Brantley Gilbert Praises Ella Langley After Watching Her Make His 7-Year-Old Daughter Feel ‘So Special’
“I met an incredible young woman who loves her fans, her music, and the people around her.”
Brantley Gilbert’s Daughter Meets Ella Langley; Photo Courtesy Brantley Gilbert
Brantley Gilbert has watched plenty of young fans get starstruck at meet-and-greets over the years, but seeing it happen to his own daughter was an entirely different experience.
Over the weekend, the Georgia native shared a heartwarming story about his 7-year-old daughter, Braylen Hendrix (Bray), meeting Ella Langley and how he felt after witnessing the special moment.
In a social media post, Gilbert admitted, “Okay I don’t do this often, but I’ve gotta tell y’all about last night.”
He explained that for her 7th birthday, Bray wanted to see Ella Langley live. So Gilbert reached out to Langley’s manager, who he “goes way back with,” in hopes of giving his daughter an experience she would never forget.
“I’d heard good things about Ella, and we’d briefly met at a Toby tribute, but I was there for Bray. I didn’t really know what to expect,” he wrote.
Gilbert admitted that he has rarely seen his daughter get nervous, but she was feeling all the feels in the moments leading up to meeting Langley.
“Every time that door opened, her eyes got wide and her world stopped. When Ella walked in, Bray was something she’d never been in her entire life… speechless, and welded to my wife,” he recalled.
“I’ve seen kids starstruck at meet and greets for years. It’s different when the little girl is yours. Watching Ella spend the next several minutes disarming her and making her feel so special is something I’ll never forget. There were other kids in the room and she made every one of them feel the same.”
Gilbert also had nothing but great things to say about the show, which featured special guest Kameron Marlowe, who opened the night and “killed it.”
“The production was next level. The band was awesome. Ella’s performance was lights out. But aside from the way she treated my daughter, watching my wife and Bray dance and sing along — and Bray calling it ‘the best night ever’ — it was that conversation that impressed me the most.”
After Bray had her moment with Langley, Gilbert said he had the chance to catch up with the country star one-on-one and left with a newfound appreciation for her as an artist.
“Before she left I got to talk to her for a few. Artist-to-artist stuff in this business can be hit or miss. Quick. Respectful but obligatory. That was my expectation. This was the opposite. I met an incredible young woman who loves her fans, her music, and the people around her. She’s paid old school dues, earned new school stripes, and gives credit where it’s due. She’s got a record-breaking song for a reason. This ain’t about ‘Choosin’ Texas.’ It’s about choosing to work, pray, sing, and play a dream into reality. And we’re here for it.”
Now, the platinum-selling star says he owes Langley and her team some “giant favors” after they helped make his daughter’s birthday one she won’t soon forget.
Langley later responded to his post, writing, “Thank you so much for the kind words 🥹 Loved getting to meet Bray! See y’all soon!”
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
You may also like
Country Next
Playlist
On Repeat
Get the latest country music news delivered straight to your inbox.
