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About

Riley Green

American singer and songwriter (born 1988)

Riley Green

Johnathan Riley Green is an American country music singer and songwriter. He has been signed to Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment since 2018 and has released three albums: Different 'Round Here in 2019, Ain't My Last Rodeo in 2023, and Don't Mind If I Do in 2024. His debut and third albums have been certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America. In the span of his career, Green has had multiple top-20 hits on the Billboard Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts.

Riley Green
For the place, see Riley Green, Lancashire. Not to be confused with Riley Greene or Rylie Green.
Riley Green
A head shot of Riley Green.
Green in 2024
Background information
Born
Johnathan Riley Green

(1988-10-18) October 18, 1988 (age 37)
Jacksonville, Alabama, U.S.
GenresCountry
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
Years active2013–present
LabelNashville Harbor
Websiterileygreenmusic.com

Johnathan Riley Green (born October 18, 1988) is an American country music singer and songwriter. He has been signed to Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment (formerly BMLG) since 2018 and has released three albums: Different 'Round Here in 2019, Ain't My Last Rodeo in 2023, and Don't Mind If I Do in 2024. His debut and third albums have been certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America. In the span of his career, Green has had multiple top-20 hits on the Billboard Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts.

Early life

Johnathan Riley Green was born on October 18, 1988 in Jacksonville, Alabama. He learned music from his grandfather, Buford Green, who ran a music venue.[1] While at Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, he was a Division I FCS quarterback for the Gamecocks football team. He was also a contestant on the CMT reality show Redneck Island.

Career

2013–2018: Career beginnings

Green released a self-titled EP in 2013, followed by additional EPs in 2015, 2016, and 2017. In 2018, he signed to the Big Machine Label Group.[2][3] His debut single, "There Was This Girl", was released on August 6, 2018. Billy Dukes of Taste of Country reviewed "There Was This Girl" favorably, comparing its theme to "Chicks Dig It" by Chris Cagle and noting a more neotraditional country influence compared to Green's peers.[4] The song achieved commercial success and peaked across several country music charts, including number one on Country Airplay in April 2019.[5]

2019–2023: Different 'Round Here and Ain't My First Rodeo

Green in 2022

In April 2019, Green announced the release of his second single, "In Love by Now", co-written with Rhett Akins, Ben Hayslip, and Marv Green, and released an accompanying music video shot in Belize.[6][7] "I Wish Grandpas Never Died" was released in August 2019 as the third single from Green's debut album, Different 'Round Here, which was released on September 20, 2019.[8] The Academy of Country Music presented Green with the New Male Artist of the Year Award for 2019.[9] In 2022 and 2023, Green served as direct support on major stadium tours for Luke Combs and Morgan Wallen.[10] He collaborated on a song with Justin Moore for his 2023 album Stray Dog.[11] On October 13, 2023, Green released his second studio album, Ain't My Last Rodeo. The album featured a re-recorded version of "Different 'Round Here" as a duet with Luke Combs.[12]

2024–present: Don't Mind If I Do, That's Just Me, and television roles

Green released his third studio album, Don't Mind If I Do, on October 18, 2024.[13] The album's title track, a duet with fellow country singer Ella Langley, reached position 45 on the Hot Country Songs ranking. In April 2026, it was reported that Green was cast on Marshals as Garrett, Cal's and Kayce's former Navy SEAL teammate in a 4-episode arc, making his acting debut on April 19, 2026.[14] That same month, Green began his Cowboy As It Gets Tour which includes several dates that run through August 2026. In May 2026, Green was nominated for Best Male Country Artist at the 2026 American Music Awards.[15] Green's fourth studio album, That's Just Me, is set to release on September 18, 2026. Two of the singles from the album, "My Way" and "Think as You Drunk", were released in April and May of 2026, respectively. In late 2026, Green will debut as a coach on the thirtieth season of the reality television series The Voice.[16]

Personal life

Green currently resides near his hometown of Jacksonville, Alabama. His hobbies include hunting and fishing. Green is noted for his passion for duck hunting and was branded "Riley Duckman" by friends in Alabama. Green has since embraced the nickname in multiple aspects of his career.[17]

Controversies

In late 2019, Green drew controversy for a line in his song "Bury Me in Dixie" that referenced Confederate general Robert E. Lee. He removed the song from streaming services in October 2019.[18][19] Green denied any racial motive for referencing Lee, saying the lyric was an expression of "pride and heritage in what I grew up around". Green also said that avoiding controversy was not the motive for removing the song from streaming services, citing concerns about poor audio quality instead.[20] The song returned to streaming services a few months after the controversy.[20]

Discography

Studio albums

Awards and nominations

American Music Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2026 Riley Green Best Male Country Artist Nominated

Academy of Country Music Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2020 Riley Green Top New Male Vocalist Won
2024 "Different 'Round Here" (featuring Luke Combs) Music Event of the Year Nominated
2025 "You Look Like You Love Me" (featuring Ella Langley) Won
Visual Media of the Year Won
Song of the Year Nominated
Single of the Year Won
2026 "Don't Mind If I Do" (featuring Ella Langley) Music Event of the Year Won
Don't Mind If I Do Album of the Year Nominated
Riley Green Male Artist of the Year Nominated
Artist-Songwriter of the Year Nominated

Country Music Association Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2024 "You Look Like You Love Me" (featuring Ella Langley) Musical Event of the Year Won
2025 "Don't Mind If I Do" (featuring Ella Langley) Nominated
"You Look Like You Love Me" (featuring Ella Langley) Single of the Year Won
Song of the Year Won
Music Video of the Year Won

References

  1. ↑ "Riley Green Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". AllMusic.
  2. ↑ "Riley Green biography". Allmusic. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  3. ↑ "BMLG RECORDS SIGNS RILEY GREEN". Big Machine Label Group. 22 February 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2019.
  4. ↑ "Don't quit on Riley Green's 'There Was This Girl' [Listen]". Taste of Country. 9 August 2018. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  5. ↑ "Riley Green's 'There Was This Girl' video comes together thanks to screaming fans". Taste of Country. 15 October 2018. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  6. ↑ "Riley Green Announces New Single "In Love By Now", following his first #1". Whiskey Riff. 15 April 2019. Retrieved May 4, 2019.
  7. ↑ "Riley Green's 'In Love By Now' Video: Exclusive". Billboard. Retrieved May 4, 2019.
  8. ↑ Billy Dukes (August 2, 2019). "Riley Green Announces Different 'Round Here Album". Taste of Country. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  9. ↑ web|url= https://www.acmcountry.com/winners?awardTitle=&awardCategory=New+Male+Artist+of+the+Year&awardYear=2019&actionButton=Submit
  10. ↑ Clark, Dave (2022-09-08). "Luke Combs Announces Sprawling 2023 World Tour Dates". TicketNews. Retrieved 2026-06-12.
  11. ↑ "Justin Moore Says Collaboration With Riley Green, "Everybody Get Along," Is Dropping This Friday". Whiskey Riff. March 28, 2023. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  12. ↑ "Riley Green + Luke Combs Duet on Reimagined Version of 'Different 'Round Here'". Taste of Country. 2023-05-16. Retrieved 2026-06-12.
  13. ↑ Trigger (2024-12-16). "Album Review – Riley Green's "Don't Mind If I Do" - Saving Country Music". savingcountrymusic.com. Retrieved 2026-06-12.
  14. ↑ Alexander, Bryan (April 12, 2026). "Riley Green sings in 'Marshals' acting debut with Luke Grimes, exclusive". USA Today. Retrieved April 19, 2026.
  15. ↑ O'Connell, Madeleine (2026-05-26). "Riley Green Delivers Smooth, Southern-Soaked Performance Of 'Worst Way' on AMAs Stage". Country Now. Retrieved 2026-06-12.
  16. ↑ Black, Lauren Jo (2026-05-09). "Riley Green Announced as New Coach on 'The Voice'". Country Now. Retrieved 2026-05-10.
  17. ↑ "Riley Green Teases 'Marshals' Debut, Passion for Duck Hunting and More Fun Facts". Yahoo Entertainment. 2026-04-18. Retrieved 2026-06-12.
  18. ↑ Freeman, Jon. "Riley Green Pulls 'Bury Me in Dixie' From Streaming Services Over Gen. Robert E. Lee Reference". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  19. ↑ Whitaker, Sterling (2019-11-02). "Riley Green Yanks Song From Streaming Over Robert E. Lee Lyric Controversy". Taste of Country. Retrieved 2025-11-08.
  20. 1 2 Stewart, Allison. "The answer to 'How far can this thing go' for country singer Riley Green, seems to be sky's the limit, but he wants to talk about that 'Dixie' uproar". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 3 July 2025.