Riley Green Helps Raise $18,000 For Hurricane & Fire Relief — Here’s How

Riley Green is using his time and talents to help those in need. The “Worst Way” singer just performed at Nashville’s legendary Bluebird Cafe, as part of the Nashville Chapter of the Recording Academy’s ongoing efforts to raise money for those impacted by Hurricane Helene and the devastating Los Angeles fires.

Green was joined by Jessie Alexander and Randy Montana for the evening, with surprise performances by Lukas Nelson and Erik Dylan. Marking Green’s first performance at the historic venue, the event raised over $9000, with Green matching the amount through his Buford Bonds Charitable Fund.

Riley Green’s Songwriting Career

The Bluebird Cafe is a a small, intimate venue that honors songwriters, so it’s surprising that his recent show was Green’s first. A talented songwriter as well as a singer, Green has written or co-written all of his hit singles, including his “You Look Like You Love Me” duet with Ella Langley.

For Green, his love of songwriting goes back to the first artist who inspired him: Merle Haggard.

“I can remember one of the first songs I ever heard that made me really feel something from the lyrics was ‘Sing Me Back Home’ by Merle Haggard,” Green tells Apple Music. “It was talking about the guy in prison, wanting to hear one last song. Something about that, something I could never comprehend, but that was what the song did. It took me to a place I had never mentally been before.”

Green is a a talented singer and performer, but for Green, songwriting will likely always come first.

“I take a lot of pride in writing songs that have a meaning to me, and seem to have a meaning to other people,” Green tells Songwriter Universe. “It’s cool when you write stuff like ‘I Wish Grandpas Never Died,’ that are personal to my situation about how I grew up, and my relationship with my granddaddies. And that many people can find a way to relate to it and make it about their own lives. I try to find ways to write songs that are very specific to me, but can also be something that other people can relate to.”

Riley Green On How His Grandfathers Influenced His Career In Music

About Riley Green 

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.

Quotes From Riley Green 

“Well, it’s tough for me because like most people in Alabama, my family was pretty divided. My dad, granddaddy, all them were Alabama fans and I was an Auburn fan. But, you know, Randy Owen’s a big supporter of Jacksonville State and a lot of the coaches that have come through, and I’ve watched Jacksonville grow. I really am a huge Jacksonville State fan now, and try to get back to those games when I can. They’re playing a lot of games during the week nowadays, which is great. So in October I get to come back home and catch some of these games. So, a lot of times I’ve got a few TVs on my bus. They’ll be on college football, but I’m definitely keeping up with Jacksonville State and pulling for them constantly.” -Riley Green

About Biscuits & Jam

In the South, talking about food is personal. It’s a way of sharing your history, your family, your culture, and yourself. Each week Sid Evans, editor in chief of Southern Living, sits down with celebrity musicians to hear stories of how they grew up, what inspired them, and how they’ve been shaped by Southern culture. Sid takes us back to some of their most cherished memories and traditions, the family meals they still think about, and their favorite places to eat on the road.Download and listen to this episode of Biscuits & Jam with Riley Green  on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or everywhere podcasts are available.