Riley Green Delivers Career-Defining Night At Bridgestone Arena In Sold-Out Nashville Show
Years of steady climb pay off as Riley Green headlines Bridgestone Arena for the first time in a sold-out Nashville moment.
Riley Green; Photo by Austin Screws
Country superstar Riley Green checked off a major career milestone on Saturday night, headlining Nashville’s iconic Bridgestone Arena for the first time as part of his Cowboy As It Gets Tour in front of a sold-out crowd in Music City.
The Alabama native took the stage around 9:20 p.m., starting the night with a signature duck call into the mic that instantly set off a huge reaction from the capacity crowd.
Green launched into “Different ‘Round Here,” “Damn Good Day To Leave,” and “If It Wasn’t For Trucks” before welcoming the night’s first special guest, longtime friend and fellow Alabama native Jamey Johnson, for a pair of songs: “Where The Corn Don’t Grow” and “In Color.”
It was a full-circle moment for Green, who has long credited Johnson as one of the biggest influences on his career.
From there, Green kept the momentum going with fan favorites like “Georgia Time” and “Rather Be” before slowing things down for “Make It Rain.”
Throughout the night, the platinum-selling star kept production simple, with no over-the-top pyrotechnics, just a massive video screen behind him, keeping the focus on the songs and performance.
Fans sang along all night and were later surprised with a guest appearance from Carly Pearce for their hit duet, “If I Don’t Leave I’m Gonna Stay.”
After a pair of Toby Keith covers, Green then made his way through the crowd, stopping for high-fives and fist bumps as he walked to the B-stage, where he showcased a stripped-down set featuring three of his solo-written tracks: the emotional “Jesus Saves,” the newly released “My Way,” and the chart-topping “Don’t Mind If I Do,” joined by opener Mackenzie Carpenter.
He closed out the night with some of his biggest hits to date, including “There Was This Girl,” “Worst Way,” and “I Wish Grandpas Never Died.”
This show marked a defining moment in Riley Green’s career: his biggest headlining tour yet and a clear sign that this is his moment. From playing bars and clubs to now commanding arenas like Bridgestone, his rise has been steady, hard-earned, and Saturday night felt like the payoff.
The night also showed what makes him stand out as a live performer. He doesn’t rely on flashy production or over-the-top staging, just well-written songs, a solid voice, and a crowd that knows every word.
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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