Riley Green


Johnathan Riley Green is an American country music singer and songwriter, signed to Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment since 2019. He 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. Green has charted four top-20 hits on the Billboard Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts: "There Was This Girl", "I Wish Grandpas Never Died", "Half of Me", and "Different 'Round Here".

Music career

Jonathan Riley Green was born October 18, 1988, in Jacksonville, Alabama. He was inspired to listen to country music by his grandfather, Buford.
While he was at Jacksonville State University, Green was a Division 1 FCS quarterback on the American football team. Green was also a contestant on the CMT reality show Redneck Island. He 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.
Billy Dukes of Taste of Country reviewed "There Was This Girl" favorably, comparing its theme to "Chicks Dig It" by Chris Cagle and noting the more neotraditional country influence compared to Green's peers. The song charted on Country Airplay, and a music video was shot in October 2018.
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.
"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.
The Academy of Country Music presented Green with the New Male Artist of the Year Award for 2019.
He collaborated on a song with Justin Moore for his 2023 album Stray Dog.

Controversies

In late 2019, Green attracted some controversy for a line in his song "Bury Me in Dixie", which referenced Confederate general Robert E. Lee. He removed the song from streaming services in October 2019. 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, instead citing concerns over bad audio quality. The song returned to streaming services a few months after the controversy.

Discography

Studio albums
Extended plays
  • Outlaws Like Us
  • Riley Green
  • In a Truck Right Now
  • Got That Man a Beer
  • Behind the Bar
  • Way Out Here
  • ''Midtown Sessions''

    Awards and nominations

Academy of Country Music Awards

Country Music Association Awards