By almost any measure, Riley Green has made it.
The country singer from Alabama is one of the coaches on NBC’s “The Voice” this fall. His new album, “That’s Just Me,” came out in September, and he’s got a 2027 tour by the same name. Two weeks from tonight, on Wednesday, Nov 18, he’s also up for Musical Event of the Year at the CMA Awards for “If I Don’t Leave I’m Gonna Stay,” his song with Kentucky singer Carly Pearce.
So you’d think there wasn’t much left for him to want.
Riley would mostly agree. In a conversation with People magazine for its Sexiest Man Alive issue, reported by Taste of Country on Nov 2, he said his career has gone further than he ever expected.
“You know, there’s some really big moments that have happened, but I never thought any of that would happen. So for me to have a list, it’s been checked several times over.”
Still, there’s one thing he hasn’t done yet.
“I think maybe if I could ever become a member of the Opry, that’d be a pretty special thing.”
The Grand Ole Opry is Nashville’s most famous country music show. Lots of singers have performed there over the years. Membership is a different honor, and it’s by invitation only. Riley has played on that stage before, though he isn’t a member.
The Opry’s own channel shared a throwback clip of Riley performing there, and it’s a good look at the stage he’s talking about.
Riley performing on the Grand Ole Opry stage
Here’s the part that makes this story so sweet. Riley says the dream isn’t really about him.
“That’d be something, I think for me, my list is things that I think would mean a lot to my folks, you know, and my grandparents.”
He also brought up his granddaddy, Buford. “My granddaddy Buford, he passed away and I was just kind of getting started. So it’s been cool that I got to kind of take them along.”
His grandmother, Lola Jean, is still around. Taste of Country says she “even makes it out to some of his shows.”
You can see why the Opry would mean so much to a family like that. If you’d like to hear what a full Riley set on that famous stage sounds like, his own channel posted his Opry livestream.
Riley’s full Opry livestream set
Riley says going home and talking with family and friends keeps all of this in perspective. They’re quick to tell him what they’ve seen.
“They’re like, man, you did this or I saw you on so-and-so. So it reminds me how lucky I am to get to do what I do.”
It’s been a while since his first night on the Opry stage. In an interview with Hollywood+, he talked about his Opry debut along with a couple of his songs, so you can hear him tell it himself.
Riley talks about his Opry debut in an interview
Riley has already given his family plenty to be proud of. He’s talked before about how proud he is of his parents’ house and his dad’s truck.
For now, the Opry is still a dream sitting at the top of his list. When Riley talks about it, his mind goes straight to his folks and his grandparents. Lola Jean still makes it out to some of his shows, and you have to think she’d want a seat if that day ever comes.