Updated

Updated · Fox News · Aug 10

Riley Green's 'Bartender in Destin' TikTok Tops 220,000 Views Ahead of Sept. 18 Album

Updated

Updated · Fox News · Aug 10

Riley Green's 'Bartender in Destin' TikTok Tops 220,000 Views Ahead of Sept. 18 Album

Q: What hidden Toby Keith tribute in Riley Green's new music is secretly fueling his massive rise to superstardom?

The “hidden” Toby Keith tribute is in Riley Green’s single “Think As You Drunk,” which slips Toby Keith’s actual voice into the outro through a sample of Keith’s 2005 hit “As Good As I Once Was.” That nod is not accidental. Green has said Toby Keith was one of his biggest songwriting influences, and “Think As You Drunk” was intentionally written in that witty, barroom Keith style. Keith and his longtime collaborator Scotty Emerick are credited on the track because of the interpolation, and the song closes with Toby’s familiar line: “I may not be as good as I once was / But I’m as good once, as I ever was.” The tribute goes beyond sound. Reports say Green’s team shared the song with Keith’s family and manager, who supported using the vocal. A portion of the proceeds also benefits the Toby Keith Foundation, tying the release to Keith’s legacy in a concrete way. That combination of nostalgia, authenticity and smart fan engagement is helping drive Green’s rise. The Toby Keith callback gives longtime country listeners a strong emotional hook, while TikTok virality, heavy touring and the buildup to his Sept. 18 album “That’s Just Me” are expanding his audience. In short, the surprise Toby vocal at the end of “Think As You Drunk” has become both a tribute and a career accelerant for Green.

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Aug 10

More than 220,000 views had piled up by publication after Riley Green posted an acoustic TikTok performance of "Bartender in Destin" over the weekend.
The stripped-down clip quickly drew fan praise in the comments, with users calling the performance "Amazing" and saying they love his songs.
Green, already a major country draw, is using the viral moment as attention builds for his next album, "That's Just Me."
Sept. 18 is the release date for that album, giving the TikTok surge added weight as a promotional boost beyond his touring success.