Meet Jason and Heather Langley — the Parents Behind Ella’s Small-Town Strength and Big-City Ambition
To the world, Ella Langley’s climb in country music looks like it happened fast. Songs gaining momentum, her name appearing on festival posters, and industry buzz trailing behind her. But for Jason and Heather Langley, it’s simply the path they always believed their daughter would follow.
Born in 1999 and raised in the tiny community of Hope Hull, Alabama, Ella was the second of four siblings — bold, fiery, and always ready to steal the spotlight. Her family says they could see her star power long before Nashville ever could.
Even as a toddler, she marched onstage during church performances and insisted on holding the microphone. The confidence, the grit, the spark — it was all there from the beginning. By 2019, when Ella told her parents she wanted to chase music full time in Nashville, they didn’t hesitate. They already knew her heart had outgrown the Alabama bar stages where she’d been cutting her teeth.
Today, Jason and Heather remain two of her most dedicated supporters as Ella continues her rise in country music.
A Marriage That Set the Foundation
Jason and Heather Langley married on April 18, 1998 — a partnership that has now spanned over twenty-five years. Heather often shares throwback photos of their early days together, celebrating the life they’ve built and the values they instilled in their kids. Their steady marriage created the stable home that grounded Ella long before she became a touring artist.
Ella Grew Up with Three Siblings
The Langley family consists of:
Thomas (1991)
Ella (1999)
Stuart (2001)
Katie (2007)
The four grew up on a farm near Montgomery, where days were filled with chores, wide-open fields, and the kind of freedom only rural childhoods can offer. Being sandwiched between two brothers heavily influenced Ella’s personality. She calls herself a tomboy, someone who learned quickly how to keep up — or outrun — the boys.
This upbringing inspired her 2020 release “One of the Guys.”
Music Runs in the Family — Especially Through Her Grandparents
On her father’s side, music wasn’t just a hobby — it was part of the family identity. Ella’s grandfather could pick up almost any instrument and play it by ear, while her grandmother was a gifted singer. Family gatherings often ended with songs, laughs, and makeshift performances — early moments that shaped Ella’s love for music.
Her very first guitar belonged to her grandfather. After he passed away, Jason replaced the strings and handed it down to Ella. She began teaching herself to play immediately, and that guitar remains one of her most cherished possessions.
She honored both grandparents in her emotional track “Closest to Heaven,” inspired by one of her final conversations with her grandfather.
Her Parents Exposed Her to Every Sound Imaginable
The Langley household played every genre under the sun. Jason filled car rides with classic rock, old-school country, and even disco beats. Heather added folk, alternative rock, grunge, and ’80s new wave to the mix.
This eclectic soundtrack shaped the unique blend in Ella’s music today — rough-edged country storytelling fused with rock, folk, and Southern flair.
Her Parents Supported Her Decision to Leave College for Nashville
Ella attended Auburn University after high school, where she studied forestry and performed locally. But as the crowds grew and her confidence deepened, she knew music wasn’t just a part-time passion — it was her future.
In 2019, she called her parents with a big announcement: she was leaving college to pursue music full time.
Jason and Heather didn’t push back. Heather told her it would be a different kind of education — one she had to live to learn. They supported her move wholeheartedly.
They’ve attended her shows at the Grand Ole Opry and were there when the Country Music Hall of Fame showcased artifacts from Ella’s early performance days, including one of her bar-stage outfits and her original tip jar.
Two of Ella’s Tattoos Honor Her Parents
Ella has several tattoos with deeply personal meaning. Two of them are tributes to Jason and Heather:
A bumblebee, symbolizing her mother’s nickname for her — “Ella Bee.”
Coordinates of her childhood home, marking the place that shaped her and the parents who raised her.
Jason jokingly expressed concern about the bumblebee tattoo — wondering what people at church might think — but Ella loves the reminder of her roots.
A Father-Daughter Bond Built on Hunting Trips
One of Ella’s closest relationships is with her dad. They’re longtime hunting partners, sharing early mornings, quiet woods, and the playlist-filled drives that turned into core memories.
Ella often calls Jason her “best hunting buddy,” and the time they’ve spent together outdoors remains one of their strongest connections.
Ella Built Her First Home Close to Her Family
In 2025, Ella bought her first house — a lakefront property in Montgomery with a horse barn and plenty of open land. And she intentionally chose it close to her parents.
Returning to Alabama gives her a chance to rest, reset, and reconnect. She says it’s where she writes her best lyrics — surrounded by the people and places that built her.
The Langley Family: The Heart Behind Ella’s Rise
Ella Langley may be Nashville’s rising powerhouse, but her foundation is planted deep in Alabama soil.
Behind the spotlight, the streaming numbers, and the sold-out shows are:
parents who believed in her dreams,
siblings who shaped her toughness and humor,
grandparents who passed down the music in her blood,
and a family culture that taught her who she is.
Ella’s Southern upbringing isn’t just part of her story — it’s the engine behind her sound, her drive, and her authenticity.