Riley Green is Reaching New Heights: Two Solo-Written No. 1s and a CMA Clean Sweep!
By Christian Lamitschka for Country Music News International Magazine
In the world of modern country music, many artists rely on a “village” of songwriters to reach the top of the charts. Riley Green, however, is proving that a good ol’ boy from Jacksonville, Alabama, can do it all himself.
The Platinum-selling singer-songwriter has just officially reached No. 1 on the Billboard Country Airplay, Mediabase Country, and Canada Country Radio charts with his latest smash, “Don’t Mind If I Do (feat. Ella Langley).” This milestone is more than just another trophy for the shelf—it is a piece of history.
Chasing Taylor Swift: A Songwriting Milestone
With the success of “Don’t Mind If I Do,” Green has achieved something no country artist has managed in over a decade. By following up his previous chart-topper “Worst Way” with this latest hit, Green is the first artist to earn back-to-back solo-written No. 1 singles on the Billboard Country Airplay chart since Taylor Swift did it in 2011 and 2012 with “Sparks Fly” and “Ours.”
In an era of large writing rooms, Green’s ability to pen No. 1 hits entirely on his own cements his status as one of the genre’s most authentic and powerful creative forces. This marks his sixth career No. 1, and his second in a single year to be self-penned.
A Golden Year: CMA Sweeps and Deluxe Releases
The chart success follows a life-changing night at the 2025 CMA Awards, where Green was the man of the hour. He walked away with three of the night’s biggest honors:
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Single of the Year
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Song of the Year
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Music Video of the Year
To celebrate this momentum, Green recently released Don’t Mind If I Do (Deluxe). This expanded edition of his acclaimed 2024 album adds six brand-new tracks to the original 18-track set. The deluxe version features standout collaborations like “Cowboy As It Gets” (feat. Randy Houser) and the tender “I Just Need You” (feat. Hannah McFarland), further showcasing the “no-gimmick” storytelling that has made him a household name.
Looking Ahead: The ‘Cowboy As It Gets’ 2026 Tour
If you thought 2025 was big, 2026 is shaping up to be legendary. Green has announced his headlining Cowboy As It Gets Tour, which will see him hitting major arenas across the United States.
Joining him on the road is a star-studded roster of special guests, including:
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Justin Moore
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Drake White
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Mackenzie Carpenter
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Adam Hood
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Hannah McFarland
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Zach John King