Ella Langley Says Canceled Tulsa Concert Was 'Not Worth a Human Life' After Bomb Threat
Country star Ella Langley returned to the stage in Lubbock, Texas, one night after a bomb threat forced her to cancel a sold-out show at Tulsa's BOK Center, telling fans her faith gave her the courage to perform and that safety will always come first.
Country music star Ella Langley told a Texas crowd that a concert is «not worth a human life,» speaking publicly for the first time about her decision to cancel a sold-out show in Tulsa, Oklahoma, after a reported bomb threat.
Langley, 27, addressed the cancellation Saturday night at the United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, one day after calling off her Friday performance at Tulsa's BOK Center roughly two hours before showtime. According to Taste of Country, the singer became emotional as she explained to the audience why she chose not to perform even though police found no credible threat.
«I was put in charge of a decision for 15,000 people and I decided to make the decision that I could live with the rest of my life,» Langley said. «Because when it comes to keeping you safe and making sure that this show is a safe place for us to come and enjoy our music, then it will happen. But the second it feels like it's not, I'm not doing it. I'm not doing it because a concert's not worth a human life. It's not.»
The «Choosin' Texas» hitmaker added that she would have made the same call «ten billion times over,» and would do so again «tomorrow and the next day.» She said the safety of her fans outweighed her desire to perform, noting that while she is grateful for her career, «it's not the most important thing in this life.»
Langley told the crowd that what matters most is the people around you and waking up each day with gratitude, and she pointed to her relationship with Jesus Christ as the foundation of her life. She admitted she nearly canceled Saturday's Texas show as well because she was still shaken by the incident, but credited her faith with giving her the courage to return to the stage.
«If it wasn't for Him, I would have canceled this show tonight,» she said. «But I felt this calling and this tug in my chest saying, 'It's OK. We are safe. We can do this show.' And I decided to do it because of Him right there. And that's the only reason.»
She also made clear she does not intend to let fear dictate her future. «I'm not gonna live in fear,» Langley said. «We're going to put on music and get to do this for the rest of our lives. And I know that. I know because this is my calling. This is the thing that I was called to do, and I'm going to continue doing it. Nobody is going to take me out of it or scare me out.»
The singer thanked fans for attending the Lubbock show despite the previous night's events, telling them she and her band and crew needed the performance. «I know yesterday was scary, it was scary for all of us,» she said. «But we're just so grateful to be playing this show tonight. We're so grateful and we will never take this for granted.»
Langley announced the Tulsa cancellation on Instagram about two hours before the Friday show was scheduled to begin, citing «a serious security threat involving the safety of my fans, the venue staff, and my team.» She said the decision was made under the advisement of local authorities, the venue and her security team, and apologized to fans for the time, travel, money and planning that went into attending.
«I know how much time, travel, money, and planning goes into coming to a show, and I can't tell you how sorry I am,» her statement read. «This is not a decision that was made lightly. I was so looking forward to spending tonight with you, but your safety will always mean more to me than anything else. I refuse to put anyone in harm's way.»
The BOK Center issued its own statement Friday, saying the safety and well-being of everyone involved was its «absolute priority» and that after careful consideration the show could not proceed. The venue apologized to fans who had planned to attend and said the safety of fans «is our foremost concern and will always come first.»
Langley's remarks in Lubbock mark her most extensive public comments since the threat, and they arrive as she continues a breakout run that has made her one of country music's fastest-rising stars. Her message to fans combined gratitude, a defense of the cancellation and an affirmation of faith, closing with a promise that the music will continue.
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