Country singer Riley Green discusses new album, being raised right, and an unreleased song ahead of Pittsburgh show

Country singer Riley Green’s second album, “Ain’t My Last Rodeo,” came out in October, but an upcoming tour will be the first real test of those songs.

The tour’s second stop comes Feb. 9 at the Petersen Events Center in Pittsburgh.

“I think that my perspective and favorite songs will change more when the tour starts,” Green said in a recent phone interview. “You can see what songs the fans really react to and what lines they react to. That’s kind of always been my gauge. So I’m excited about getting on the road for that reason.”

If radio play is any indication, the songs should go over well. His current single, “Different ’Round Here” featuring Luke Combs, sits at No. 4 on Billboard’s country airplay charts. The original version, minus Combs, came out in 2019 and was the title track on Green’s debut album, but it was never a single. The new version has given the song a second life.

Green said he was excited for the headline tour, after spending time last year opening for Combs on his stadium tour, including an April 29, 2023, show at Acrisure Stadium.

“There’s something about playing your own shows,” Green said. “You get a full set, everybody there, they know every word to every song. It’s kind of two different shows really. One of them you’re trying to get new fans, and maybe people have never heard you before, and the other one you’re really just playing for fans you have. So it’s exciting to be able to go out and play your own show.”

Besides Combs, Green teamed with another rising star in country music, Jelly Roll, who guests on his lighthearted track, “Copenhagen in a Cadillac.” Green added that he is hoping for a collaboration with Jon Pardi next.

Born in northeast Alabama, Green is staying true to his roots, with small-town values and family themes predominant in his songs. He said returning to his small hometown of Jacksonville, Ala., is a great way to disconnect and find inspiration.

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A song like “Raised Up Right” — with lyrics like “When Momma used my full name, I knew she meant business. I learned to say ‘Yes sir’ from the first time that I didn’t” — might hit home with those who miss the way they were brought up by their parents.

”I can remember being one of the few of my friend group to really have to go to work with my dad in the summer,” Green said. “I don’t really think kids are learning a hard day’s work anymore at a young age, like my generation even did. … My parents were tough on me growing up, but I think that a lot of that was lessons that I got to learn through them and not necessarily having to learn the hard way.”

Although he’s 35, he’s still not likely to act up in front of his parents.

“I would have never said a cuss word in front of my mom. I still think I could probably get in trouble if I did,” he said. “It’s funny what people can get away with now, so tough parents was a blessing for me in disguise at the time.”

Despite an album that just came out in October, Green hasn’t been afraid to show off yet-to-be-released music. In early January, he posted a new song to Instagram. He said he’s still finalizing the song title, which fluctuates between “Couldn’t Fit That on a Sign” to “On a Sign” to “Jesus Saves.”

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A post shared by Riley Green (@rileyduckman)

“It was a song that was inspired by … seeing people that look like they’re going through a hard time in their lives on the side of the road and just thinking about how nobody really knows the whole story,” Green said. “I thought it was kind of a positive message. I had the hook of that song kind of for a while and ended up writing it when I was at home during my breaks. So, once again, some inspiration from being back home.”

When it’s officially released, the song is sure to spark some emotions, much like his double-platinum, viral single from 2019, “I Wish Grandpas Never Died.” That song also caused a minor stir in the country music business. The original release features the lyric of “I wish country music still got played on country radio” but got replaced on the radio version with “I wish George Jones still got played on country radio.”

And what would Green choose if he was in charge of music selection?

“That’s funny because you know that lyric option, we didn’t change the original recording, and then we gave the option to play whatever the radio station wanted to play; they could play whatever they want,” Green said. “That line said the same thing to me. George Jones is what I’d be playing. So Merle Haggard and George Jones. I wrote the song kind of from the perspective of what I think my granddaddies would appreciate about the world today or what they would change and values they taught me, and I think that that’s what they would have said, so it’s definitely that more traditional country music that I grew up on.”

Green’s grandfathers played a role in shaping who he is today, with Buford Green sharing country music and Lendon Bonds inspiring a love of the outdoors. (Green’s Instagram handle is @rileyduckman and features a bevy of hunting pictures.) In October, Green launched the Buford Bonds Charitable Fund in memory of his grandfathers.

“It’s something that I’ve been wanting to do for a while. I only finally got it organized enough to be able to do it,” Green said. “It’s just something that initially was going to benefit veterans, and I wanted it to be something where we can take a portion of ticket sales from even this tour and tours going forward and just help any organization that’s kind of on our heart at the time. So it’s something that we have a lot of freedom with but also a lot of ability to use some of what we’re blessed with to be able to help others.”