Riley Green Opens Up About Love, His Most Romantic Gesture and the Woman Who Gave Him Confidence

Riley Green may be enjoying one of the biggest chapters of his career, but behind the country star’s growing fame is a man who still puts family first, appreciates the lessons he learned from his mother and hopes to find time for love despite a demanding schedule.

The 38-year-old singer, known for seven No. 1 songs and the multi-platinum hit “Worst Way,” recently opened up about his personal life, songwriting, acting and new role as a coach on NBC’s The Voice. He also shared what he finds attractive in a partner and recalled a romantic surprise he once arranged at his Alabama farm.

Green’s appearance in PEOPLE’s 2026 Sexiest Men Alive issue offers a glimpse of the man behind the cowboy image: someone who enjoys old cars, classic romantic comedies, time with his family and the simple pleasures that can be difficult to maintain amid a rapidly expanding career.

Riley Green Credits His Mother for His Confidence

Despite his growing celebrity status, Green is quick to acknowledge the person who helped shape his confidence long before his music career took off: his mother, Karen.

The singer recalled how she supported him throughout his childhood and athletic years, always making sure he felt good about himself.

“She used to tell me I looked the best in my uniform at every sporting event I ever played,” Green said.

That encouragement has continued into adulthood. During an album signing at Target, Karen surprised her son by showing up to support him, a gesture that reminded him how consistently she has been there for him.

“She’s always been there. She took me to guitar lessons. That’s about as much support as you can get as a musician,” he said.

For Green, that unwavering support has meant far more than encouragement at individual performances. His mother helped lay the foundation for the confidence he carries into his work today.

And even as his career expands into new areas, he remains focused on making his family proud rather than simply adding more achievements to his résumé.

“My list is things that I think would mean a lot to my folks and my grandparents,” he explained. “I’ve accomplished way more than I ever thought I would.”

The Country Star Who Learned to Win Over a Crowd

Green’s path into country music was not something he carefully planned from the beginning.

Growing up, he developed a love for the genre partly through his grandfather, Buford, who enjoyed country music. The two would sit together playing guitars when Green visited his grandfather’s house.

After college, however, Green found himself at a crossroads. Having finished his athletic career, he needed something new to pursue. He was working construction while playing in bars and writing songs with friends around campfires.

At first, songwriting was simply something he enjoyed doing in his spare time. That changed when he began performing his own material in front of live audiences.

Green noticed that certain lyrics could capture people’s attention even in venues where the crowd had not come specifically to see him.

“I’d notice that this guy set his beer down when I said this one line. I thought, ‘Man, I need to do more of that,’” he recalled.

Performing in bars taught him how to connect with listeners who might otherwise have little interest in the music. Some people were there to eat, drink and socialize, and not everyone wanted the band to turn up the volume.

Learning to hold their attention became an important part of his development as a songwriter.

When asked whether he had learned to write songs that would make people put their beers down, Green offered a playful alternative.

“Yeah. Or raise them up. One of the two.”

That practical experience helped shape his approach to writing, giving him a better understanding of how a song could make an audience stop, listen and respond.

Why “My Way” Is His Favorite Track on the New Album

Green’s latest album, That’s Just Me, continues to showcase the songwriting that helped establish his career.

Among its tracks, he singled out “My Way” as his favorite.

The song was released shortly before the full album arrived in September, giving it time to become part of his live performances.

Green particularly appreciates its recognizable guitar introduction, which allows audiences to identify the song almost immediately.

“It’s got such a recognizable lick and that intro guitar that people know it immediately,” he said. “That’s always been a cool thing for me.”

For a performer who learned so much from playing in front of live audiences, that immediate connection remains meaningful. Seeing listeners recognize a song from its opening notes is one of the rewards of building a catalog that people genuinely enjoy.

Acting Took Green Outside His Comfort Zone

Music may be Green’s established profession, but acting has opened another door he never expected to walk through.

His television work includes an appearance in Marshals, the Yellowstone spinoff series. Green admitted that the possibility of acting successfully had not even occurred to him before the opportunity arose.

“That I could even remotely act was news to me,” he said. “And going into something like that, truly not knowing if you can do it is a pretty scary thing.”

He credits Luke Grimes, whom he described as a talented performer and a great person, with helping him find his footing in the unfamiliar environment.

Grimes appeared in many of Green’s scenes, and having someone he already knew made the experience considerably less intimidating.

For Green, the opportunity was ultimately an exciting chance to try something different and discover whether he could succeed beyond music.

Joining The Voice Has Brought a Different Kind of Excitement

Green has also taken on a new role as a coach on Season 30 of NBC’s The Voice.

The experience has placed him alongside Queen Latifah, Adam Levine, Kelly Clarkson and host Carson Daly, all of whom he praised.

“I couldn’t have picked better people to be around,” he said of his fellow personalities on the show.

Although much of the season was recorded in advance, Green is particularly looking forward to the live episodes, which begin November 9.

One aspect of the competition makes the experience especially appealing to him: he will not have to make the difficult decisions about which contestants go home.

“The fun thing about the live shows beginning Nov. 9 is I’ll be finding out results like everybody else,” he explained. “And I’m really excited that I’m not having to send people home! I’m glad America can do it, and I’ll just try to help them along the way.”

His role allows him to share his musical experience with aspiring singers while leaving the final decisions to the voting audience.

Riley Green Is Open to Love, but His Schedule Is a Challenge

While Green’s professional life continues to expand, his romantic life is a different story.

The singer is open to settling down and having children someday, but his demanding schedule makes it difficult to imagine how a relationship would fit into his current lifestyle.

A career that keeps him on the road for more than 200 days a year already presents challenges. Adding filming commitments for The Voice has made his schedule even busier, with time in Los Angeles becoming another regular part of his routine.

“I think that’s probably a battle for anybody that’s in a demanding position … just a career where you’re on the road 200-plus days a year,” he said.

Green admitted that he was already busy before joining the show, and his current commitments have made balancing work and personal life even harder.

He has not given up on the idea of becoming a father, however. When discussing the possibility of having a son, he joked that if he liked his child nearly as much as he likes his nephew, Joe, they would get along just fine.

For now, family remains a major source of happiness. Green said he relies on FaceTime calls with his nephew, watching the youngster play sports and catching up with relatives to stay connected while he is away.

Even his dog, Carl, has felt the effects of his busy schedule. Green joked that he had not seen Carl in a month, illustrating just how difficult it has become to spend time with the people and animals he loves.

“We’re all still really close,” he said of his family. “They make it bearable in a pretty hectic lifestyle right now.”

For someone who spends so much time traveling and working, those connections help keep him grounded.

His Ideal Date Involves an Old Car and a Romantic Comedy

Green’s idea of a perfect date is considerably more relaxed than his high-profile career might suggest.

Rather than describing an extravagant evening, he imagined a steak dinner followed by a movie at a drive-in theater.

“I’m a big movie guy. If I could find a drive-in, wouldn’t that be cool? I’m sure they still have them,” he said.

The vehicle would be another important part of the experience. Green owns several cars and has a particular fondness for older models, including a 1972 Ford Bronco.

He suggested taking the Bronco, removing its top and heading out for the evening.

As for the movie, Green has no problem admitting that romantic comedies have a place in his viewing habits.

He enjoys films associated with Matthew McConaughey, including How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, as well as The Wedding Planner, The Wedding Date and My Best Friend’s Wedding.

Having two sisters helped introduce him to the genre, he explained, so these films are familiar territory.

His sisters also taught him a few lessons about relationships, particularly the importance of recognizing that he is not always right and that some disagreements are not worth pursuing.

“I didn’t win a lot of arguments,” he joked.

The admission offers a more playful glimpse of the singer, who is comfortable poking fun at himself rather than trying to maintain an overly polished public image.

The Romantic Surprise That Did Not Go Quite as Planned

Green may have a soft spot for romantic movies, but his own attempt at creating a memorable romantic moment did not end quite like a Hollywood ending.

He recalled one Valentine’s Day when he decided to surprise a woman by setting up an old-fashioned white canvas tent at a particularly scenic spot on his Alabama farm, overlooking a lake.

He decorated the tent with string lights and arranged a campfire, creating the atmosphere for a private evening outdoors.

The challenge was getting everything ready without giving away the surprise.

Because the woman was already there, Green repeatedly used checking on the animals as an excuse to leave and return to the setup, putting up the tent one pole at a time.

He remembered the gesture fondly, although he was uncertain how the woman had felt about it.

When the interviewer suggested that such a thoughtful plan could hardly go wrong, Green delivered the punchline himself.

“Well, it didn’t go that well. I mean, here we are,” he said with a laugh.

The story reveals a more self-deprecating side of the country star. Despite his romantic intentions, even a carefully planned evening with a tent, lights and a campfire does not guarantee the outcome someone hopes for.

What Green Finds Attractive in a Partner

When it comes to attraction, Green’s answer has little to do with appearances.

For him, one of the most appealing qualities in another person is genuine passion for something they love.

“Sexy… somebody that’s passionate about something,” he explained.

Green believes modern life offers so many distractions that it can be difficult for people to give their full attention to one interest. That makes it especially attractive when someone is deeply engaged in an activity or subject that matters to them.

The interest itself is not important. It could be hunting, golf, shopping or something entirely different.

What matters is the enthusiasm behind it.

“I think there’s something attractive about somebody that has a thing that they like and they’re passionate about it,” he said. “And to me, it’s interesting to hear about those things from somebody else.”

For Green, that kind of enthusiasm makes a person interesting and creates an opportunity to learn about something beyond his own world.

It is a straightforward definition of attraction, grounded in curiosity, individuality and the ability to appreciate what someone else cares about.

Staying Grounded Amid His Growing Fame

Green’s career has reached new heights, with the success of “Worst Way,” his That’s Just Me album, his acting work and his coaching role on The Voice all adding to an increasingly busy professional life.

His new recognition as one of PEOPLE’s 2026 Sexiest Men Alive is another milestone, although it is not the first time he has received that kind of attention.

He previously won the title of Sexiest Country Star in the publication’s 2025 Readers’ Choice Poll. At the time, his friends gave him plenty of teasing over the distinction, and Green expects the jokes to continue following his latest recognition.

“I’ll get teased,” he said cheekily, “but nobody can ever take this away from me!”

Despite the attention, Green’s priorities remain rooted in the people closest to him. He is happiest when he can return to Alabama, spend time with family, watch his nephew play football and work on his farm, including digging a lake.

Those quieter moments provide a contrast to the constant travel, performances and television commitments that now define much of his working life.

Green has already accomplished more than he once imagined possible. His next challenge may not be reaching another career milestone, but finding enough room in his packed schedule for the personal life he hopes to build.

For now, the country star is taking things as they come, staying close to his family and remaining open to whatever the future brings — including the possibility that love may eventually find its place alongside the music.