Ella Langley Headlines Stars for Second Harvest at the Ryman, June 2, 2026

Ella Langley has been named the headline act for Stars for Second Harvest, the annual benefit concert taking place June 2, 2026, at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. The announcement lands just days before the April 10 release of her sophomore album Dandelion and just weeks before she launches The Dandelion Tour across arenas nationwide.

The booking says as much about where Langley stands in country music right now as any chart position could.

A Historic Stage for a Historic Moment

Stars for Second Harvest is more than 30 years old, beginning as a small gathering at the Historic Belle Meade Mansion before finding its home at the iconic Ryman Auditorium. Over that span, the event has raised over 7 million meals, with past headliners including Vince Gill, Tim McGraw, Alison Krauss, Keith Urban, Blake Shelton, and Dierks Bentley. Across the Southeast just a few years ago, a Ryman headline is not a small thing; it is an arrival.

Langley is the first performer revealed for the ERNEST & Friends lineup, with more acts expected to be announced at a later date. Musicrow confirmed guests already include Ashley Cooke, Dasha, Pink Sweat$, Durand Bernarr, Kaitlin Butts, and Walker Hayes. That is a remarkably eclectic roster for a night that typically leans on Nashville’s songwriter community, and it reflects just how broadly Langley’s reach extends at this moment in her career.

Why This Booking Makes Sense Right Now

Langley recently made history with “Choosin’ Texas,” her crossover hit that is currently sitting atop the Billboard Hot 100. The song co-written with Miranda Lambert became the first by a female artist to simultaneously lead the Hot 100, Hot Country Songs, and Country Airplay charts.

That is the context behind this booking. Stars for Second Harvest has always drawn its headliner from whoever is at the peak of country’s cultural conversation. In 2026, that is Ella Langley, without much debate.

Her Dandelion album, executive produced alongside Miranda Lambert and Ben West, drops April 10, giving Langley roughly seven weeks of album momentum before she takes the Ryman stage. The timing means Nashville will get one of the first major live looks at the new era in one of music’s most storied rooms. For everything currently known about the Dandelion album and its singles, the page covers her full discography and chart history.

ERNEST & the Show’s Legacy

ERNEST took over hosting duties for Stars for Second Harvest after the event had been stewarded for nearly two decades by Craig Wiseman, whose tenure raised over 7 million meals for the food bank. ERNEST has described the role as an honor and a continuation of a legacy built by a friend and mentor.

The show has historically been structured as a songwriter’s round, with performers sharing stripped-back songs and personal stories from the Ryman stage. That format is a natural fit for Langley, who has spoken extensively about the writing sessions behind Dandelion, including the retreat where she, Miranda Lambert, Luke Dick, and Joybeth Taylor wrote “Choosin’ Texas” in a single session.

An acoustic Ryman setting is where that kind of songwriting reveals itself most clearly. Fans who want a preview of what Langley’s live show looks like in a more intimate setting should also check out the setlist tracker, which tracks her song choices across different tour dates and formats.

Tickets & Show Details

Date: Monday, June 2, 2026 Venue: Ryman Auditorium, 116 5th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37219 Show time: 7:30 PM Tickets: Available at Ryman.com

In past years, the event has offered reserved seating, preferred seating, and a limited number of premium seats that include a show poster. All proceeds from ticket sales benefit Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee and their mission to nourish and empower people so they can thrive.

The Ryman seats just over 2,300 people. This is not an arena; it is one of the most intimate headline opportunities Langley will have in all of 2026, sandwiched between arena runs and festival dates. For fans planning to attend multiple Langley shows this summer, the Ella Langley and Kaitlin Butts page is worth a read. Butts is on the Stars for Second Harvest bill and also joins Langley on select Dandelion Tour dates.

What Comes Next

The Stars for Second Harvest date arrives in a stretch of Langley’s calendar that is nearly impossible to overstate. Dandelion releases April 10. The Dandelion Tour opens May 7 in Toledo. The Ryman benefit follows June 2. A run of Morgan Wallen’s Still the Problem Tour dates, Stagecoach, Rock the Country, and CMA Fest appearances fill out the rest of the year.

Country music’s biggest stages, the Hot 100, the Ryman, and arena headliner Langley are working through them all in the span of a single year. The Ella Langley chart history page documents exactly how “Choosin’ Texas” climbed to the top and what records it broke along the way.

FAQ

When is Ella Langley performing at Stars for Second Harvest? Ella Langley headlines Stars for Second Harvest on June 2, 2026, at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. The show begins at 7:30 PM.

Who else is performing at Stars for Second Harvest 2026? The show is hosted by ERNEST and features guests including Ashley Cooke, Dasha, Kaitlin Butts, Pink Sweat$, Durand Bernarr, and Walker Hayes, with more to be announced.

Where can I buy tickets for Stars for Second Harvest 2026? Tickets are on sale now at Ryman.com. The Ryman Auditorium box office is located at 116 5th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37219.

What charity does Stars for Second Harvest benefit? All proceeds go to Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee, which works to provide food and hunger solutions across the region.

How does this fit into Ella Langley’s 2026 schedule? The Ryman date falls between the Dandelion Tour’s May 7 opener in Toledo and her summer arena and festival run. It is one of the most intimate headline slots in her entire 2026 calendar.