Riley Green Credits ‘Yellowstone’ For Country Music’s Boost In Popularity: “Western Lifestyle Has Gotten So Popular Everywhere”

Over the past five years, there’s simply no denying that country music has experienced the biggest boost in popularity it’s experienced in decades, arguably ever. From Morgan Wallen consistently breaking both country and all-genre records seemingly weekly to Zach Bryan leading the country-folk movement back to the mainstream to unprecedented success, there hasn’t been a shortage of storylines depicting the genre’s growth in recent years.

Couple that with the fact that artists such as Luke Combs, Ella Langley, Megan Moroney, Chris Stapleton, Jelly Roll and more are not only dominating country music as of late but also crossing over into both the mainstream and other genres at large, there really hasn’t been a shortage of country music in pop culture today. Throw in the likes of prominent non-country artists like Post Malone, Beyoncé and BigXthaPlug all crossing into the genre over the past two years (to varying degrees of success/reception), and it truly seems like country music is the new “it” thing.

Of course, there could be dozens upon dozens of articles dissecting why this came to be. Is it the further crossover into other genres like pop and rap spearheaded by Morgan Wallen and company? Is it the singer/songwriter movement pushed by the likes of Zach Bryan, Tyler Childers, Noah Kahan (who consistently gets grouped into the country sphere despite being firmly planted in alternative folk) and more? Does it have to do with today’s political climate? Or is it something else entirely?

Though there’s no clear-cut answer to the question, plenty have weighed in over the past three or so years. And recently, it was none other than Riley Green.

In an interview with Stingray Music before his performance at LASSO Montréal in Canada last month, Green was asked why he thinks country music is having such a big moment right now. A bit surprisingly, the “Worst Way” singer pointed to two things in particular: the success of Yellowstone and the rise of storytelling in songs:

“Well, I think that a lot of the television has really worked lately. The ‘Yellowstones’ and that western lifestyle has gotten so popular everywhere. But also, I think that the storytelling of country music is something that people can really appreciate everywhere.”

It should go without saying that Yellowstone has simply been a phenomenon. Since its debut in 2018, the show has been an absolute juggernaut in pop culture. Despite not winning big at neither the Golden Globes nor the Emmys (Kevin Costner would eventually take home Best Actor in a Television Series – Drama in 2023), the show has procured what can only be described as a feverish fanbase. 

Beyond Yellowstone itself, show runner, Taylor Sheridan, has expanded the franchise out to multiple spinoff series, including 1883 and 1923, as well as the upcoming shows, The Madison and The Dutton Ranch. Simply put, the franchise has become a cultural icon over the past seven years.

Outside of the obvious connections to western lifestyle and country living as a whole, Yellowstone has provided general audiences with a simply star-studded soundtrack full of the best and brightest stars in both independent and mainstream country.

Artists featured throughout Yellowstone’s five seasons include but are not limited to Whiskey Myers, Turnpike Troubadours, Chris Stapleton, Zach Bryan, Lainey Wilson, Tyler Childers, Cody Jinks, Colter Wall, Blackberry Smoke, Sturgill Simpson, Ryan Bingham, Shane Smith & the Saints, Cody Johnson, Flatland Cavalry, Charles Wesley Godwin, 49 Winchester, Marcus King, Tanner Usrey, Charley Crockett, Kacey Musgraves and more.

Outside of the few mainstream acts, Yellowstone‘s soundtrack, in many ways, serves as a crash course on some of the biggest names in the independent/alt. country scene. In turn, it exposed many to what many (myself included) turn to when asked why country music is at its best place in history and introduced them to a completely different world that exists outside of the Top 40 on country radio. Dubbed (by us) as the Yellowstone Effect, there is data-driven proof that some artists saw MASSIVE exposure thanks to the show,

As for storytelling, that push can also be credited to all the artists mentioned who appear on the Yellowstone soundtrack gaining more popularity. It seems after years of being force-fed meaningless lyrics via pop and bro-country in the 2010s, fans finally began craving more depth to the songs they’re consuming.

Of course, this massive push can be thanks in part to Zach Bryan’s meteoric rise to fame. However, you could tell that the tide was bound to crash down with the likes of Childers, Simpson and more gaining steam through storytelling long before Bryan debuted in 2019 with DeAnn. Though you’ll always have some fans who simply don’t pay attention to the content of lyrics and simply listen to the music, there’s no doubt that true country fans are always looking for meaning behind the songs they’re listening to.

Overall, I can’t say I really disagree with Green’s assessment. Though they’re are undoubtedly a multitude of different reasons why country has exploded in popularity, both Yellowstone’s success and the popularity of storytelling in songs certainly can be accredited.

Watch here:

@stingray.music Check out our interview with @Riley Green from @Lasso MTL! Listen to the Lasso Channel on Stingray Music #Lasso #lassomtl #rileygreen #country ♬ original sound – Stingray Music

Riley Green Tour Dates:

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September 26th, 2025 – Washington, DC – Washington Nationals Park

October 4th, 2025 – Winnsboro, SC – Field & Stream Festival %

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November 1st, 2025 – Gonzales, LA – Boots on the Bayou %

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November 13th, 2025 – University Park, PA – Bryce Jordan Center #~/

November 14th, 2025 – Toledo, OH – The Huntington Center #~/

November 15th, 2025 – Peoria, IL – Peoria Civic Center Arena #~/

November 20th, 2025 – Lincoln, NE – Pinnacle Bank Arena ~/

November 21st, 2025 – Oklahoma City, OK – Paycom Center #~/

November 22nd, 2025 – Little Rock, AR – Simmons Bank Arena#^$

December 12th, 2025 – Las Vegas, NV – Resorts World

December 13th, 2025 – Las Vegas, NV – Resorts World

May 30th, 2026 – Panama City Beach, FL – Gulf Coast Jam %

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%Festival dateThe post Riley Green Credits ‘Yellowstone’ For Country Music’s Boost In Popularity: “Western Lifestyle Has Gotten So Popular Everywhere” first appeared on Whiskey Riff.