Ella Langley Removes Herself From Kristi Noem’s Viral Social Media Post

RAPID CITY, S.D. — An update on the now-viral exchange that former South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem started with a country music star: Ella Langley appears to have untagged herself from Noem’s social media post, stepping back from a public disagreement that quickly pulled in another major name in country music, Kacey Musgraves.

According to reporting by KOTA, the dust-up began when Noem said she would take Langley over Musgraves “any day.” The comment was part of a broader social media exchange that started after Democratic U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico shared a photo with Musgraves. Noem went after Musgraves online, and Musgraves responded with a jab referencing Noem’s much-discussed revelation about killing her 14-month-old dog.

How the Exchange Between Noem and Langley Started

The chain of events appears to have begun when Talarico posted a picture alongside Musgraves. Noem, who served as governor of South Dakota before stepping into a national political role, criticized Musgraves on social media. In the course of that criticism, Noem singled out Langley, saying she preferred the rising country artist over Musgraves.

At first glance, the comment looked like a compliment to Langley. It quickly became entangled in a partisan and personal back-and-forth, drawing attention from fans of both musicians and observers of Noem’s social media activity.

Musgraves Responds With a Jab About Noem’s Dog

Musgraves did not let the criticism pass without reply. The Grammy-winning artist responded with a reference to Noem’s 14-month-old dog, alluding to the widely reported account in Noem’s memoir in which she wrote about shooting the dog, Cricket, after it exhibited aggressive behavior and killed chickens.

The controversy over Cricket, Noem’s 14-month-old dog, resurfaced as Musgraves used it to sharpen her response, turning a dispute over musical taste into a broader critique of the former governor’s public record.

The mention reignited discussion around Noem’s memoir, No Going Back, where the dog incident was disclosed. The passage drew widespread criticism when it was first reported and has continued to follow Noem in media appearances and political commentary.

Ella Langley Untags Herself and Declines to Comment

Langley, whose name was initially pulled into the dispute by Noem’s comparison, appears to have removed her tag from Noem’s post. By untagging herself, Langley effectively distanced her profile and her audience from the governor’s commentary.

So far, Langley and her representatives have not commented publicly on the decision to remove the tag. Noem’s office has also not issued a new statement addressing Langley’s move.

Why the Online Feud Matters

The exchange illustrates how quickly a social media comment by a high-profile political figure can spiral into a multi-party entertainment story. For Noem, the episode adds another layer to the public scrutiny surrounding her memoir and her transition from South Dakota’s governor to a national political figure. For Musgraves and Langley, it shows how artists can become unwilling participants in political narratives.

It also reflects a broader pattern in which country music intersects with political discourse, with artists sometimes responding directly to elected officials who mention them online.

Current Status as Reported

As of the latest KOTA report, Langley’s tag had been removed from Noem’s post, but neither Langley nor her team had offered an explanation. Musgraves’ response remains public, and the original exchange involving Talarico’s photo continues to circulate. No new developments involving the three parties have been confirmed beyond what was originally reported.

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News, Entertainment, Government, People, Society, Internet, Kristi Noem, Ella Langley, Kacey Musgraves, James Talarico, South Dakota, Rapid City, Country Music, Social Media, Political Controversy, KOTA