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Riley Johnson

Riley Johnson

Riley Johnson covers country music’s legends, tributes, and the stories behind the songs for Country Thang Daily. When a legend is honored, remembered, or back in the spotlight, Riley is usually the one writing it.

Riley Johnson writes about the heart of country music: the legends, the tributes, and the moments that remind fans why they fell in love with this music in the first place.

What Riley Covers

  • Country legends and classic artists, from Dolly Parton and George Strait to Alan Jackson and Willie Nelson
  • Tributes, memorials, and the artists we have lost
  • The Grand Ole Opry, Hall of Fame inductions, and career milestones
  • Gospel, faith, and family in country music
  • The stories behind classic songs

How We Report

Every Country Thang Daily story is checked against primary sources before it goes live. Read our Fact-Checking Policy and Corrections Policy.

Get in Touch

Have a story tip or spot something we got wrong? Contact the Country Thang Daily team.

Riley's Track Record

Updated automatically from published stories.

1,779stories written for Country Thang Daily
2020writing for CTD since December 2020
469Legends & Classics stories 408Songs & Music stories 272Stars stories

Artists Riley Covers Most

Number of stories per artist.

Dolly Parton103
Willie Nelson65
Reba McEntire51
Alan Jackson48
Miranda Lambert46

Most Read Stories by Riley

Ranked by how many readers opened them.

Latest Stories

Elvis Presley And Linda Thompson Duets In A Surprising Old Record

Here’s an unearthed recording of ‘Your Life Has Just Begun’ performed by Elvis Presley and Linda Thompson, his ex-girlfriend songwriter.

Luke Combs’ ‘Growin’ Up and Gettin’ Old’ Is A Work In Progress

Luke Combs' 'Growin' Up and Gettin' Old' gives off a notion that staying at home is the best thing now that we need to social distance.

What Happened To John Wayne’s Children?

With the late actor’s fame and recognition, we can’t help but wonder, what were John Wayne’s children’s lives like growing up, and where are they now?

The American Idol Alum Gabby Barrett and Cade Foehner Love Story

Gabby Barrett and Cade Foehner first met in 2018 during their time on American Idol, and their courtship quickly turned into a serious relationship.

How Darius Rucker’s “Beer and Sunshine” ‘Threw a Wrench’ Into His New Album

Darius Rucker's "Beer and Sunshine" sings about the lazy, warm days with friends, and it absolutely struck a chord with millions of listeners.

Kenny Rogers’ “All I Ever Need Is You” Initially Dismissed By Artist

Kenny Rogers' "All I Ever Need Is You" is his collaboration with Dottie West, which made headlines when they included the recording on four albums.

Upchurch Releases “Mud To Gold” Tracklist, Teases Fans with Self-Leaked Song

The official tracklist of Ryan Upchurch's “Mud To Gold” was finally revealed, and it includes three song collaborations with fellow American rappers.

Some Things You Might Not Know About Grammy Award-Winning, Rodney Crowell

Get to know Rodney Crowell, the country’s jack-of-all-trades – being the songwriter, performer, and producer who led the new traditionalist movement.

Mid-Pandemic, Blake Shelton’s “Minimum Wage” Deemed Tone Deaf

Blake Shelton's "Minimum Wage" dominated the headlines even before it hit the record stores after its live premiere. Here’s the reason why.

Kane Brown’s “Heaven” Is A Dreamy Song We Can All Relate To

Interestingly, Kane Brown’s “Heaven” came through the floor – from where someone was writing downstairs during a writing retreat.

Luke Bryan’s ‘Country Does’ Looks Back At His Small-Town Roots

Luke Bryan's 'Country Does' captures an image of not only what you can see in a countryside life but also being proud of your family and roots.

Alan Jackson’s “Livin’ On Love” Summarizes What True Love Is

Alan Jackson's "Livin' On Love" is a sweet and charming song that represents Jackson’s trademark in traditional country music.

Did You Know Lady A’s “Need You Now” Almost Did Not Come To Life?

Lady A's "Need You Now" is an ode to late-night longings – a theme we’re all familiar with, which helped the song propel to crossover success.

Get To Know More About Glen Campbell’s Wife Kimberly Woolen

Kimberly Woolen barged into celebrity life after she married the famous country singer Glen Campbell. Here’s what we know about her.

Intriguing 11 Narvel Blackstock Facts to Know

Narvel Blackstock and Reba McEntire’s romantic relationship used to fill the tabloids in the 1980s. Sadly, their marriage ended after 26 years.

Here’s Why “Amazed” by Lonestar Is The Country Band’s Favorite Song

According to a survey, “Amazed” by Lonestar is one of the most requested first dance songs for newlywed couples in the United Kingdom.

From Rusty to Riches: Meet Mike “Rooster” McConaughey

Mike "Rooster" McConaughey spent his pre-teen year in the vast Texas oil fields. While he didn’t go to college, he got his first million before hitting 30.

Meet the four-time divorcee, Sam Elliott’s Wife, Katharine Ross

The multiple marriages of Katharine Ross have been the occasional subject of her life, but there’s more to this “Fatal Beauty” who got Sam Elliott’s heart.

From Being Ben Higgins’ Fiancé to Chris Lane’s Wife: Here’s The Tea About Lauren Bushnell

When Chris Lane married Lauren Bushnell in 2019, their whirlwind romance shocked fans to the core. Here’s to catching up on everything juicy about her.

Meet David Allan Coe’s Children: A Tell-Tale of His Infamous Fatherhood

David Allan Coe’s children have also made their way through the music industry, and they surely inherited his knack for singing and songwriting.

From Career woman to full-time housewife: 10 Surprising Facts About Lisa Meyers

Kris Kristofferson married Lisa Meyers in an intimate wedding ceremony in 1983 at Pepperdine University, where they first met.

The Story Behind the Classic Film ‘Steel Magnolias’ Will Make You Cry Even More

Steel Magnolias gave us one of the greatest Southern films and the most iconic casts in movie history. But did you know how this masterpiece came to be?

Country Music Knows No Rest: Here’s Everything You Need to Know About Restless Road

Restless Road came into the limelight in 2013 after finishing 4th place on The X-Factor. Since then, the country band has been through so many changes.

An Estate Fit for a King: Here’s an Exclusive Tour Around George Strait’s Texas Mansion

Nestled on a 12.2-acre hilltop, George Strait’s Texas Mansion fittingly shows the extent of his success as the King of Country.

Did You Know Jane Fonda Once Sang Backing Vocals For Dolly Parton At The Opry?

Jane Fonda recalled her fondest memory with Dolly Parton, and it was actually going on a Nashville tour with the country superstar.

Check Out The Story Behind John Michael Montgomery’s “I Swear”

John Michael Montgomery's "I Swear" is actually his first country hit, where it remained for four remarkable weeks atop Billboard US Hot Country Songs.

Gone Too Soon, His Father’s Legacy Lives On: Watch Jesse Keith Whitley’s “Don’t Close Your Eyes”

When Jesse Keith Whitley's "Don't Close Your Eyes" was released, fans were quick to notice how he sounded like his country star father, Keith Whitley.

Shy and Spotlight Stealers: Meet Narvel Blackstock’s Children

Get to know more of Narvel Blackstock's children – there are actually four of them, that includes a famous race car driver and Kelly Clarkson’s ex-husband.

Start Filling Your Basket With These Hilarious Easter Jokes

Whether you are planning to enjoy a sumptuous dinner or bond together while hand-painting eggs, you’ll need a few good Easter jokes to break the ice.

Three Superstars – McGraw, Swift, and Urban – In One Epic Song, “Highway Don’t Care”

Country superstars Tim McGraw, Taylor Swift, and Keith Urban teamed up for one epic song: “Highway Don’t Care” – and it’s beyond amazing.