Meanwhile, she simultaenously tops the Billboard Hot 100 for a seventh week with her crossover smash “Choosin’ Texas,” while also hitting the top five with her follow-up hit “Be Her” (8-4 this week), and notching 15 songs total from Dandelion on the chart. How do these returns compare to our expectations? And does this performance confirm her as a newly minted pop star?

Billboard staffers answer these questions and more below. 1. Dandelion debuts atop the Billboard 200 with 169,000 first-week units. Are those numbers better, worse or about what you expected for its first-week returns?

Kyle Denis: This is right on par, if not better than what I was expecting for Dandelion’s first week. With her sophomore album debuting comfortably in the six-figure range, Ella’s has proven she can move albums as well as singles. Lyndsey Havens: A bit better and a bit expected at the same time.

Having been well aware that this album would be a huge win for Ella, given the performance of early singles and continued Hot 100 dominance of “Choosin’ Texas,” this first-week number feels right on target. Yet, I’m also still a bit surprised by it; despite Ella’s years of hard work and patience for this moment, it does feel like a bit of a whirlwind right now. And I imagine for those who haven’t been paying attention, this feels like a total shock.

Melinda Newman: They are about what I thought they would, be given her growing crossover popularity. It’s the largest opening week for a woman this year and the largest opening week for a country artist, topping first week numbers this year from Megan Moroney, Zach Bryan and Luke Combs. She is really drawing from pop fans, probably almost as much as country fans at this point.

Andrew Unterberger: Pretty much exactly what I expected — a little lower or a little higher wouldn’t have shocked me either. She’s rapidly approaching the point where it’s tough to really be that surprised by any commercial achievement of hers. Jessica Nicholson: That is about what I expected.

Those are huge numbers and recognize how her song “Choosin’ Texas” has dominated the Hot 100 for seven weeks, in addition to seeing more songs from her album Dandelion proliferate the chart. 2. “Choosin’ Texas” simultaneously enjoys its seventh week atop the Hot 100, while “Be Her” becomes her second top five hit by jumping No. 8-4. Do you think the latter will eventually follow “Texas” to the chart’s top spot?

Kyle Denis: It’s certainly possible! I wouldn’t be surprised if Ella simultaneously held the top two spots on the Hot 100 in the coming weeks. As summer draws nearer and rumored new albums from the likes of Drake and Ariana Grande potentially materialize, “Be Her” could have a difficult journey to No. 1 — but it’s not out of the question.

Lyndsey Havens: I genuinely hope so. I love “Be Her,” from its sultry start to the catchy (and yes, TikTok-primed) hand claps. And look, the concept isn’t new — there’s a whole library of songs about a woman feeling envious of another, including Kelsea Ballerini’s latest “Emerald City” But here, Ella take’s it to the point of wanting to be her.

It’s a song that fits perfectly on Dandelion and suits Ella’s voice and own storyline right now, and I do think it could climb to No. 1 with the right push. Melinda Newman: Yes. I think there’s something about Langley that is undeniable right now.

People are very curious about her and she hasn’t been overexposed. This is a sweet time for her where she can do no wrong. I don’t think it will be No. 1 for as long as “Choosin’ Texas” though.

It doesn’t have the same appeal — but how incredible would it be if it replaces “Choosin’ Texas” at No. 1? Jessica Nicholson: That is a large jump, but Olivia Dean is also holding strong and seems destined to take the pinnacle at some point, while Ella has the powerful Morgan Wallen collab coming this week. Andrew Unterberger: I’d say probably not — but only because it’s about to get really crowded at the top of the Hot 100, including with another song of her own devising.

Getting to the top five is a huge, huge win for “Be Her” and Langley in general regardless. 3. While Langley is enjoying her wins for Dandelion and its hits, she’s already moving onto a new single, with an upcoming duet with Morgan Wallen — unveiled live over the weekend — expected to be released this Friday. Does the timing of that now-much-anticipated collaboration make sense to you, or would you have waited more than two weeks after the full album to drop such a near-guaranteed smash?

Kyle Denis: Sure, she could have waited — but why not strike while the iron is hot? The country can’t get enough of Ella right now. S