Riley Green helped kick off the holiday season with a nostalgic performance of “Christmas To Me” during this year’s CMA Country Christmas.
Taking the stage with his guitar, Green delivered a heartfelt version of his original holiday song — a tribute to small-town Christmases spent surrounded by family. The lyrics paint familiar scenes of holiday chaos and charm: a packed yard at Grandma’s, grandkids clambering into Grandpa’s lap, and all the perfectly imperfect moments that make the day unforgettable.
He sings:
“And all them in-laws are showin’ up late /
For a five star meal on a paper plate /
Sound of barefoot feet runnin’ through the house /
The football game’s just about to start /
About the time momma has a come-apart /
’Cause sister’s new tattoo she just found out about /
There’s a string of lights all tangled around the tree /
That’s Christmas to me.”
Green wrote the song with longtime collaborator Erik Dylan and released it last year following his first-ever CMA Awards win.
For the festive performance, he stepped out in cowboy boots, a brown suit, and a light tan cowboy hat while gently picking his guitar — complete with his signature “Duckman” strap, a fan favorite detail.
Ahead of the taping, Green opened up about what he loves most during the holidays, admitting that nothing beats family meals.
“My favorite family tradition during Christmas is definitely the food, all the home cooked meals back at home. I kind of miss those being on the road a lot,” he said.
Green was among several performers featured on this year’s CMA Country Christmas, joining Lady A, Little Big Town, Parker McCollum, Megan Moroney, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Susan Tedeschi, Derek Trucks, and BeBe Winans. The event was hosted by Jordan Davis and Lauren Daigle, who also performed.
CMA Country Christmas aired Tuesday, Dec. 2 on ABC, with streaming available the next day on Hulu and Disney+.
This appearance caps a remarkable year for Green, who is closing out his 2025 tour with a handful of December shows — including two nights at Resorts World Las Vegas.
Looking ahead, he’ll kick off 2025 with Luke Bryan’s Crash My Playa in Mexico before heading to Australia for a run of international dates.