A Historic Hot Streak: BMI and Nashville Harbor Records Honor Riley Green’s Back-to-Back No. Ones
By Christian Lamitschka for Country Music News International Magazine
The lobby of BMI’s Nashville headquarters was filled with the spirit of modern traditionalism yesterday, February 11, as the industry gathered to celebrate a rare and remarkable feat. Riley Green, the Jacksonville, Alabama native who has become the standard-bearer for “no-gimmick” country music, was honored for the massive success of his latest consecutive chart-toppers, “Worst Way” and “Don’t Mind If I Do.”
The celebration highlighted Green’s growing influence as a songwriter. Both tracks were solely written by Green and serve as cornerstones of his latest project, Don’t Mind If I Do (Deluxe). This achievement carries significant historical weight: Green is the first country artist since Taylor Swift to land back-to-back solo-written No. 1 singles on the Billboard Country Airplay chart.
A Mountain of Hardware
The afternoon, hosted by BMI’s Clay Bradley, saw Green showered with accolades from his team at Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment (NHRE). Big Machine Label Group’s Scott Borchetta, along with NHRE’s Jimmy Harnen and Ryan Dokke, presented Green with several commemorative plaques:
-
“Worst Way”: Now officially certified 3X-Platinum by the RIAA.
-
“Don’t Mind If I Do”: A No. 1 plaque for the title track that recently dominated the airwaves.
-
“Change My Mind”: A Gold plaque for his current single, which is currently the fastest-rising track of his career to date.
The “Good Ol’ Boy” with a Platinum Pen
Since his self-titled EP debuted in 2018, the former Jacksonville State University quarterback has built a career on relatability. Green has a unique ability to compel fans to “raise a drink, shed a tear, and celebrate where they are from.”
His catalog is now a collection of modern classics, including:
-
“There Was This Girl” (2X-Platinum No. 1)
-
“I Wish Grandpas Never Died” (3X-Platinum)
-
“Half Of Me” (Chart-topping collaboration with Thomas Rhett)
-
“Different ‘Round Here” (Platinum No. 1 featuring Luke Combs)
His third studio album, Don’t Mind If I Do, produced by the legendary Dann Huff, arrived on his birthday (October 18). The recently released Deluxe Edition expands the journey with six brand-new tracks, bringing the total to 18. Of these, five were written entirely by Green, including the poignant “Jesus Saves” and the viral title track.
Fun Fact: The title track, “Don’t Mind If I Do,” features Green reuniting with his “you look like you love me” duet partner, Ella Langley. The pair has become one of country music’s most formidable duos, recently sweeping four categories at the 2025 CMA Awards.
Artist Profile: Riley Green
Green continues to reside in his Alabama hometown, a testament to the authenticity that fans hear in every note. As “Change My Mind” continues its rapid ascent at radio, it’s clear that Green’s “hot streak” is far more than a moment—it’s the era of a new country superstar.
Photo Credit Larry McCormack