Riley Green spoke to the “pretty unique thing” to strike success with fellow Alabama-born singer-songwriter Ella Langley on two very different duets.

Green recently caught up with Southern Living Editor-in-Chief Sid Evans on an episode of the publication’s Biscuits & Jam podcast. Throughout the conversation, the award-winning country star — who admitted. He “thought I’d be framing houses the rest of my life” — spoke about his first viral duet with Langley, “you look like you love me,” how Langley accidentally ended up as his duet partner on the title track of his latest album, and more.

“Riley Green got his start playing in bars and restaurants around his hometown of Jacksonville, Alabama—and lately he’s been performing in stadiums for tens of thousands. He grew up with a close relationship with his two grandfathers, who were influential in his early musical development and who fueled his passion for the outdoors. His song ‘I Wish Grandpas Never Died,’ a tribute to both of them, was a major hit back in 2019, and more recently he’s recorded a couple of duets with Ella Langley – one of which, ‘you look like you love me,’ won a CMA Award last year. In some ways, Riley has gone back to his roots by opening a bar called the Duck Blind in Nashville, which has become a favorite hangout for some of the biggest names in country music. Sid talks to the rising star about the influence of his Southern upbringing, his love of Jacksonville State football, and his new song, ‘Jesus Saves.’”

“I certainly had no idea it would be the song that it is,” Green said of “you look like you love me,” which appeared on Langley’s debut album. “I knew it was a fun song. I thought talking verses was probably a little too traditional, but how cool is it that a song that's that country is doing that well? It's been a really fun song to watch it kinda shoot up the charts and become such a big hit almost overnight, and that's not something that I've really experienced with any other songs, a viral success like that. So it's been a fun journey with that one.

“I wrote the song in the green room at a show in Rogers, Arkansas, and I wrote it as a duet. I didn't necessarily have Ella in mind to sing on it,” Green also said of “Don’t Mind If I Do,” the title track of his studio album that he released in October. “And when I went in the studio to record it, I think I texted her and see if she would come by to put a female vocal on it to make sure the key was right for a female. And she just nailed it. As soon as I heard it, I thought it wasn't gonna do any better than that, and so it was kinda accidental that she ended up on that song.

“And just glad that you can have two songs that are very different, that are really successful, with the same artist. That's a pretty unique thing.”

Green said he’s had “awesome” experience touring with Langley, and looks forward to her joining his headlining “Damn Country Music Tour” this year. The pair announced the tour with a nod to Smokey and the Bandit. The shows will also include Drake White, Vincent Mason, Lauren Watkins, Jake Worthington, Preston Cooper, Erik Dylan, Wyatt McCubbin, Mike Ryan and Channing Wilson on select dates. see the tour stops below, and find the full Biscuits & Jam episode on iHeartRadio here.

Karla Cantrell