Country music star and The Voice Season 30 coach Riley Green may have millions of fans, but finding someone special hasn’t been as easy as people might imagine.
The singer recently opened up about his dating life, explaining that his demanding career and life in the spotlight make it difficult to build a relationship. And when it comes to choosing a future girlfriend, he has two very important people in mind: his mother and his beloved dog, Carl.
Interestingly, Green says he doesn’t really care whether a potential partner comes from Nashville, Alabama, or somewhere else. But there’s one playful condition she might have to meet before winning his heart.
Here are five things to know about his surprising comments.
1. His future girlfriend doesn’t have to come from a particular place
During an appearance on TODAY while promoting The Voice, Green was asked whether he would prefer dating someone from Nashville or his home state of Alabama.
His answer was surprisingly relaxed.
“I don’t know what I’m looking for, you know? I don’t care where they live at,” he explained.
Rather than focusing on where someone comes from, Green seems more interested in finding a person he genuinely connects with. He admitted that he hasn’t figured out exactly what he wants in a relationship, but he knows that his family and his dog will have a special place in the decision.
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2. His mother has an important say in his love life
One of Green’s biggest priorities is finding someone his mother will like.
When discussing his ideal girlfriend, he said, “Probably just somebody that I think my mom will like.”
His relationship with his mother, Karen, appears to be especially close. In a separate interview with PEOPLE, Green spoke about how she supported him throughout his life, from attending his sporting events to taking him to guitar lessons.
He even recalled how she surprised him at an album signing. It’s clear that her support has meant a lot throughout his journey, so it’s understandable that her opinion would matter when it comes to someone entering his life.
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3. His dog Carl might be the real relationship judge
Perhaps the funniest part of Green’s confession involved his dog, Carl.
The country singer joked that his future girlfriend would also need to win Carl’s approval.
“If Carl and my mom like her — Carl’s my dog — …We should just line ’em up and have Carl see who he goes to,” he joked.
Carl isn’t just an ordinary pet in Green’s life. The dog has become a familiar face among fans, with his own social media following and appearances alongside the singer.
Carl is a Cowboy Corgi, a mix of Pembroke Welsh Corgi and Australian cattle dog. And if Green’s joke is anything to go by, this four-legged companion could have quite an important role in his future dating life!
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4. Fame and his busy schedule make dating difficult
Although Green is often surrounded by people during concerts and public appearances, he explained that meeting someone genuinely interested in him can be complicated.
During a July 2026 appearance on Theo Von’s This Past Weekend podcast, he discussed how difficult it can be to meet someone when you’re constantly travelling and living in the public eye.
He explained that he doesn’t expect to meet a potential girlfriend at his shows or through Instagram. He also admitted that being recognized in public can make ordinary social situations uncomfortable.
Green said he sometimes feels anxious when people suddenly focus their attention on him in places where he is simply trying to relax.
With touring, recording, acting and coaching on The Voice taking up so much of his time, finding space for a relationship has become another challenge.
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5. He’s not giving up on love — but he knows his lifestyle needs to change
In his October 2026 interview with PEOPLE, Green confirmed that he is still single and admitted that his current lifestyle makes settling down difficult.
He spends more than 200 days a year on the road, and his schedule has become even busier with his music career, acting work on Marshals, and coaching duties on The Voice.
He even joked that he hadn’t seen Carl in a month.
“I can barely make this lifestyle work!” he admitted.
That doesn’t mean he has no interest in having a family someday. Green said he would like to have children and spoke warmly about his nephew, Joe, whom he enjoys watching play sports.
He also shared his idea of a perfect date: steak followed by an old movie at a drive-in theatre.
And when asked what he finds attractive in a partner, his answer went beyond appearance. He said he likes someone who is passionate about something they enjoy and loves hearing people talk about their interests.
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So, is Riley Green ready for a relationship?
For now, Green seems focused on balancing a career that keeps getting bigger with the personal life he hopes to have one day.
His comments offer a glimpse of a more private side of the country star. He isn’t setting strict rules about where a future girlfriend must come from, but his mother and Carl might have a little influence in the process.
And perhaps the biggest obstacle isn’t finding someone who passes those two tests. It’s finding enough time to actually build a relationship.
What do you think — would you be nervous about meeting Riley Green’s mom and Carl? ❤️
