Born 38 Years Ago Today in Alabama, the Division I Quarterback Turned Country Star Bringing the Neotraditional Sound Back to the Charts

Country singer Riley Green, born in Alabama on 18 October 1988, has built a career from playing small venues to topping country radio and selling out arenas. His path from college football to country music, alongside his traditional influences, reflects the article’s focus on his rise and the sound he has brought to the charts.

Green played quarterback for Jacksonville State University before working in construction and performing cover songs. He began writing his own material and released independent EPs before signing with Big Machine Label Group in 2018; his debut single, “There Was This Girl”, reached number one that year. He won the Academy of Country Music’s New Male Artist of the Year award in 2019 and has released four albums, most recently *That’s Just Me* in 2026, while appearing on *The Voice* and making his acting debut in *Marshals*.