WATCH: Riley Green Pays Tribute to ALABAMA with Performance of ‘Dixieland Delight’ on ‘CMT GIANTS’ Special

Riley Green honors the legendary country music band, ALABAMA, with a performance of “Dixieland Delight,” a song he has been covering for over a decade now. Green’s lively delivery will air exclusively on CMT tonight, August 15, at 8/7c as part of a star-studded evening dubbed, “CMT GIANTS: ALABAMA.” This highly anticipated show welcomes some of the biggest names in the genre to pay tribute to the incredible career of one of the most successful country groups of all time and their impact on the genre. 

Fans instantly began clapping along to the song’s well-known beat as the “Worst Way” singer took the stage with his guitar and proudly tapped into the classic track that holds a special connection for him, as it serves as a reminder of his Alabama-bred roots and his early career. 

“I was looking forward to coming to see it and when I got a call to do a song and kind of tribute to the group, ALABAMA, it was for me personally, a huge honor from Alabama,” he shared in an interview with CMT. “Grew up listening to him as a kid. I have a great relationship with Randy over the years. He’s always been a really great mentor to me. So glad I can shine a little light on what an amazing career they had.”

“Dixieland Delight” was penned by Ronnie Rogers and dropped on January 28, 1983, via RCA Nashville Records as the lead single of ALABAMA’s seventh studio album, The Closer You Get. Following its release, the song became a staple of college football, particularly in Green’s home state among the fans of the Alabama Crimson Tide. 

“I think I’ve covered ‘Dixieland Delight’ at every show for well over a decade now. Very much an anthem in the state of Alabama. I grew up playing in all these college towns, so it’ll be pretty cool, probably a little bit nerve-wracking to play it for the group that made it famous,” Green admitted. “Obviously you want to do it justice. They made that song a giant hit, and I started out playing it for a bunch of drunks in a bar in Alabama. So this is to be a little bit different setting than tonight.”

From the vibrant energy radiating through the audience, it’s clear that Green certainly did the song justice. His authentic twang allowed him to execute the narrative that’s sung from the perspective of a man who’s elated to be spending a “Tennessee Saturday night” with his other half.

Green brought the house down and evoked a single-along as he broke out into the chorus, “Spend my dollar/ Parked in a holler ‘neath the mountain moonlight/ Hold her uptight, make a little lovin’/ A little turtle dovin’ on a Mason-Dixon night/ Fits my life, oh, so right/ My Dixieland delight.”

To close out the performance, he and the fiddle player took center stage and showed off their skills with the string instruments, earning a standing ovation from Randy Owen himself.

Riley Green joins a star-studded lineup of performers who have been tapped to appear on “CMT GIANTS: ALABAMA,” including Jason Aldean, Blake Shelton ft. Steve Wariner, Brad Paisley, Jamey Johnson, Jason Aldean, Little Big Town, Old Dominion, Pam Tillis & Lorrie Morgan, and Sam Hunt. These artists took the stage to deliver some of ALABAMA’s most legendary hits that are still fan favorites to this day.  

In addition to all the memorable performances, legendary figures such as Evander Holyfield, Lionel Richie, Luke Bryan, Martina McBride, Vince Gill and more will appear both in-person and virtually to reminisce on personal stories from ALABAMA’s musical journey and their impact on the genre. Their sentimental memories will be paired with rare photos, performance footage and interviews from the vault. 

Plus, viewers will see an all-new sit down with ALABAMA themselves as they reflect on their success that began over 50 years ago when Jeff Cook, Teddy Gentry and Randy Owen left the cotton farms of Fort Payne, Alabama to spend the summer playing music in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. For six years they made their earnings through tip jars until finally landing major label deal and kickstarting their dreams with a major label deal. 

The band was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2005 and went on to create iconic hit songs like “Mountain Music,” “Roll On,” “Dixieland Delight” and “If You’re Gonna Play In Texas (You Gotta Have A Fiddle In The Band).” Even after losing co-founder Jeff Cook in November 2022 to a long battle with Parkinson’s disease, ALABAMA has carried on his legacy by continuing to tour on a limited basis. They are currently on their Roll On II North America Tour, and next slated to perform in Stateline, NV on September 13. 

The CMT GIANTS franchise launched in 2006 as a way to celebrate the careers of country music’s most legendary artists. Singer/songwriters who have previously been recognized include Reba McEntire (2006), Hank Williams, Jr. (2007), Alan Jackson (2008), Kenny Rogers (2020), Charley Pride (2021) and Vince Gill (2022).