Riley Green & Jamey Johnson Share the Stage for a Powerful “In Color” Duet
Riley Green has never been shy about crediting Jamey Johnson as one of his biggest musical influences. Now, years after first bonding over their shared Alabama roots, the two have taken their friendship — and mutual respect — to the stage once again.
During Green’s Damn Country Music Tour stop at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on Thursday, November 6, Johnson joined him for a surprise duet of the timeless hit “In Color.”
A Full-Circle Moment for Riley Green
For Green, who has been covering Johnson’s 2008 classic since his early bar gigs, performing it with the original artist was more than just a concert highlight — it was a full-circle dream realized. Fans packed inside the arena sang along so loudly that one attendee joked, “There’s no speaker loud enough for this song.”
@mariahholmes92 @Riley Green & @JameyJohnsonOfficial In Color ##RileyGreen##JameyJohnson##DamnCountryMusicTour##VanAndelArena ##GrandRapids ♬ original sound – Mariah Holmes✨
On social media, clips of the performance quickly went viral, with one TikTok user commenting, “This is the good stuff right here.”
“A Natural Connection” Between Two Alabama Boys
Both Alabama natives and Jacksonville State University alumni, Green and Johnson share more than just a musical bond — they’ve built a genuine friendship.
“There’s a natural connection with us there,” Johnson said in a recent interview. “I was immediately impressed with his writing and singing.”
The pair’s camaraderie extends beyond music, too. Johnson, an avid golfer like Green, admits that their shared sense of humor keeps things lively.
Jamey Johnson’s Trademark Teasing
Johnson is known for his no-nonsense personality — and his sharp wit. “He can take as much as he dishes out,” Johnson said of Green. “We’re always throwing comments back and forth.”
He recalled a recent moment where one of his teasing videos gained traction online:
“I felt bad about it. You don’t hear him giving me crap — just me messing with him. It’s not a good look, so I had to call and apologize!”
In a clip circulating online, Johnson jokingly taunts Green mid-conversation:
“The only thing that got bigger on you in the past five years is that mouth,”
he quips before adding,
“And the forearm… all that time alone.”
Two Generations of Country, One Stage
The chemistry between Riley Green and Jamey Johnson perfectly bridges two generations of country music — one rooted in tradition, the other carrying it forward. Their shared performance of “In Color” wasn’t just nostalgia; it was proof that authentic storytelling and mutual respect never go out of style.