Celebrate the Heart of Country, Americana, and Roots Music!

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

Country Music’s Classic Supergroup, The Highwaymen Sings ‘Highwayman’

The Highwaymen's ‘Highwayman’ showcased their unique vocals and amazing talent that made all the fans love country music all the more.

Get To Know More About Gabi Dugal, Scotty McCreery’s Gorgeous Wife

After dating for six years, Scotty McCreery married Gabi Dugal in the North Carolina mountains in 2018. Let’s get to know more about the gorgeous brunette.

Scotty McCreery’s Wife Is His Rock and Grounding Force

Since they were kids, Scotty McCreery’s wife has been beside the country superstar. Here’s how their relationship turned into a romantic one.

Hannah Lee Fowler: 10 Facts about Sam Hunt’s Spouse

Sam Hunt married Hannah Lee Fowler in 2017. Despite the lack of social media presence, we were still able to gather some interesting facts about her.

Deacon Frey Leads “Take It Easy” in Place of Dad

Deacon Frey's “Take It Easy” sparks nostalgia and sentimentality, with the song being one of his father’s most iconic and the band’s debut single.

Shania Twain’s Son Buys a Lavish $1.8-Million Property in LA

Looks like Shania Twain's son is following in her footsteps when it comes to having a world-class real estate portfolio. He just got a three-story house in LA.

Kris Kristofferson Recently Revealed He Retired in 2020

Kris Kristofferson had officially announced his retirement in 2020. His 50-year career gave him the chance to write some of the country music’s classics.

Home Free’s ‘The Gambler’ Video Honors Country Classic Kenny Rogers

Home Free's 'The Gambler' is definitely one of the best versions you’ll hear. It also comes with a music video that perfectly highlights the song.

10 Things You Didn’t Know About Kenny Chesney

Kenny Chesney is well on his way going down in history as one of the best in this genre. With that said, here are the things you might not know about him yet.

Jake Hoot and Kelly Clarkson Duet on Heartbreaking ‘I Would’ve Loved You’

Jake Hoot and Kelly Clarkson's 'I Would've Loved You' features a dark ensemble that will tug your heartstrings as it sings about a missed chance at true love.

Luke Combs’ Gritty ‘Can I Get An Outlaw’ Reminds Fans of Real Country Music

Luke Combs’ Gritty ‘Can I Get An Outlaw’ made country music fans believe in this genre again. It’s beautiful how Combs highlight the genre’s beauty.

WATCH: Tearful Kellie Pickler’s ‘I Wonder’ at the CMA Awards 2007

The emotional performance of Kellie Pickler's 'I Wonder,' over a touching swell of piano and strings during the CMA Awards 2007, definitely stunned everyone.

Love Valley, North Carolina: The Cowboy Town Where People Only Ride Horses, Not Cars

Most of the streets in Love Valley, North Carolina, are actually called ‘trails.’ That’s because this southern quaint old town doesn’t allow cars.

Eric Church’s Kids: Meet the Singer’s Sons Boone and Tennessee

Eric Church’s kids are getting so big! The Grammy-nominated singer is a doting father to two boys: Boone McCoy and Tennessee Hawkins.

10 Facts About Katherine Blasingame

Katherine Blasingame has been Eric Church's biggest supporter – staying by his side for more than a decade. Here are some things you need to know about her.

Meet Eric Church’s Wife and Her Role on Eric Church’s Songs

Eric Church’s wife, Katherine Blasingame, has been in the music business before he was. As such, she’s one of the few people whose opinion he relies on the most.

Justin Timberlake and Chris Stapleton Sings a ‘Tennessee Whiskey/Drink You Away’ Medley during the CMA 2015

Justin Timberlake and Chris Stapleton's 'Tennessee Whiskey/Drink You Away' dazzled the audience and stole the show at the 49th annual CMA Awards.

Maddie & Tae’s “Die From a Broken Heart” Is Very Personal To The Duo. Here’s Why!

Maddie & Tae's "Die From a Broken Heart" tells the tale of a brokenhearted daughter calling her mother back home to seek wisdom and comfort after a breakup.

Eric Clapton’s “Wonderful Tonight” Is The Prettiest Ballad You’ll Ever Hear

Eric Clapton's "Wonderful Tonight" is, without a doubt, one of the most romantic songs of all time. He wrote it about his relationship with Pattie Boyd.

Here’s Why Dolly Parton Turned Down The Presidential Medal of Freedom – Twice!

Dolly Parton has revealed that President Donald Trump’s administration offered her the Presidential Medal of Freedom, not once but twice.

10 Things You Might Not Know About Country Star Morgan Wallen

The popularity of Morgan Wallen has exploded in the past year, taking the country music world by storm. Let’s get to know more about this artist.

Country Star Morgan Wallen Is ‘Embarrassed and Sorry’ After Racial Slur

Country star Morgan Wallen has apologized – saying he is “embarrassed and sorry” – after a video of him yelling a racial slur has surfaced.

Get To Know More About The Voice Winner Jake Hoot

Jake Hoot has definitely taken season 17 of The Voice by storm, impressing the viewers week after week. Learn more about the potential breakout country star.

The Untold Story of Why Dolly Parton and Carl Dean Never Had Children

Dolly Parton and Carl Dean chose not to have children, a decision shaped by career ambitions, health challenges, and a greater purpose. Here's why they never looked back with regret.

Do You Remember The Dukes of Hazzard Cast? What Are They Up to Now?

Guess you all now miss the entire The Dukes of Hazzard cast and their never-ending antics. Ever wondered what happened to our favorite fictional characters?

Remembering Keith Whitley’s Death

Keith Whitley’s death remains to be one of the saddest and darkest days in Nashville’s music history. He was found dead in his home –faced down in his bed.

Budweiser Has Stepped Out From Its Prominent Throne in Super Bowl Commercials

Budweiser has become synonymous with Super Bowl ads – and with its cute storylines, it has even become one of the most eagerly anticipated ads every year.

Brad Paisley Customized “She’s Everything” To Make It A Song For His Wife

A small part of the lyrics of Brad Paisley's "She's Everything" was re-written by the singer to give it a personal touch, making it closer to his own life.

You Should Hear This 93-Year-Old Woman Singing “One Day at a Time”

The Christian gospel music, “One Day at a Time,” has always provided us some comfort. It allows us to relax and feel the presence of a higher power.

This Just In! Lady A Are Now Grand Ole Opry Members

The members of Lady A got the surprise of their lives when their longtime friend and fellow artist Darius Rucker invited them to join the Grand Ole Opry.