Jamey Johnson Opens Up About His Friendship With Riley Green: ‘A Natural Connection’
Johnson appreciates Green’s sense of humor.
Photo Courtesy of Jamey Johnson, Riley Green
You could say Jamey Johnson and Riley Green were cut from the same cloth.
Both Alabama natives, they even attended the same college (Jacksonville State), share a love for golfing, and have a knack for humor. Over time, they’ve formed a close friendship.
“There’s a natural connection with us there,” Johnson recently shared. “I was immediately impressed with his writing and singing.”
Johnson went on to share his appreciation for Green’s quick wit.
“One of my favorite things about Riley is his sense of humor, and he can take as much as he dishes out, so that’s why we are always hurling comments at each other,” Johnson says. “Recently, when one of the videos caught some traction, I felt bad about it. You don’t hear him giving me crap. You just hear me messing with him and it’s not a good look, so I had to call and apologize for that!”
The two have shared the stage and events on multiple occasions, from Losers Bar and Grill in Nashville to the Windy City Smokeout, Green’s Buford Bonds Foundation Golf Tournament, and the Regions Celebrity Golf Tournament. They’ve even collaborated on stage to perform songs like Johnson’s classics like “In Color” and “High Cost of Living.”
Now, the pair has teamed up for their first official duet, “Smoke,” a breakup song with plenty of attitude. The title takes on a few different meanings as the story unfolds, from the dust her tires kick up as she pulls away, to the cigarette haze they use to dull the pain. No matter how it shows up, one thing’s clear: instead of dealing with the heartbreak, they’re choosing to disappear behind the smoke.
Co-written by Johnson, Green and Erik Dylan, “Smoke” was crafted inside two iconic spaces: The Cash Cabin and Big Gassed Studios. The track was produced by Kyle Lehning and Jim “Moose” Brown, with T.W. Cargile on recording and mixing. Johnson has worked with Lehning before on a Randy Travis tribute project, but “Smoke” is the first time they’ve partnered together from the ground up on one of his own songs.
According to Johnson, the concept for the song came from Green.
“He called me and we booked some time to get together with Erik Dylan. We sat down and scribbled it out over the course of about an hour,” Johnson recalled. “It has an interesting sound to it, with one part going down while the other part is going up. I like the whole concept of this guy not being too upset about whatever she is mad at. That smoke probably has a lot to do with it.”
“Writing this song with Jamey was a lot of fun,” Green added. “After spending time on the road together earlier this year, it just felt natural to get in the studio and make some country music together.”
“Smoke” arrives just in time, with Johnson set to join Green’s Damn Country Music Tour for nine dates throughout the month of November.
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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