About Riley

Johnathan Riley Green

Born on October 18, 1988, in Jacksonville, Alabama, Johnathan Riley Green grew up surrounded by the sounds of traditional country music. His earliest and most profound musical influence came from his grandfather, Bufford Green, who owned and operated the Golden Saw Music Hall — a venue that brought live country music to the heart of their small Alabama town.

Before music became his full-time pursuit, Riley was a standout athlete. He played Division I FCS football at Jacksonville State University as a quarterback, developing the discipline and grit that would later define his work ethic in the music industry. He also appeared as a contestant on the CMT reality competition series Redneck Island, giving fans their first glimpse of his personality.

Riley released his self-titled debut EP independently in 2013, followed by a series of EPs throughout 2015, 2016, and 2017. His breakthrough came in 2018 when he signed with Big Machine Label Group (now Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment). That same year, his single "There Was This Girl" began climbing the charts, marking the arrival of a new voice in country music — one rooted in tradition but unafraid of the modern stage.

In the years since, Riley has released three studio albums, charted four top-20 hits on Billboard's Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts, won ACM New Male Artist of the Year (2020), earned multiple CMA Awards including Single of the Year and Song of the Year, and in April 2026 made his acting debut on the series Marshals. Through it all, he remains grounded in the values he learned in Jacksonville — family, hard work, and telling the truth through song.