The 30 Best Riley Green Songs, from There Was This Girl to Worst Way

What is Riley Green's most famous song?

"I Wish Grandpas Never Died" is Riley Green's best-known song, a 2019 tribute to his two grandfathers that is certified triple platinum. "There Was This Girl" was his breakout hit, and his duet with Ella Langley, "You Look Like You Love Me", won Single of the Year at both the CMA and ACM Awards. "Worst Way" and "Don't Mind If I Do" both went to number one on country radio in 2025.

Riley Green's biggest hits

1. "There Was This Girl", 2018: his debut single and the song that put him on country radio.
2. "I Wish Grandpas Never Died", 2019: the heartfelt tribute that became his signature song.
3. "Half of Me", 2022: Thomas Rhett's hit featuring Riley Green, a number one on country radio.
4. "Different 'Round Here", 2023: the re-recorded duet with Luke Combs that reached the top two.
5. "You Look Like You Love Me", 2024: Ella Langley's spoken-word duet with Green, a number one and a CMA winner.
6. "Damn Good Day to Leave", 2024: a top ten hit that appears on both his second and third albums.
7. "Worst Way", 2025: the lead single of Don't Mind If I Do and a number one on country radio.
8. "Don't Mind If I Do", 2025: the title track of his third album, another number one duet with Ella Langley.
9. "Change My Mind", 2026: the third single from Don't Mind If I Do and a top-two country radio hit.
10. "Think as You Drunk", 2026: a single from his fourth album, That's Just Me.

Songs from Different 'Round Here (2019)

His debut album, produced by Dann Huff, came out on September 20, 2019, and is certified gold. Beyond the singles, these are the songs fans keep coming back to:

11. "Different 'Round Here", 2019: the original solo title track, a proud portrait of his Alabama hometown.
12. "In Love by Now", 2019: the second single, co-written with Rhett Akins, Ben Hayslip and Marv Green.
13. "Get That Man a Beer", 2019: a barroom favorite and the title of an earlier EP.
14. "In a Truck Right Now", 2019: the song that also named his 2018 EP.
15. "Numbers on the Cars", 2019: a nostalgic fan favorite from the second half of the album.
16. "My First Everything", 2019: a tender love song.
17. "Runnin' with an Angel", 2019: one of the album's quieter moments.
18. "Outlaws Like Us", 2019: the closing track and the title song of his 2017 EP.

Songs from Ain't My Last Rodeo (2023)

His second album, produced by Dann Huff and Michael Knox, arrived on October 13, 2023, and leaned even harder into traditional country.

19. "Damn Country Music", 2023: the opener, a love letter to the genre itself.
20. "They Don't Make 'Em Like That No More", 2023: a nostalgic song about the old ways.
21. "Copenhagen in a Cadillac", 2023: a gritty duet with Jelly Roll.
22. "My Last Rodeo", 2023: the reflective song behind the album's title.
23. "Raised Up Right", 2023: a tribute to a small-town upbringing.
24. "God Made a Good Ol' Boy", 2023: a proud, faith-tinged anthem.

Songs from Don't Mind If I Do (2024)

His third album came out on October 18, 2024, his birthday, and reached the top ten of the country albums chart. Green wrote or co-wrote 11 of its 18 songs.

25. "Jesus Saves", 2024: a song of faith from the album's first half.
26. "Way Out Here", 2024: the title track of the EP that previewed the album.
27. "Reel Problems", 2024: a fishing song with Luke Bryan.
28. "Chip Off the Ol' Block", 2024: a song about a father and son.
29. "Good Morning from Mexico", 2024: a beach-vacation song.
30. "Alcohall of Fame", 2024: a playful honky-tonk drinking song.

Who is Riley Green?

Riley Green was born Johnathan Riley Green on October 18, 1988, in Jacksonville, Alabama. He learned music from his grandfather, Buford Green, who ran a converted sawmill called The Golden Saw where local musicians gathered to play country and bluegrass. Green played quarterback for the Jacksonville State Gamecocks, worked his way up through Alabama bars and released a string of independent EPs before Big Machine signed him in 2018. His friends nicknamed him "Riley Duckman" for his love of duck hunting, and that outdoors life runs through his songs.

He won Top New Male Vocalist at the 2020 ACM Awards. In 2026 he made his acting debut on the series Marshals and joined The Voice as a coach.

The story behind I Wish Grandpas Never Died

"I Wish Grandpas Never Died" is a tribute to his grandfathers, Buford Green and Lendon Bonds, who are both credited as co-writers. Green has said he wrote it as a way to cope with losing them, and Brad Paisley persuaded him to record it. It was released on September 20, 2019, as the third single from Different 'Round Here, reached the top 12 on country radio and is now certified triple platinum. For many listeners it has become a song to play at a grandfather's memorial or on the first Father's Day without him; see our songs for grandpa for more like it.

Riley Green and Ella Langley

"You Look Like You Love Me" was written by Ella Langley, Riley Green and Aaron Raitiere: Langley wrote the first verse and Green wrote the second. Both verses are spoken rather than sung, over pedal steel and drums, and the sung chorus brings them together. Released in 2024, it became Langley's first number one on country radio and won CMA Musical Event of the Year, then CMA and ACM Single of the Year. Its music video is set in a Wild West saloon and features Jamey Johnson and Green's dog, Carl. The pair teamed up again on "Don't Mind If I Do", which also went to number one.

Riley Green duets and collaborations

Green is one of country's most frequent duet partners. Beyond his two hits with Ella Langley, he sang on Thomas Rhett's "Half of Me", re-recorded "Different 'Round Here" with Luke Combs, traded verses with Jelly Roll on "Copenhagen in a Cadillac" and went fishing with Luke Bryan on "Reel Problems". In 2026 he released "If I Don't Leave I'm Gonna Stay" with Carly Pearce. For another Rhett deep dive, see our Thomas Rhett songs.

Riley Green songs for a wedding

For a first dance, "Worst Way" is a slow, devoted choice, and "My First Everything" is a sweet alternative. Ella Langley has said she hoped "You Look Like You Love Me" would someday be someone's wedding song, and it works best as a fun moment later in the night. For more ideas, see our country wedding songs.

Riley Green songs for dad and for hunting season

"Chip Off the Ol' Block" and "I Wish Grandpas Never Died" are natural picks for Father's Day, and "Raised Up Right" is a tribute to a country upbringing. For a truck ride to the deer stand or the lake, queue "In a Truck Right Now", "Reel Problems" and "Damn Good Day to Leave". For more, see our father-son songs.

More country artists

If you love Riley Green's traditional sound, try our Cody Johnson songs, Brooks and Dunn songs and Brad Paisley songs.

A country song about their own small town

Riley Green's best songs are about real people and real places. A personalized country song can do the same for someone you love: their name, their hometown, their truck, the fishing trips and the people who raised them. It makes a great birthday, anniversary or Father's Day gift.

How to create a personalized country song

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The full 3 to 4 minute song costs $35.99, or $40.99 for Premium with four full versions and editable lyrics. You get the MP3, a gift page and the lyrics as a PDF.

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