Riley Green Nabs First-Ever Spot in PEOPLE’s Sexiest Man Alive Poll, Reveals How He Stays Sane

Riley Green is in the running for one of PEOPLE’s Sexiest Men Alive in the 2025 Readers’ Choice Poll. He is up against Cody Johnson, Shaboozey and Warren Zeiders in the category of the “sexiest country singer.”

Each year, PEOPLE’s Sexiest Man Alive is a highly talked about moment in pop culture and this time, fans get to help shape the issue. The Readers’ Choice Poll allows readers to cast their vote across various categories, from rising heartthrobs to “green flag” fictional characters and more. While other country stars have made the popular list in the past, this marks Green’s first time in the running.

While the spotlight may be shining on him, Green’s heart remains rooted in his hometown of Jacksonville, Alabama, which often acts as an escape for him, away from all the glamour and business of his everyday life as a country star. Having that balance between the spotlight and small-town life is what he says keeps him grounded.

“Well, I’ve always enjoyed the little, small town I grew up in. I still got a farm there in Jacksonville, Alabama, and my whole family grew up in that little community,” Green said during his visit to the Smooth Country studio. “So when I get to go home, I always say that’s like a vacation for me is going to the farm. And life just moves a lot slower down there.”

Thinking Of Life On The Farm

Even when he’s touring the world and staying busy with life on the road, Green admits a part of him is always thinking about the slower way of life back on the farm and what tasks he can work on when he returns.

“I’m constantly on the road thinking about what little project I’m going to work on or where I’m going to take the bulldozer over here and clear this spot off. And I think that’s what keeps me sane is having that consistency there because the rest of my life is so all over the place,” he admits.

Getting to go back to that simplicity doesn’t just bring peace of mind for the Alabama native. It also fuels his creativity for his music.

“Well, I always say what I do for a living is not really reality. People chanting your name and wearing fake mustaches when you walk on stage, that’s not real life. So it’s nice for me to have that reminder when I go home to this is what life’s really about,” he continued. “And like I said, I think that’s where I get most of my inspiration from my songs is from that place.”

Green Is Open To More Collaborations

Having this constant flow of inspiration on the farm allows Green to always be thinking about what’s next. He just dropped the deluxe version of his of his RIAA Gold-certified third LP, Don’t Mind If I Do album, which featured six brand-new songs including collaborations with Willie Nelson, Randy Houser and Hannah McFarland.”

Riley Green already has some impressive collaborations under his belt, and he says he won’t be shying away from any other opportunities that might come his way.

“It’s done so well for me,” he said of his collection of collaborations. “And again, it’s just got to be something that really makes sense. And the word I use is organic. Just meaning that the timing’s right. It’s somebody that maybe I’m on tour with or somebody that I’ve crossed paths with and musically, and I’m always looking for that thing.”

A New Project Could Be Dropping In Spring 2026

He added that more music is “certainty” coming and hinted that a new project could come as early as next spring.

“I know it seems like we just put some music out, but really, I think maybe every artist is that way. But I’m always itching for the next thing, and I always love the last song that I wrote. That’s always my favorite. So we’re going to get some dates in the studio this fall and try to put a record out in the spring next year.”

Meanwhile, the multi-PLATINUM, ACM and CMA Award-winning singer-songwriter will continue his Damn Country Music Tour with dates through November.