A lot of times when country stars start making some money, they think about splurging on something like a house or a car, or maybe things for their loved ones. One thing Riley Green won’t ever have to think about buying is a house, because back when he was framing houses, before he got into music, he says, “I built a house bigger than I’ll ever need in Pleasant Valley, Alabama, right outside Jacksonville, and I’ll never sell that house. I’ll always have it. I’ve got a barn out there.”
The house has become a place his whole family can use for special gatherings and celebrations. In fact, he says, “My grandmother had her 84th birthday out there and they sent me pictures. I was on the road but they had the party at my house.”
But that’s exactly how Riley hoped it would be. He says, “I just always thought, man, it would be cool for me to have the house that all the family came over to, especially now. I mean, I didn’t know I’d be doing what I’m doing, but with the travel it’s just nice for me to be able to go home and everybody show up at my place and come visit.”
Riley has a place to live in Nashville because he realizes, “You need to be in Nashville to make much of a living in country music.” But he says, “My home’s always going to be in Alabama. And that’s one great thing about where I am, it’s not too terribly far away. I can jump in the car and sneak down there every once in a while.”
For now, Riley is out on the road playing shows and promoting his latest single, “I Wish Grandpas Never Died,” through mid-December, although he might get to sneak down to Alabama for Thanksgiving. Then he’ll have a couple of weeks off before he rings in the New Year with a show about four hours south of his house, in New Brockton, Alabama.
Riley Green – big house in AL :39
“I built a house bigger than I’ll ever need in Pleasant Valley, Alabama, right outside Jacksonville, and I’ll never sell that house. I’ll always have it. I’ve got a barn out there. My grandmother had her 84th birthday out there and they sent me pictures. I was on the road but they had the party at my house. I just always thought man, it would be cool for me to have the house that all the family came over to, especially now. I mean, I didn’t know I’d be doing what I’m doing, but with the travel it’s just nice for me to be able to go home and everybody show up at my place and come visit. You need to be in Nashville to make much of a living in country music. This is just such an amazing place with the people you can meet and writers and everything else, but my home’s always going to be in Alabama. And that’s one great thing about where I am, it’s not too terribly far away. I can jump in the car and sneak down there every once in a while.”