{"id":7050,"date":"2025-11-23T10:05:05","date_gmt":"2025-11-23T10:05:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/grow24.us\/?p=7050"},"modified":"2025-11-23T10:05:05","modified_gmt":"2025-11-23T10:05:05","slug":"riley-green-didnt-just-perform-worst-way-at-the-2025-cma-awards-he-smoldered-through-it-in-a-way-that-made-the-entire-bridgestone-arena-fall-into-a-hush-that-felt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/grow24.us\/?p=7050","title":{"rendered":"Riley Green didn\u2019t just perform \u201cWorst Way\u201d at the 2025 CMA Awards \u2014 he smoldered through it in a way that made the entire Bridgestone Arena fall into a hush that felt almost intimate. The moment the stage lights lowered into that warm amber glow, the camera caught him gripping his guitar like it was part confession, part weapon, part heartbeat. Even before he sang a word, you could feel the tension rise \u2014 the kind of tension that makes people lean forward without realizing they\u2019re doing it."},"content":{"rendered":"
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Green brought the self-penned hit to life on the CMA Awards stage.<\/p>\n

Riley Green\u00a0brought the heat to the CMA Awards on Wednesday with a performance of his chart-topping hit, \u201cWorst Way.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Over the summer, \u201cWorst Way\u201d became Green\u2019s fifth career No. 1 and made history in the process. It\u2019s only the second song solely written by the performing artist to reach the top of the Billboard Country Airplay chart since 2012, making Green just the sixth solo artist in the past two decades to achieve the feat.<\/p>\n

\"Riley<\/a>
Riley Green performs at \u201cThe 59th Annual CMA Awards,\u201d live from Bridgestone Arena Wednesday, November 19, 2025 on ABC; Photo Courtesy CMA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Backstage at the CMA Awards,\u00a0Green told Country Now\u00a0that the night was \u201cgoing to be great.\u201d He also joked about his steamy \u201cWorst Way\u201d music video, saying there were no plans to recreate the sexy visuals live on stage.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI mean, it would be hard to top that one\u2026 my mom\u2019s gonna watch,\u201d he laughed, referencing the sultry scenes from the video.<\/p>\n

As a longtime CMA Awards fan, Green said he couldn\u2019t be more grateful to not only have a seat at the table but also to earn nominations and a performance slot.<\/p>\n

\u201cI mean, it\u2019s something you grew up watching, and still being just a big fan of country music, it\u2019s such a cool thing to be able to go to these award shows, be nominated, and get to perform\u2026\u201d he told Country Now.<\/p>\n

Green raked in four CMA Award nominations this year. The country superstar, along with fellow Alabama native Ella Langley, was nominated for for Single, Song, and Music Video of the Year for their hit collaboration \u201cYou Look Like You Love Me.\u201d The pair was also nominated for Musical Event of the Year for \u201cDon\u2019t Mind If I Do.\u201d<\/p>\n