Riley Green

For the place, see Riley Green, Lancashire. Not to be confused with Riley Greene or Rylie Green.

Johnathan Riley Green (born October 18, 1988) is an American country music singer and songwriter, signed to Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment (formerly BMLG) 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" (with Thomas Rhett), and "Different 'Round Here" (with Luke Combs).

Riley Green
Green in 2022
Background information
Birth name	Johnathan Riley Green
Born	(1988-10-18) October 18, 1988 (age 36) Jacksonville, Alabama, U.S.
Genres	Country
Occupations	Singer songwriter
Instruments	Vocals guitar
Years active	2013–present
Labels	Nashville Harbor
Website	rileygreenmusic.com

Music career

Jonathan Riley Green was born October 18, 1988, in Jacksonville, Alabama. He was inspired to listen to country music by his grandfather, Bufford.^[1]

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.^[2][3]

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.^[4] The song charted on Country Airplay, and a music video was shot in October 2018.^[5]

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]

He collaborated on a song with Justin Moore for his 2023 album Stray Dog.^[10]

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.^[11][12] 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.^[13] The song returned to streaming services a few months after the controversy.^[13]

Discography

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with selected details, peak chart positions and certifications

Title	Details	Peak chart positions			Certifications
		US [14]	US Country [15]	CAN [16]
Different 'Round Here	Release date: September 20, 2019 Label: Nashville Harbor Format: CD, digital download, streaming	95	11	—	RIAA: Gold[17]
Ain't My Last Rodeo	Release date: October 13, 2023 Label: Nashville Harbor Format: CD, digital download, streaming	79	15	—
Don't Mind If I Do	Release date: October 18, 2024[18] Label: Nashville Harbor Format: CD, digital download, streaming	25	8	29

Extended plays

List of EPs, with selected details and peak chart positions

Title	Details	Peak chart positions
		US [14]	US Heat [19]	US Country [15]	US Indie [20]
Outlaws Like Us	Release date: August 18, 2017 Label: Self-released Format: Digital download, streaming	—	5	—	24
Riley Green[21]	Release date: June 1, 2018 Label: Nashville Harbor Format: Digital download, streaming	—	—	—	—
In a Truck Right Now	Release date: June 29, 2018 Label: Nashville Harbor Format: Digital download, streaming	—	3	—	—
Get That Man a Beer[22]	Release date: June 14, 2019 Label: Nashville Harbor Format: Digital download, streaming	—	8	—	—
Behind the Bar	Release date: July 2, 2021 Label: Nashville Harbor Format: Digital download, streaming	122	—	18	—
Way Out Here	Release date: April 12, 2024 Label: Nashville Harbor Format: Digital download, streaming	149	—	29	23
Midtown Sessions	Release date: July 11, 2025 Label: Nashville Harbor Format: Digital download, streaming	113	—	24	—
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Singles

List of singles, with selected peak chart positions and certifications shown

Year	Title	Peak chart positions						Certifications	Album
		US [23]	US Country Songs [24]	US Country Airplay [25]	CAN [26]	CAN Country [27][28]	WW [29]
2018	"There Was This Girl"	70	11	3	75	1	—	RIAA: 2× Platinum[30] ARIA: Gold[31] MC: 3× Platinum[32]	Different 'Round Here
2019	"In Love by Now"	—	—	52	—	—	—
	"I Wish Grandpas Never Died"	66	12	12	95	11	—	RIAA: 3× Platinum[30] ARIA: Gold[31] MC: 3× Platinum[32]
2020	"If It Wasn't for Trucks"	—	40	41	—	—	—	RIAA: Gold[30] MC: Gold[32]	Behind the Bar
2022	"Hell of a Way to Go"	—	50	—	—	—	—	RIAA: Gold[30]	—
2023	"Different 'Round Here" (with Luke Combs)[33]	60	15	2	89	11	—	RIAA: Platinum[30] MC: 2× Platinum[32]	Ain't My Last Rodeo
2024	"Damn Good Day to Leave"	—[A]	28	10	—	6	—
2025	"Worst Way"	20	5	1	28	3	187	RIAA: 2× Platinum[30] MC: Platinum[32]	Don't Mind If I Do
	"Don't Mind If I Do" (featuring Ella Langley)	—[B]	24	30	—	—	—	RIAA: Platinum[30]
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Promotional singles

List of promotional singles, with selected certifications shown

Year	Title	Certifications	Album
2018	"Georgia Time"	RIAA: Platinum[30] MC: Gold[32]	—

Featured singles

List of singles as featured artist, with selected peak chart positions and certifications shown

Year	Title	Peak chart positions										Certifications	Album
		US [23]	US Country Songs [24]	US Country Airplay [25]	AUS [35]	CAN [26]	CAN Country [27]	IRE [36]	NZ [37]	UK [38]	WW [29]
2022	"Half of Me" (Thomas Rhett featuring Riley Green)	52	9	1	—	54	1	—	—	—	—	RIAA: Platinum[30]	Where We Started
2024	"You Look Like You Love Me" (Ella Langley featuring Riley Green)	30	7	1	67	31	11	66	19	59	89	RIAA: 2× Platinum[30]	Hungover

Other charted and certified songs

List of other charted and certified songs, with selected certifications

Year	Title	Peak chart positions		Certifications	Album
		US [23]	US Country Songs [24]
2018	"Bury Me in Dixie"	—	—	RIAA: Gold[30]	Outlaws Like Us
	"When She Comes Home Tonight"	—	—	RIAA: Platinum[30]	Riley Green
2019	"Get That Man a Beer"	—	—	RIAA: Gold[30]	Different 'Round Here

Notes

1. "Damn Good Day to Leave" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number 17 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.^[34]
2. "Don't Mind If I Do" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number one on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.^[34]

Awards and nominations

Academy of Country Music Awards

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result
2020	Riley Green	Top New Male Vocalist	Won
2024	"Different 'Round Here" (Feat. Luke Combs)	Music Event of the Year	Nominated
2025	"You Look Like You Love Me" (Feat. Ella Langley)		Won
		Visual Media of the Year	Won
		Song of the Year	Nominated
		Single of the Year	Won

Country Music Association Awards

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result
2024	"You Look Like You Love Me" (Feat. Ella Langley)	Musical Event of the Year	Won