NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Two Alabama powerhouses unite on “Smoke,” a new song performed by Jamey Johnson and Riley Green and co-written with Erik Dylan. Johnson and Green’s newest track explores the different creations of smoke, from anger and cars to gravel and cigarettes. Listen to “Smoke” here.
Johnson also joins Green’s Damn Country Music Tour in November for nine dates:
Nov. 6 | Grand Rapids, MI
Nov. 7 | St. Louis, MO
Nov. 8 | Kansas City, MO
Nov. 13 | University Park, PA
Nov. 14 | Toledo, OH
Nov. 15 | Peoria, IL
Nov. 20 | Lincoln, NE
Nov. 21 | Oklahoma City, OK
Nov. 22 | North Little Rock, AR
It was Riley’s idea, He called me and we booked some time to get together with Erik Dylan. We sat down and scribbled it out over the course of about an hour. It has an interesting sound to it, with one part going down while the other part is going up. I like the whole concept of this guy not being too upset about whatever she is mad at. That smoke probably has a lot to do with it.
– JAMEY JOHNSON
Written with Erik Dylan, Green and Johnson recorded “Smoke” at The Cash Cabin and Big Gassed Studios. “Smoke” is produced by Kyle Lehning and Jim “Moose” Brown and recorded/mixed by T.W. Cargile. Although Johnson previously worked with Lehning on a Randy Travis tribute record, this was the first time the two worked together from start to finish on one of his songs.
“It was just a blast getting to write with Riley and Erik and a great song to get to record with Kyle and Moose at the helm,” Johnson says.
Johnson and Green attended the same college, Jacksonville State, and share a deep love of Alabama and its people. “There’s a natural connection with us there,” Johnson says. “I was immediately impressed with his writing and singing.”
Although the good friends have performed live and played golf together, “Smoke” marks the first recording they have created together. Green and Johnson share a love of music and lots of laughter when they are in the same room.
“Writing this song with Jamey was a lot of fun, after spending time on the road together earlier this year, it just felt natural to get in the studio and make some country music together.”
– RILEY GREEN
“Writing this song with Jamey was a lot of fun,” Green shares. “After spending time on the road together earlier this year, it just felt natural to get in the studio and make some country music together.”
Green and Johnson have appeared together at places such as Losers Bar and Grill in Nashville, the Windy City Smokeout, Green’s Buford Bonds Foundation Golf Tournament and Regions Celebrity Golf Tournament and have performed duets together, such as Johnson’s “In Color” and “High Cost of Living.” Videos capturing the two teasing each other while golfing have become popular online.
“One of my favorite things about Riley is his sense of humor, and he can take it as much as he dishes it out, so that’s why we are always hurling comments at each other,” Johnson says. “Recently, when one of the videos caught some traction, I felt bad about it. You don’t hear him giving me crap. You just hear me messing with him and it’s not a good look, so I had to call and apologize for that!”
Johnson jokes that he needs to apologize again to Green, this time for recording the song that was Riley’s idea soon after it was written. “I guess I should have talked to him before I ran into the studio and recorded it,” he says. “But I did what I did! I called and said, ‘Hey, where are you? I just recorded it.’ If he was thinking about recording it and putting it on his record, I guess I ruined that! My apologies to Riley Green.
“I am usually the guy that is pretty safe to write with because for 14 years I didn’t put anything out. Nobody had any indication that I would be running to the studio. Unfortunately for Riley, I had a studio session booked the next week, so we definitely grabbed ‘Smoke’ and went to work on it. I probably owe Riley a song!”
The song’s all-star band includes Jim “Moose” Brown on acoustic guitar and B-3 organ, Bobby Terry on steel and acoustic guitar, Shawn Camp on acoustic guitar, Larry Paxton on bass, Greg Marrow on drums, James Mitchell on electric guitar, Eric Darken on percussion and Wyatt Beard adding background vocals.
Green and Johnson’s chorus reads:
Couldn’t see which way she went
Or which way I went wrong
Couldn’t see why she left so early
Or why she stayed so long
There was something burning my eyes
Turning my head to stone
I bet it would’ve hurt to watch her go
Good thing I can’t see through all this smoke
“Smoke” is available now on all streaming platforms. Listen to “Smoke” here.
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About Jamey Johnson:
Ten-time GRAMMY nominee Jamey Johnson has been called “one of the greatest country singers of our time,” by The Washington Post. His music has garnered international acclaim and is embraced by fans of classic and contemporary country, as well as Americana and mainstream rock. He released his latest album, Midnight Gasoline, a collaboration between his label, Big Gassed Records, and Warner Music Nashville, in November 2024. He released a new song, “Never Gonna Be,” with Ronnie Dunn on Sept. 12.
The Grand Ole Opry member is also widely regarded as one of the greatest country songwriters of his generation. He is one of only two people in the history of country music (along with Kris Kristofferson) to win two Song of the Year awards in the same year – for “Give It Away” and “In Color” – from the Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Association.
A consummate storyteller, his songs have been recorded by George Strait, Trace Adkins, Willie Nelson, James Otto, Joe Nichols and others.
His recent prime-time television performances have been widely recognized as the best of the shows, from singing “Georgia on My Mind” in the CBS special Willie Nelson’s 90th Birthday Celebration” and “Angels Among Us” for the CMT Giants: Alabama to performing “Beer for My Horses” with Lainey Wilson for the top-rated NBC special Toby Keith: American Icon” (available to stream on Peacock.)
The Recording Industry Association of America recently honored him for sales/streams of 9 million, including the 5X platinum-certified single “In Color,” the 2X platinum-certified album That Lonesome Song, the platinum-certified single “High Cost of Living,” the gold-certified song “Between Jennings and Jones” and the gold-certified single “That Lonesome Song.”
About Riley Green:
CMA and ACM Award winner, Riley Green has been compelling Country music fans to raise a drink, shed a tear, and, above all, celebrate where they are from, since first releasing his self-titled EP in 2018. His songs like the No. 1 2X-PLATINUM hit “There Was This Girl,” the 3X-PLATINUM-certified heart-tugger “I Wish Grandpas Never Died,” and his chart-topping collab with Thomas Rhett, “Half Of Me,” have made Riley synonymous with what Country Music does best: making listeners feel something with his no-gimmick, relatable writing and classic feel.
An avid sports fan, former athlete (Jacksonville State University quarterback) and outdoorsman, Riley is riding a wave of success after receiving four Academy of Country Music awards, being previously named a MusicRow Breakout Artist of the Year, a CMT “Listen Up Artist,” and one of CRS’s 2020 New Faces. Combs joined Riley on his PLATINUM No. 1 single “Different ‘Round Here (Ft. Luke Combs),” the title track to Riley’s 2019 debut album that he re-recorded with Combs after seeing how fans connected to it.
The singer-songwriter’s third studio album, Don’t Mind If I Do, produced by Dann Huff, arrived on his birthday, October 18, via Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment, with more of the signature Riley Green fans have come to know and love from the good ol’ boy who still lives in his hometown of Jacksonville, AL. Most recently, Green released the deluxe version, Don’t Mind If I Do (Deluxe), which includes six brand new tracks. Currently on an incredible hot streak, Green’s well-earned confidence in his work shines through across the 18-track set with five of the tracks being solely written including standouts “Jesus Saves,” the 2X-PLATINUM “Worst Way” and the title track—which finds Green reuniting with his “you look like you love me” duet partner. Green is currently on the road for his headlining Damn Country Music Tour, which kicked off in Canada and finds him making stops across the US and UK this fall. Please see dates and learn more at rileygreenmusic.com.
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