Mansfield seventh-grader gets role in Ella Langley's hit video

By Amanda Rogers

Mansfield Record

When Ella Reese Milks started seventh-grade at Charlene McKinzey last week, it’s likely she was the only 12-year-old at the school – or in the state of Texas – to have a starring role in a video for the No. 1 song in the United States.

Milks plays the younger version of actress Ava Phillippe in country star Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” theatrical video, which debuted in April. The song spent 17 weeks on the all-genre Billboard Top 100 and the video became an instant classic with stars like Phillippe (daughter of superstar Reese Witherspoon), Luke Grimes (“American Sniper” and “Yellowstone”), country superstar Miranda Lambert, country singers Kaitlyn Butts, Casey Donahew, Wade Bowen, Mike Ryan, Tanner Usrey and Shea Fisher Durfey, and professional cowboys J.B. Mauney, Dale Brisby, Tyson Durfey and Leighton Berry.

The music video tells the story of a young woman (Langley) who comes to Texas with her cowboy boyfriend (Grimes) and runs into his ex (Phillippe). Milks portrays a younger version of Phillippe in a flashback to the boyfriend and his ex playing together as young children. The video was filmed at the legendary Stagecoach Ballroom in Fort Worth.

So Milks must have gotten to rub elbows with celebrities and dance on the Stagecoach’s historic dance floor, right? Um, no.

“They kept the kids separate,” said Terri Milks, Ella Reese’s mom.

Ella Reese did her scenes with 11-year-old Maximilan McCoy, who played the Young Luke Grimes. They filmed at a ranch near Brock that belongs to world champion calf roper Tyson Durfey and his wife, singer Shea Fisher Durfey, who the kids did get to meet.

And they also got to meet Ella Langley.

“Ella Langley was the co-director,” Ella Reese said.

So how did a Mansfield girl wind up in a video seen around the world?

“I have a profile on Legacy Casting,” Ella Reese explained. “They looked through my photos and Ella Langley chose me. They reached out to my mom.”

Ella Reese, who was then a sixth-grader at Alma Martinez Intermediate School, had been in school productions, but no major roles, she said.

“We didn’t know what we were getting into,” Terri Milks said. “The listing said they needed a 10-year-old blonde girl and a 10-year-old blonde boy for a music video.”

Terri Milks took her daughter out of school for a day in March and reported to the ranch in Brock.

“We had to wait around a long time,” Ella Reese said. “We had to wait for Ella to show up and tell them what she wanted. I changed into clothes they gave me. They were just like ‘Play tag, mess with his hat.’ They were telling us what to do, but not any real direction. I think we were done by 7 p.m. I’m in this thing for like 2 seconds.”

Ella Reese was paid for her appearance, but not enough to retire, go to college or even buy a ticket to the Ella Langley concert in Fort Worth. But she and her mom did get to go.

“It’s not about the money,” Terri Milks said.

She did get to take a photo with Ella Langley, even though most of her friends hadn’t even heard of the singer.

“I’m the only one that’s done something like this,” Ella Reese said.

The role did light a fire in Ella Reese, who said she is hoping for more acting jobs. She also enjoys singing, dancing and playing music on the piano, guitar, xylophone and double bass.

“My main thing I want to be right now is an actor,” she said.