Riley Green shares how Luke Grimes unexpectedly launched his acting career, reveals job he left behind
Riley Green may be one of country music’s rising stars, but his latest on-screen career move came with a little help from a famous friend.
During an appearance on "CBS Mornings" on Monday, the 37-year-old Alabama native revealed that "Yellowstone" star Luke Grimes helped open the door to his first acting role, encouraging Green to step outside his comfort zone and eventually helping land him a part on the CBS drama "Marshals."
"It happened so organically because he was starting his music career and coming to Nashville a little bit. We wrote together," said Green, who made his acting debut as Garrett — a former Navy SEAL struggling with PTSD — alongside Grimes in the "Yellowstone" spinoff.
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"He mentioned something about maybe I should act. I said, 'Well I'm interested.' He said, 'I've got this show.' A couple months later, I went out and read for a part. They said I got it. I flew back out to Utah and we filmed the show."
Earlier this year, Green admitted it's not every day an opportunity like that presents itself.
"I guess that doesn't happen all the time, where the star of the show sits in with somebody trying out for a part," Green told USA Today. "But man, I've got to be such good friends with Luke, and it makes it so much easier to step into a world that I wasn't necessarily comfortable in."
It was a dramatic change for a performer accustomed to playing sold-out concerts.
Green previously admitted acting was considerably more intimidating than taking the stage.
"I don’t get nervous going on stage anymore," Green previously told Fox News Digital at the "Marshals" premiere. "I’ve played enough shows now it kind of comes naturally, but this was a completely different world, and it’s not my set, it’s not my stage."
His Hollywood debut was the latest unexpected chapter in a career Green never necessarily envisioned for himself.
Long before he found fame, Green was earning his living as a construction worker, framing homes until he signed a record deal in 2018.
And according to Green, he wouldn't have been able to handle the spotlight at the time.
"I've been so fortunate that my success was gradual," he told the CBS hosts. "Early 20s, I don't know if I could have handled what I've got going on right now, but it's been really motivating. I've done it for well over 10 years now."
"I was building houses for a living. And I signed a record deal in 2018 and put my tool belt up and really went on the road heavy and it's just, as a songwriter, it's so great when people are like relating to the music, and you hear them singing those songs back to you."
"When you see it growing, it just makes you want to go play more shows and keep grinding," he continued. "So it's a really great time to be in country music because I think the genre as a whole is becoming more popular everywhere."
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Green signed with Big Machine Label Group in 2018 and broke through with "There Was This Girl," followed by hits including "I Wish Grandpas Never Died," "Half of Me," "Different 'Round Here," "You Look Like You Love Me" with Ella Langley and "Worst Way."
Yet despite his success — and his unexpected entry into Hollywood — Green has remained closely tied to the life he had before fame.
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He continues to live on his farm in Alabama rather than relocating full-time to Nashville.
"I feel like I’ve got every reason in the world to move to Nashville, and it’s just never crossed my mind," Green previously told Fox News Digital.
"Me in real life, I'd rather be on my bulldozer on a farm, or hunting somewhere."