Country music stars Ella Langley and Riley Green may have made some of Nashville’s biggest hits together, but their once-successful partnership appears to be hitting a sour note.
Langley, 27, publicly called out Green, 37, after he mentioned her career while trying to recruit contestants on NBC’s The Voice. The remark apparently didn’t sit well with the rising country star, who later made her feelings clear during an Instagram livestream.
The controversy began when Green, a first-time coach on the show’s 30th season, attempted to persuade sisters Ferryn and Brinkley Wright to join his team.
Green told the duo, who previously performed at Dolly Parton’s Dollywood theme park in Tennessee, that they reminded him of another talented country singer he had worked with.
“I took her on tour with me. Her name’s Ella Langley. She’s doing pretty well,” Green said.
The pitch worked, and the sisters ultimately selected Green as their coach. However, his comments quickly caught the attention of fans, some of whom interpreted his words as suggesting he deserved credit for Langley’s success.
During an Instagram Live session on October 8, a viewer directly asked Langley whether Green’s remarks had bothered her.
“Yeah, when that man took credit? No, didn’t love that, but typical… Pretty typical,” Langley responded.
Her answer immediately fueled speculation about tension between the former collaborators. Fans also noticed that Langley had unfollowed Green on Instagram, although reports indicated he was still following her.
SEE NSTAGRAM POST BELOW (VIDEO IS ON 3rd SLIDE):
Green has not publicly addressed her criticism, and it remains unclear whether the two have discussed the situation privately.
The apparent falling-out is particularly surprising considering their successful musical history.
Both Alabama natives, Langley and Green toured together in 2024 and 2025, including Green’s Damn Country Music Tour. Their musical chemistry helped produce two popular duets, “You Look Like You Love Me” and “Don’t Mind If I Do.”
Their first collaboration became a major country hit and earned multiple industry honors. “You Look Like You Love Me” won Musical Event of the Year at the 2024 CMA Awards, followed by Single of the Year, Song of the Year and Music Video of the Year at the 2025 ceremony.
The pair also received recognition from the Academy of Country Music, further establishing their partnership as one of country’s most successful recent collaborations.
But Langley has since demonstrated that she can achieve extraordinary success on her own.
Her solo smash “Choosin’ Texas” recently spent a record-breaking 23 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, surpassing the previous longevity record held by Mariah Carey’s holiday classic “All I Want for Christmas Is You.”
Langley’s growing popularity has also helped establish her as a major headlining performer, with her Dandelion Tour extending into 2027.
The latest controversy has divided country music fans. Some believe Green was simply referencing Langley as an example of an artist he had toured with, while others understand why she might have interpreted the statement as minimizing her hard work.