“‘MEH… IT WASN’T NO STEVEN WILSON JR., BUT IT WAS THE SAME OL’ COUNTRY.’” That fan reaction is sparking debate after Riley Green’s CMA Fest performance of “Change My Mind.”

Riley Green; Photo Courtesy CMA

Country music fans at home got a front-row seat to one of Riley Green’s standout CMA Fest moments when his performance of “Change My Mind” aired during CMA Fest presented by SoFi, the three-hour ABC special showcasing highlights from the four-day festival.

Filmed inside Nashville’s Nissan Stadium, the performance showcased the Alabama native’s signature charm as he delivered the steamy fan-favorite to the excited crowd. He instantly drew fans into the flirtatious lyrics and laid-back tone that have made the song a standout on his album, Don’t Mind If I Do.

Riley Green performs at Nissan Stadium on Sunday June 7, 2026, during CMA Fest presented by SoFi in downtown Nashville; Photo Courtesy CMA
Riley Green performs at Nissan Stadium on Sunday June 7, 2026, during CMA Fest presented by SoFi in downtown Nashville; Photo Courtesy CMA

Written by the Alabama native alongside Erik Dylan and Randy Montana, the No. 1 track depicts the push-and-pull of a relationship that’s hard to walk away from, even when the man at hand swears he’s finally done with the woman for good.

With emotionally charged lyrics like, “Girl, the second that you lose that dress / that’s the second that I second guess” and “I kinda like when you wreck everything and change my mind,” Green gave the live audience a full dose of honesty.

Riley Green is pulling double duty during the broadcast. In addition to taking the stage, he also served as a co-host of the night alongside Good Morning America’s Lara Spencer.

Sharing a glimpse into his hosting approach with Country Now, the “Think as You Drunk” singer revealed he didn’t want to take the serious route, and instead intentionally leaned more towards creating a fun, lighthearted energy for the night while staying true to himself.

“I think it’d be really tough for me to be the serious guy. I think I’ll probably have to go with a goofy guy from Alabama, which I play pretty well,” he shared while backstage at Nissan Stadium.

His performance aired as part of the CMA Fest Presented by SoFi broadcast that ran on Thursday, June 25 at 8/7c on ABC and will be available for streaming the next day on Hulu.

The star-studded concert special also featured performances from Bailey Zimmerman, Blake Shelton, The Band Perry, Brothers Osborne, Carly Pearce, Cody Johnson, Deana Carter, Ella Langley, Fetty Wap, Florida Georgia Line, Gretchen Wilson, HARDY, Jason Aldean, Jelly Roll, Jordan Davis, Keith Urban, Lainey Wilson, Luke Bryan, Michael McDonald, Molly Tuttle, The Red Clay Strays, Ricky Skaggs, Russell Dickerson, Shaboozey, Shay Morgan, Stephen Wilson Jr., Tim McGraw, Tucker Wetmore, and Zach Top.

SoFi has been named the first-ever broadcast presenting sponsor and Official Bank of CMA Fest, joining the festival in a partnership centered on helping people pursue financial independence through music. As part of the collaboration, SoFi will highlight standout performances, including country icon Deana Carter and the live debut of Shaboozey’s new single, “Cowgirl.”

Country stars will get to bring their music back to the stages around downtown Nashville next year with the 54th CMA Fest set to take place June 10–13, 2027.

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