Fans absolutely lost it after witnessing Riley Green’s explosive performance at the 2025 CMAs, with one person screaming online, “I’ve never wanted to be a microphone more than right now.” And honestly? You can’t blame them. Riley didn’t just sing—he blew the roof clean off the arena. His red-hot, heart-ripping performance of “Worst Way” hit so hard it felt like the whole building shook. The moment he hit that final note, Keith Urban shot out of his seat, yelling “WOAHH!” like he’d just seen lightning strike the stage. Backstage, Riley’s girlfriend was in tears—happy, stunned, overwhelmed—because Nashville had just witnessed the most earth-shaking, stop-everything-and-watch moment of the entire night. It wasn’t just a performance. It was a detonation.

  • byJasmin
  • November 24, 2025
  • 2 minute read
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Riley Green performs his hit song
Riley Green performs his hit song “Worst Way” at the 59th Annual CMA Awards (Photo Credit: Jason Kempin/Getty Images)

Riley Green’s Song “Worst Way” Just Might Be His Steamiest

Country singer Riley Green released “Worst Way” on March 29, 2024 as promotional single for his album Way Out Here. Over a year later, on February 10, 2025, Green sent “Worst Way” to radio, and just a few months after that, the song hit number one on Billboard‘s Country Airplay Chart, making it Green’s first time sitting on top of the chart as a solo artist.

As Green sent the single to radio, he also released an accompanying music video two days later, which sent the Internet into a frenzy. The video features some incredibly steamy scenes between Green and his love interest, Stephanie Ludwig, who fans called “the luckiest girl in the world.”

Green and Ludwig acted out the lyrics of “Worst Way” in multiple locations including his home and at a restaurant in front of plenty of patrons!

 

Riley Brings “Worst Way” To The CMA Awards

On November 13th, the Country Music Association announced the second round of performers for the 2025 CMA Awards. The announcement revealed that Kelsea Ballerini, Brandi Carlile, Kenny Chesney, Riley Green, Miranda Lambert & Chris Stapleton, Patty Loveless, Old Dominion, The Red Clay Strays, and Chris Stapleton would all be performing.

Riley Green announced as a CMA Awards performer
Riley Green announced as a CMA Awards performer (Photo Credit: CMA / Instagram)

Along with performing, Green was also up for Musical Event of the Year for “Don’t Mind If I Do” with Ella Langley, and Single of the Year, Song of the Year, and Music Video of the Year for their duet “you look like you love me.”

Despite being up for four awards, Green wasn’t nominated for any awads as a solo artist, which angered some fans! But, at the time he performed “Worst Way,” he had taken home three CMA Awards: Music Video of the Year, Song of the Year, and Single of the Year. They lost Musical Event of the Year to Post Malone and Blake Shelton.

Green kicked off the performance with a guitar solo before diving into the steamy lyrics that include, “So close all the blinds, lock all the doors / Put away anything that’ll break / Baby, I need you tonight.”

It’s clear the audience loved the performance, and so did fans at home! See some reactions below.

What did you think of Riley’s performance? Watch it below.

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“EVERY EYE IN THE STADIUM HELD BACK TEARS AS THEY STEPPED OUT OF THE SHADOWS.” Lady Gaga, Barefoot In White, And Bruce Springsteen, Telecaster In Hand, Collided On The MetLife Stage In A Moment So Raw, So Electrifying, That The Crowd Forgot How To Breathe.

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