Kelly Clarkson Celebrates Her 43rd Birthday With A Powerful Riley Green Cover That Has Fans Talking

Kelly Clarkson marked her 43rd birthday with a musical tribute that brought together two country music favorites. The singer stepped behind the microphone for a heartfelt performance of Riley Green’s “Don’t Mind If I Do,” offering her own take on the emotional track during a special edition of her popular “Kellyoke” segment.

The performance aired on April 24, 2025, and gave fans another reminder of just how effortlessly Clarkson can make someone else’s song her own.

Kelly Clarkson Puts Her Own Spin On Riley Green’s Emotional Hit

Music has always been a central part of The Kelly Clarkson Show. Each episode features “Kellyoke,” a segment in which the Grammy-winning singer takes on songs by artists across different genres, showcasing the remarkable range and versatility of her voice.

But this particular performance carried an extra personal touch. On her 43rd birthday, Clarkson chose “Don’t Mind If I Do,” a recent release by country star Riley Green, and delivered a solo rendition of the song.

Rather than simply recreating the original, she brought her distinctive vocals to a track built around heartbreak, lingering feelings and the temptation to reconnect with someone from the past.

The song’s lyrics capture the vulnerability of someone struggling to move on, especially in the moments when emotions become too difficult to ignore:

“And I don’t mind if I do /
Drink up the nerve to show up at your house /
If you wanna know the truth /
It’s killin’ me not holdin’ you right now.”

The Story Behind Riley Green And Ella Langley’s Duet

“Don’t Mind If I Do” originally brought together Riley Green and rising country star Ella Langley.

The two artists released the track following the enormous viral success of their first collaboration, “You Look Like You Love Me.” Their second duet appeared on Green’s third studio album, also titled Don’t Mind If I Do, which arrived in October 2024.

The record quickly demonstrated its commercial appeal, earning impressive positions on two major US charts:

• No. 8 on the US Top Country Albums chart.
• No. 25 on the Billboard 200.

The song’s combination of Green and Langley’s distinctive voices helped make it another notable collaboration in the country music scene.

Kelly Clarkson Has Covered Riley Green Before

There may be a reason Clarkson keeps returning to Green’s music.

Her birthday performance wasn’t the first time she had selected one of the country singer’s songs for “Kellyoke.” Back in February 2025, she tackled his steamy hit “Worst Way,” which had attracted widespread attention following the release of its music video.

This time, however, she chose a very different kind of song.

“Don’t Mind If I Do” trades the intensity of “Worst Way” for a more vulnerable look at heartbreak and unresolved feelings.

Clarkson has also made no secret of her admiration for both Green and Langley. She said she “adores” the two artists and particularly loves the way their voices come together.

“I love their voices colliding,” she shared.

It’s clear that her appreciation extends beyond one particular song. And with two Riley Green covers now featured on her show in just a few months, fans have another reason to enjoy seeing Clarkson explore the country music world.

Watch Kelly Clarkson’s birthday performance of Riley Green’s “Don’t Mind If I Do” on The Kelly Clarkson Show below.