From Reality TV to Country Music Stardom: Riley Green’s Journey to Success
Country music artist Riley Green is experiencing a surge in popularity thanks to his latest track, “You Look Like You Love Me,” a collaboration with rising star Ella Langley. The song is climbing the charts and racking up impressive streaming numbers, signaling a potential career high for Green in 2024.
Green’s solo track, “Worst Way,” is also enjoying significant success. As he gears up to open for Morgan Wallen at the BST Hyde Park show, Green sat down with Smooth Country’s Eamonn Kelly to discuss his burgeoning career, the unexpected success of his duet with Langley, and upcoming collaborations.
A Collaboration Born on the Road: Green and Langley’s “You Look Like You Love Me”
The story behind “You Look Like You Love Me” is a testament to the power of organic collaboration. Green and Langley, both hailing from Alabama, crossed paths on the country music circuit, with Langley opening for Green at several shows.
“She’s got a great voice, very country, which I enjoy,” Green shared about Langley. Their paths intertwined once again when Langley joined Green and Tracy Lawrence on tour. It was during this tour that the seeds of “You Look Like You Love Me” were sown.
Green recounted the experience: “We ended up coming across that song, and a buddy of mine played it for me, and I ended up writing the second verse for it, and it’s really taken off. I don’t think anybody expected the song to be as big a hit as it is.” The unexpected success of their collaboration speaks to the duo’s chemistry and the song’s resonance with listeners.
Riley Green and Ella Langley performing live
Riley Green and Ella Langley share a stage during their tour, showcasing the chemistry that led to their hit collaboration.
Teaming Up with Country Music Heavyweight Luke Bryan
Adding to the excitement surrounding his career, Green revealed an upcoming collaboration with country music superstar Luke Bryan. While the details remain under wraps, Green’s excitement was palpable as he shared his approach to collaborations.
“Collaborations are probably supposed to come about through managers and agents and all that. I just text them, you know, I’ll just say, ‘hey, man, what do you think about this song?'” Green explained, emphasizing the organic nature of his collaborative process.
He continued, “And I’ll say, ‘I’ll send a song that I wrote and I’m pretty proud of’ to Luke Bryan and, you know, maybe he might want to be a part of it.” The prospect of these two country music powerhouses joining forces is sure to generate significant buzz among fans.
From “Redneck Island” to Country Music Stardom: An Unlikely Journey
Green’s path to country music success is anything but conventional. Before captivating audiences with his heartfelt lyrics and soulful voice, Green found himself in the spotlight as a contestant on the reality show “Redneck Island.”
“You know, I’m certainly not a big fan of reality shows,” Green admitted. “I’ve never thought that was an avenue that I would go down, but I was doing construction work and somebody came to a show and they asked me about being on the show on CMT, and I assumed if they mentioned I played music, it might help me in some way.”
While acknowledging that the experience wasn’t his cup of tea, Green recognized the value of the exposure it provided. “It’s not something I would do again. It was kind of a tough process. You’re stuck in a house for a month, no phones, nothing like that. But I’m sure it didn’t hurt. But I didn’t see a huge spike in anything from it.”
He continued, reflecting on the lessons learned, “I don’t think the show was a huge success, but it certainly gave me some knowledge of what that world’s like, you know, the production that goes into something like that. And, you know, you become a little bit more business-minded when you’re on something like that.”
Riley Green’s Meteoric Rise: A Testament to Talent and Hard Work
Riley Green’s journey from reality TV contestant to chart-topping country music artist is a testament to his talent, hard work, and unwavering passion for music. With a string of successful singles, a growing fanbase, and exciting collaborations on the horizon, Green’s star continues to rise in the world of country music. As he prepares to take the stage at BST Hyde Park, Green is poised to solidify his status as one of country music’s most exciting and promising artists.