Almost any country artist would love the chance to be a coach on The Voice. But for the upcoming Season 30, the role goes to Riley Green, who reveals how he got one of the most coveted TV roles.
“There were mentions that there was interest, that I might be a possible candidate,” he reveals on Country Coutndown USA. “We were in LA, and I did a show at the Grammy Museum, and we did a Q&A before the show. We had a good rapport, and that got me the job.”
Green adds that producers also wanted someone similar to Blake Shelton, who was on The Voice for the first 23 seasons.
“The personality that Blake had is what they’re looking for,” Green adds. “I also did a spot on Jimmy Fallon, where I got to visit with him and teach him a duck call. Those two things got me the job.”
What Riley Green Says About Filming ‘The Voice’
Green will be joined this season by returning coaches Adam Levine and Kelly Clarkson, and fellow newcomer, Queen Latifah. The “Change My Mind” singer reveals that filming for the upcoming season has not yet begun.
“We start filming in the next couple of months,” Green shares. “I don’t know what to expect, except I know how the chair works. I haven’t met any of the other coaches yet. Kelly called me when I got the job. She’s a country fan, and I know she’s covered some of my songs. I’m not sure about any of it; it’s such a different thing. But I’ve met the team, and I know what they need from me. It’s helpful to watch Blake and [American Idol‘s] Luke Bryan, because now I know how to go about it, and I’m excited about the coaching part of it.”
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Riley Green Opens Up About His New Album, ‘That’s Just Me’
Green just released a new song, “Think As You Drunk,” from his next album, That’s Just Me. Green previously hinted that the record has a few collaborations. That’s Just Me also includes “My Way,” a song that was part of his time on the TV show, Marshals.
“The only thing I feel anxious about in my career is that I want to take every opportunity I’ve been given to get as much out of it as I can,” Green tells Billboard. “There’s no sense of ‘I can relax now.’ I’ve never felt that. It always feels like, ‘OK, this next album has got to be bigger than the last one.’”
“Think As You Drunk” includes a vocal from the late Toby Keith. Green reached out to Keith’s family, since his new song is reminiscent of Keith’s 2005 single, “As Good As I Once Was.”
“They completely thought it was a tip of the cap to Toby, so they wanted to have his vocal on it,” Green says. In a strange twist of irony, Green’s father used to joke that “As Good As I Once Was” was about his own life.”
That’s Just Me will be out on September 18. A premiere date for Season 30 of The Voice has yet to be revealed.
Photo Credit: NBC / Trae Patton