Before Riley Green was selling out arenas, he was battling it out on CMT's 'Redneck Island.' Yes, the country music star has a reality TV past, and it's a lot more interesting than you might think!
From Redneck Island to Center Stage
In 2016, Green, alongside partner Becky Andrews, conquered Season 5 of the show, taking home a cool $100,000. The premise? Think 'Survivor' meets… well, a lot of redneck challenges in a remote location. Green himself admits he's not exactly the 'reality TV' type, but the experience proved to be a stepping stone in his career.
“I struggle to think about that too,” he said with a laugh on an episode of the Zach Sang Show, after host Zach Sang said he had trouble picturing Green on a reality show.
The Retirement That Wasn't
Green, who was playing local gigs in Alabama at the time, initially hesitated to join the show. However, the thought of the exposure for his music swayed him. While he didn't see an immediate surge in fans after his first appearance (he was eliminated early in Season 4), he returned for Season 5 and ultimately emerged victorious.
With $50,000 in his pocket (after splitting the winnings), Green thought he could retire. “I thought I was just gonna retire after that. I thought $50,000 was all I'll ever need,” he admits. He quickly learned a valuable lesson about taxes and the IRS!
Tonight Show Appearance
Fast forward to today, Riley Green is far from retired. In fact, he's scheduled to perform on the 'Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon' on September 4th, alongside guests like LL Cool J and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. From reality TV contestant to performing on national television, Green's journey is a testament to hard work, a little bit of luck, and a whole lot of talent.
- September 4th: Tune in to see Riley Green perform on the Tonight Show!
- Reality TV Past: Discover Green's surprising appearance on 'Redneck Island'.
- Financial Lessons: Learn how a $50,000 win turned into a quick lesson on taxes.