Johnathan Riley Green (born October 18, 1988) is an American
country music
Country (also called country and western) is a popular music, music genre originating in the southern regions of the United States, both the American South and American southwest, the Southwest. First produced in the 1920s, country music is p ...
singer and songwriter, signed to
Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment
Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment, formerly BMLG Records and Republic Nashville, is a record label established in 2009 by Republic Records in New York and Big Machine Records in Nashville. It is headquartered on Music Row and utilizes the c ...
(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
''Don't Mind If I Do'' is the fifth album by the British New wave music, new wave band Culture Club, released in 1999 by Virgin Records. The album was released only in Europe and Japan, though some promo copies also circulated in Australia.
Ove ...
'' in 2024. Green has charted four top-20 hits on the ''
Billboard
A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...
''
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine in the United States.
This 50-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly by collecting airplay data along with digital sales and streaming. ...
and
Country Airplay
Country Airplay is a chart published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine in the United States since October 20, 2012, although the magazine also retrospectively recognizes the Hot Country Songs charts from January 20, 1990, through October 13, 2012, ...
charts: "
There Was This Girl", "
I Wish Grandpas Never Died", "
Half of Me" (with
Thomas Rhett
Thomas Rhett Akins Jr. (born March 30, 1990) is an American country music, country singer-songwriter. He is the oldest son of singer Rhett Akins.
Rhett has released seven studio albums for Big Machine Records' Valory Music imprint: ''It Goes ...
), and "
Different 'Round Here" (with
Luke Combs
Luke Albert Combs (born March 2, 1990) is an American country music, country singer. He was born in North Carolina and grew up there, performing as a child. After leaving college to pursue a career in music, he moved to Nashville, Tennessee, Nas ...
).
Music career
Jonathan Riley Green was born October 18, 1988, in
Jacksonville, Alabama
Jacksonville is a city in Calhoun County, Alabama, Calhoun County, Alabama, United States. As of the 2020 census the population was 14,385, which is a 14.6% increase since 2010 and a 71.2% increase since 2000. It is included in the Anniston-Oxfo ...
. He was inspired to listen to
country music
Country (also called country and western) is a popular music, music genre originating in the southern regions of the United States, both the American South and American southwest, the Southwest. First produced in the 1920s, country music is p ...
through his grandfather, Bufford.
While he was at
Jacksonville State University
Jacksonville State University (JSU or Jax State) is a public university in Jacksonville, Alabama, United States. Founded in 1883, Jacksonville State offers programs of study in six academic schools leading to bachelor's degree, bachelor's, mas ...
, Green was a Division 1 FCS Quarterback on their
American football
American football, referred to simply as football in the United States and Canada and also known as gridiron football, is a team sport played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular American football field, field with goalposts at e ...
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
Big Machine Records is an American record label, distributed by Universal Music Group. Big Machine is based on Music Row in Nashville, Tennessee, Nashville, Tennessee. The label was founded in September 2005 by former DreamWorks Records executiv ...
.
Billy Dukes of ''
Taste of Country
Townsquare Media, Inc. (formerly Regent Communications until 2010) is an American radio network and media company based in Purchase, New York. The company started in radio and expanded into digital media toward the end of the 2000s, starting wit ...
'' reviewed "There Was This Girl" favorably, comparing its theme to "
Chicks Dig It
"Chicks Dig It" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music singer Chris Cagle. It was released in June 2003 as the second single from his self-titled album. It peaked at number 5 on the U.S. country charts and at number 53 on the ...
" by
Chris Cagle
Christopher Norris Cagle (born November 10, 1968) is an American country music artist. He was first known for writing songs for David Kersh before signing to Virgin Records Nashville in 2000. Cagle made his debut on ''Billboard (magazine), Bill ...
and noting the more
neotraditional country
Neotraditional country (also known as new traditional country, hardcore country, or traditional country) is a country music style that emphasizes the instrumental background and a traditional country vocal style, as well as often dressing in the f ...
influence compared to Green's peers. The song charted on
Country Airplay
Country Airplay is a chart published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine in the United States since October 20, 2012, although the magazine also retrospectively recognizes the Hot Country Songs charts from January 20, 1990, through October 13, 2012, ...
, 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
Thomas Rhett Akins Sr. (born October 13, 1969) is an American country music singer and songwriter. Signed to Decca Records between 1994 and 1997, he released two albums for that label (1995's ''A Thousand Memories'' and 1996's ''Somebody New (a ...
,
Ben Hayslip
Ben Hayslip (born March 11, 1970, in Evans, Georgia) is an American country music songwriter.
Early life
Born in Evans, Georgia, Hayslip was a freshman quarterback for the 1984 state champ Valdosta Wildcats of Valdosta High School in Valdost ...
, and
Marv Green
Marv Green (born in California) is an American country music songwriter. He is known for co-writing Lonestar's 1999 single " Amazed", which reached number 1 on both the Hot Country Songs and ''Billboard'' Hot 100 charts. This song won him a Song ...
, 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 Riley Green with the New Male Artist of the Year Award for 2019.
He collaborated on a song with
Justin Moore
Justin Cole Moore (born March 30, 1984) is an American country music singer and songwriter, signed to Big Machine Records imprint Valory Music Group. For that label, he has released seven studio albums: his self titled debut in 2009, '' Outla ...
for his 2023 album, ''Stray Dog''.
Discography
Studio albums
Extended plays
Singles
Promotional singles
Featured singles
Other charted and certified songs
Notes
Awards and nominations
Academy of Country Music Awards
, -
,
2020
The year 2020 was heavily defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to global Social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, social and Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic disruption, mass cancellations and postponements of even ...
, Riley Green
,
Top New Male Vocalist
,
, -
,
2024
The year saw the list of ongoing armed conflicts, continuation of major armed conflicts, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Myanmar civil war (2021–present), Myanmar civil war, the Sudanese civil war (2023–present), Sudane ...
, "
Different 'Round Here"
(Feat. Luke Combs
Luke Albert Combs (born March 2, 1990) is an American country music, country singer. He was born in North Carolina and grew up there, performing as a child. After leaving college to pursue a career in music, he moved to Nashville, Tennessee, Nas ...
)
, rowspan=2, Music Event of the Year
,
, -
, rowspan=4,
2025
So far, the year has seen the continuation of major armed conflicts, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Sudanese civil war (2023–present), Sudanese civil war, and the Gaza war. Internal crises in Bangladesh post-resignation v ...
, rowspan=4, "
You Look Like You Love Me"
(Feat. Ella Langley
Elizabeth Camille Langley (born May 3, 1999), known professionally as Ella Langley, is an American country music singer-songwriter from Hope Hull, Alabama signed to Sony Music Nashville and Columbia Records. Her debut album ''Hungover'' was releas ...
)
,
, -
, Visual Media of the Year
,
, -
, Song of the Year
,
, -
, Single of the Year
,
Country Music Association Awards
, -
,
2024
The year saw the list of ongoing armed conflicts, continuation of major armed conflicts, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Myanmar civil war (2021–present), Myanmar civil war, the Sudanese civil war (2023–present), Sudane ...
, "
You Look Like You Love Me"
(Feat. Ella Langley
Elizabeth Camille Langley (born May 3, 1999), known professionally as Ella Langley, is an American country music singer-songwriter from Hope Hull, Alabama signed to Sony Music Nashville and Columbia Records. Her debut album ''Hungover'' was releas ...
)
,
Musical Event of the Year
,
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Green, Riley
American country singer-songwriters
American male singer-songwriters
Big Machine Records artists
Living people
Participants in American reality television series
People from Calhoun County, Alabama
Country musicians from Alabama
1988 births
Singer-songwriters from Alabama