, this is a special show for y'. All. I never done it like this before. I can't help it. I'm human. I think, you know, in a world of you don't know what's real or not. Like, I just think going out there and not being afraid to be humble a little bit in that way, I don't want to mess up the words. Like, when I did what I want with Morgan, I mess up the words almost every single time. I've never been so nervous to go out and do something really. I just feel like I could throw up before I walked out there. Every time, I was like, I just cannot. I could not remember those words. Like, here's me. Like, there ain't no hard feelings if you only want to act like lovers do for days.

[Theo]

Like lovers do.

[Ella Langley]

And I couldn't stop. I literally just.

[Theo]

You really.

[Ella Langley]

I just couldn't. I don't know. And I would have it, but then. All right, just pov. You go through this tunnel. You know what I mean? And you're playing in stadium. It's the most people you've ever been in front of. You're walking out with Morgan Wall, and the. Everything gets dark, and there's smoke everywhere, and you got to walk out, and I'm in pointy heels, and there's grates out there, so you got to make sure you're not falling down in those. You get up, and then here you go. You get one shot at It. There's no practice too. You know, you get, like, one rehearsal, you go out there, and it's like, okay. But doing it in front of 80,000 people is different than at 2pm in the middle of the day. But what was awesome is the last time we did it is he came out and messed up the words. And I. When he did that, I started to laugh so hard because he was giving me so much shit about messing up the words. He was just like, you can't come out here and mess this up again. I was like, I might. I really am scared that I might. And so the last night he did, and it was like, he just immediately could never say another thing to me about most of the words, you know? I love that. So that was nice of him. If he did that on purpose, he's like, that's what he says now. He's like, that's why I did it. And make you feel better about all the time. Yeah.

[Theo]

And he may have. Who knows?

[Ella Langley]

Nah. Because when he looked back at me, it was pure, like, frustration that he, like, could no longer talk shit about me messing up the words.

[Theo]

But it was even.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah, that's hilarious. I was.

[Theo]

Yeah.

[Ella Langley]

Thank you.

[Theo]

Y' all do a great job on that one. Yeah, let's play one more then. Let's play something mellow that. Well, let me think about one more. Let me try and pick one more.

[Ella Langley]

Okay. Can I just say yes or no if I think it's a good one?

[Theo]

Yeah, well, we'll take that part out.

[Ella Langley]

Okay. Why?

[Theo]

Because if people. If you say no, it's not a good one. That might.

[Ella Langley]

They are, but maybe not for this setting.

[Theo]

Yes, for this setting. That's what I'm thinking about. Bottom of your boots.

[Ella Langley]

Yes.

[Theo]

Bang Broke. That was my freaking one that I wanted that.

[Ella Langley]

My dad gave me that title, actually. Yeah, I was, like, having a freak out one night. It's actually kind of a sweet story. But he.

[Theo]

I was like, me. Tell me about it then.

[Ella Langley]

Well, I mean, he was just giving me one of his, like, you, baby, you know, you're fine. You know I love you from the bottom of my boots at the top of my head. Oh, dad, that's a great title.

[Theo]

Anyways, that's as much of a dad as there is.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah.

[Theo]

You know, pep talks. That's bottom to top.

[Ella Langley]

Yep. Bottom of your boots.

[Theo]

Yeah.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah.

[Theo]

Heck, yeah.

[Musician/Performer (possibly a band member or hype man)]

That's. That's all right. But I'm looking for more. If you're going to love me, lay it on the table. Tell me how you really feel. Give it a label. If you're going to hold me don't just hold me all night Better hold

[Ella Langley]

me like you yeah they got them shoulders

[Musician/Performer (possibly a band member or hype man)]

Me to the moon and back

[Theo]

from the bottom of your to the top of your.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah.

[Theo]

Oh, man.

[Musician/Performer (possibly a band member or hype man)]

Blame it on you not on suburban the things that you saying behind closed curtains Go on and leave me for it really hurts if you don't mean it with those three words.

[Ella Langley]

Getting closer to a love song.

[Theo]

And back from the bottom of your bo to the top of your head Love me. I love that. Langley. That's good.

[Ella Langley]

That's good. That's good in there.

[Theo]

That's good.

[Ella Langley]

Enough slices, dude.

[Theo]

Your brother is a great dancer. That's beautiful song, dude.

[Ella Langley]

But he is dancing, though. I don't know.

[Theo]

Pretty good, buddy. Heck yeah.

[Ella Langley]

I told you. He's my. He's my hype man.

[Theo]

Yeah. No, I would get him out there and have him do it. Do you ever do that?

[Ella Langley]

No, but maybe we should.

[Theo]

Thank you.

[Ella Langley]

He's been streaming, has he?

[Theo]

Yeah, he's a streamer.

[Ella Langley]

Yep.

[Theo]

No, I haven't. Streaming mustache, too. Mustache stew. Okay. Yeah, I like that, man. There's not a lot of Southern streamers. Really? I don't feel like.

[Ella Langley]

I know.

[Theo]

I feel like. I don't know. I'm getting a lot of exposure, dude. It's been awesome. Mustache, dude. You know, I got the brand, I got the stew. So type. I like it, dude. And is that a real hat from your sister's album? It is. Oh, yeah. I gotta get that.

[Ella Langley]

We brought you some.

[Theo]

Yeah. Unreleased. Are they? Did you really bring one? Let's go. I can't even wait to freaking put it on whenever I get home. That's a great song. Thanks for letting us play it. And I think. And what a great story to go with it, that it came from your dad saying that to you.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah.

[Theo]

That's awesome. That's a nice reminder.

[Ella Langley]

Should we do one more?

[Theo]

I mean, I'll. I will definitely be here for that. He picked out a good one.

[Ella Langley]

I think we should do Broken.

[Theo]

I'll do it.

[Ella Langley]

All right. This first course and is it about.

[Theo]

Well, never mind. I'll just be quiet.

[Ella Langley]

You're figuring this town out one day at a time, ain't you?

[Musician/Performer (possibly a band member or hype man)]

Don't ask if I'm doing all right can we skip all the talking, baby? And don't ask to try to find the right thing to say Cuz the words ain't working on me lately Tears just fall on a hardwood floor Going to wonder why Going to wonder what for don't ask if I'm doing all right can we skip all the talking? Baby, just let me just let me Just let me be broke Just let me just let me Just let me be broken. One night Baby, just one night Let me feel everything that I'm feeling and if it's all right out I'mma let it all out tonight so just let me just let me just let me be broken Just let me just let me just let me be broken

[Ella Langley]

Just

[Musician/Performer (possibly a band member or hype man)]

keep holding me tight While I'm falling apart Baby, just for tonight

[Ella Langley]

can't you hear this live with the crowd, you know?

[Theo]

Oh, yeah. With their lighters. People holding up pictures of people they've lost. Look at him. There we go.

[Ella Langley]

Literally.

[Theo]

Let me get one shot of you with that lighter, dude. That's pretty close. Awesome. Let me be broken

[Ella Langley]

yeah. A lot of singing choruses on this record. Like, I thought a lot about, like, wanting people to sing along to.

[Theo]

You did songs?

[Ella Langley]

Yeah.

[Theo]

You thought about that a lot?

[Ella Langley]

You know, I mean, I don't know. I just.

[Theo]

No, it's. It's.

[Ella Langley]

Sometimes there's so many words in songs that I'm just like, I cannot remember, but I can remember the melody, you know, So a lot with these songs, I wanted them to be kind of easy to remember. Big singing courses, like, you know, you hear that chorus once, and you're already knew how to sing it.

[Theo]

Yeah. Yeah. Because you want to feel a part of it. I mean, I think as a. As a listener, you want to feel a part of it as quick as you can. Sometimes, especially if you're a fan of somebody, you're like, you know, if it fits you. Some of them. You know, certain songs fit certain people better than others.

[Ella Langley]

Well, maybe you haven't heard all the songs and you just know like, one or two. And then you come to the show. But you can still catch on to songs throughout the show. Because.

[Theo]

Because I hate just standing there.

[Ella Langley]

I hate just standing there. I have too much ADHD to just stand there.

[Theo]

God. And you have to keep getting snacks because you don't know the song. You're like, well, I'll get another snack or whatever.

[Ella Langley]

Another pretzel.

[Theo]

I guess I'll get another pretzel.

[Ella Langley]

Maybe make it cinnamon this time.

[Theo]

Yeah, maybe I'll change things up or something and get a damn diet Gatorade or whatever. Which they never came out with, which I have written them about. I have this. I had this, like. Choosing Texas is probably. It's the biggest song everywhere. Apparently. They have, like, somebody called a they caught it. They found an alien or something.

[Ella Langley]

Something.

[Theo]

He was singing it. I think like there was like a family of aliens they saw somewhere that were. They saw them singing it. Like it's number one and everything. It's like, you know, it's like the biggest song that's ever happened. Some guy, you see that guy in a coma who he kind of wakes up and mumbles one of the lyrics and then goes back into a coma. Yeah, he's like. And just zoom.

[Ella Langley]

Getting in right back, right off. No, I haven't seen that one.

[Theo]

There's so many memes to it though. Have you seen a lot of those? Yeah, let's. Can we bring some up? What do you think about all these?

[Ella Langley]

I think that it's. It's whatever people want to do with the song. You know, once I put it out there, it's like, who knows what could happen? And I'd like. I said this is what's going to keep songs alive. You know, it's. It does sound too. It does sound real close to that.

[Theo]

Drinking Jack off by myself.

[Ella Langley]

Yep. Yeah, I think it does. It does. And that like I'll get songs stuck in my head and parts to it and I just have that right there stuck in my head like on repeat over and over again now.

[Theo]

Just drinking jack up on myself.

[Ella Langley]

It's like Jack and jack on.

[Theo]

And have you ever accidentally sung it like that on stage or.

[Ella Langley]

No, I feared that a lot. I really do. Because I have the thing about me where it's like I have one specific thing I should not say and then I'm accidentally gonna probably say it like I don't know why.

[Theo]

God. Yeah.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah.

[Theo]

Damn. Satan's tickling you from the inside. Here's one right here. Yeah, it's juice. There's Jews in Texas.

[Ella Langley]

I see a new one all the time.

[Theo]

Drinking jack up on myself. There's Jews in Texas. I can tell. And it's just a seeming. A mixed guy at least possibly a black man fishing in a suburban man made pond.

[Ella Langley]

There's no way that there are fish in that pond right now.

[Theo]

You don't think?

[Ella Langley]

No way.

[Theo]

I don't know. I bet there's some damn missing women in that. Pull up. One more.

[Ella Langley]

This. My dad loves that one. It's.

[Theo]

It says some people can't see it because they're listening. Well, I'm e spending down. I can't help but cry because I farted. It says on the screen. So that's what they're saying. She said that's hilarious. Yeah. The only ones I've seen is the Jews in Texas and then drinking Jack off by myself.

[Ella Langley]

It does. It's like that. You can be my green bean. You remember that thing?

[Theo]

You can.

[Ella Langley]

You can be my queen. Be Lord. Remember that song? Oh, and everyone. Yeah, I used to do that.

[Theo]

Life's a bank to pass. Am I gonna. You don't want them something with us. You say it.

[Ella Langley]

You could be my cream.

[Theo]

Oh, yeah. You could be my queen bee.

[Ella Langley]

But everyone's always a green bean.

[Theo]

Oh, you could be my green bean. Okay, I gotta stop, dude. Some real man shows up and chokes me out. Can we. Okay, moving on. Ella Langley. And then your own tour. You have your own tour is kicking off after. Or it's in between. The one with direct support from Morgan.

[Ella Langley]

Kind of back and forth some. We start in May. May what? May 7th. Where? Where we start? Yep. Toledo, Ohio.

[Theo]

That's when Vietnam was. Was that where Vietnam was or. No, I know it wasn't. Sorry. I know Vietnam was on a. To Leo. I think Vietnam started May 7th.

[Ella Langley]

Oh, that's the day I should not.

[Theo]

It doesn't matter either way at this point. Let's pretend that's not part of this. Well, you got double Marlowe's on it. You got Dylan Marlowe and Cameron Marlowe.

[Ella Langley]

Not related.

[Theo]

Two totally different singers. Both great.

[Ella Langley]

Kaitlyn Butts on there.

[Theo]

Trying to think if I've heard her before. Can you bring up Kaitlyn Butts?

[Ella Langley]

You ain't gotta die to be dead to me, man. She is. She has an incredible cover of

[Theo]

I

[Ella Langley]

Went down to Tulsa.

[Theo]

Oh, yeah, yeah.

[Ella Langley]

She's incredible. Her voice is incredible. She's so fun. Her songs are fun.

[Musician/Performer (possibly a band member or hype man)]

The same.

[Ella Langley]

You know, you're doing better on your own. She's also really funny.

[Theo]

She's funny.

[Ella Langley]

Yes.

[Theo]

That's the best. That's good.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah.

[Theo]

Yeah.

[Ella Langley]

One thing about being on Funny Girls,

[Theo]

being on tour, there's nothing better than Funny Girl. A lot of funny girls, I notice, and this is something I noticed, is that a lot of them are from Philadelphia area. Yeah.

[Ella Langley]

But made you notice that?

[Theo]

I just noticed it. It and I believed it.

[Ella Langley]

Well, that's all you gotta do.

[Theo]

When I noticed it, I believed it.

[Ella Langley]

And then. Then that's what it is.

[Theo]

Yeah. Sometimes you meet some funny girls from outside or from Philadelphia area. But anyway, also Caitlin Butts and I look forward to getting to meet her sometime.

[Ella Langley]

She's really good. And then Gabriella Rose is first of three for almost the whole thing. She's incredible.

[Theo]

Diplo was telling me something about her.

[Ella Langley]

Oh, she's so good. I believe in her a lot. She's young, and she's still, like, you know, finding herself in her artistry and, you know, doing the whole damn thing. But she's so good. Yeah, yeah, yeah. The way she writes, it's like you can tell she means what she says. And then Lacey K. Booth is another one, so.

[Theo]

My God, they are just some good women out there.

[Ella Langley]

Yep.

[Theo]

We are glad they're doing it well.

[Ella Langley]

Yep.

[Theo]

We are glad.

[Ella Langley]

We are glad.

[Theo]

Sorry, I don't know. Is this the weirdest interview? Is it? Okay, guys, those guys are perverts, both of them. Ella, thanks so much for hanging out with us.

[Ella Langley]

Thank you for having me.

[Theo]

I appreciate it. Congratulations on all of your success, on everything that's going on and just learning to, like, figure it out, because I think that's. That's one thing that everybody's trying to do. I think sometimes people think that, like, people like it are in some sort of limelight or going through some sort of, like, popularity or exposure or fame, that they.

[Ella Langley]

There's, like, a conductor behind stage that's like, telling you what to do every second in the day.

[Theo]

Yeah.

[Ella Langley]

No.

[Theo]

Yeah.

[Ella Langley]

Sadly, that ours is in there. Can you imagine what our conductors look like, too, in there? It's a mess.

[Theo]

If they pulled out whoever lives in my head from behind a building. From behind a building, and they're like, look what we found back there. I would, like, fucking hang him from the nearest rope, bro.

[Ella Langley]

Did you ever watch the Inside out

[Theo]

movie and he wouldn't have pants on? I bet probably you're like, wait, you're telling me the guy in my head

[Ella Langley]

has never had pants on?

[Theo]

He's never had pants. Like, the officer's like, he doesn't own pants.

[Ella Langley]

We're like, what, we can't afford pants?

[Theo]

Yeah. Oh, God. Have I ever watched the Inside out movie?

[Ella Langley]

Yeah. It was like, the characters that live in your brain, the cartoons. You would love this movie. I actually think that you would. It's incredible.

[Theo]

I never seen this.

[Ella Langley]

You should. You should see it with your eyes. It's very good.

[Theo]

Okay.

[Ella Langley]

It's like. About all these characters, like, they all are, like. It's like, sad, mad. There's, like, one main girl and then there's like a. I don't know what the other one is. Joy.

[Theo]

Yeah, there's some anger, disgust.

[Musician/Performer (possibly a band member or hype man)]

Oh, I see it.

[Ella Langley]

I see all of them. They're all labeled up there.

[Theo]

Oh, wow.

[Ella Langley]

Anyways, it's also made me think about that.

[Theo]

I appreciate that.

[Ella Langley]

Welcome. Just something for later. On the plane. Whenever you're on a plane.

[Theo]

Yeah. After I get done listening to Dandelion, then, yeah, I'll. I'll put on inside out. I'm sure the people sitting next to you like, this. This guy's going through.

[Ella Langley]

No, no. If someone came up on you watching that, they'd be like, yeah, for sure.

[Theo]

Probably. It's kind of crazy that that's where we're at now. If an adult came up on another adult watching a cartoon, they'd be like, yeah, man. You do everything. Everything's fine.

[Ella Langley]

It must be having a hard day.

[Theo]

It's a crazy world. So you're going to be on tour for a bit, then you won't get to go back home for a while, or do you have a set date? Where you going to go back home? Will you be home for Easter? Will you be home for.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah, I'm going to go home for Easter.

[Theo]

And then will you go back to the church that you grew up in?

[Ella Langley]

No, no, just. I kind of. We. Well, we moved to a different place. My parents just sold that house, actually. They closed out like a week or two ago.

[Theo]

Oh, nice.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah. But, yeah, I just. I bought a house back there on a lake and don't want to say where because people already come up on their boats and stuff playing my music. It's kind of funny.

[Theo]

People are pervert. People are sea. Seafaring.

[Ella Langley]

But it's not such a small town, you know what I mean? They're like. Yeah, they're cool. There's like, the closest. It's like a Piggly Wiggly and a DG there, you know?

[Theo]

Oh, yeah. I mean, people used to pull up our apartments and steal all the ditch onions that were out there.

[Ella Langley]

I never. What?

[Theo]

You haven't.

[Ella Langley]

I have never.

[Theo]

They got ditch onions out there. And congratulations on choosing Texas as a number one. It's a number one for.

[Ella Langley]

This is so many. I don't even. It's too many slices, too many things. It's actually crazy.

[Theo]

It's a number one for everything. I think it just came out on the moon. It's the first number one on the moon, I think.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah. I don't really know. That would be nuts.

[Musician/Performer (possibly a band member or hype man)]

No.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah. I don't know. It's just so weird to. To. To. To believe that that's like a song. That's my song.

[Theo]

Yeah.

[Ella Langley]

What?

[Theo]

I know it's hard to feel attached to things that you do sometimes.

[Ella Langley]

Yeah.

[Theo]

I think.

[Ella Langley]

Yep.

[Theo]

I think that that makes good sense. Why? Maybe that's one of the things that makes you you. But whatever the things are that make you you, they're enjoyable to witness. So thank you for. For spending time with us. Thank you for your music. There's so many people I know that love it, and then it brings joy to their life. And I'm glad I got to meet Mustache Stew. And, yeah, when I need some photos and my conditioner sets, I'm going to call you and Dan get something swell going on.

[Ella Langley]

Something swell?

[Theo]

Yeah, something swell. Ella, Langley, thank you.

[Ella Langley]

Thank you for having me on here.

[Theo]

Yes, ma'. Am.

[Ella Langley]

Now I'm just breeze? And I feel I'm falling like these leaves? I must be cornerstone?

[Theo]

Oh, but when I reach that ground? I'll share this peace of mind I found? I can feel it in my bones?

[Ella Langley]

But it's gonna take.