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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.

1,747stories written for Country Thang Daily
2023writing for CTD since August 2023
471Legends & Classics stories 405Songs & Music stories 269Stars stories

Artists Riley Covers Most

Number of stories per artist.

Dolly Parton103
Willie Nelson61
Reba McEntire49
Alan Jackson47
Miranda Lambert45

Most Read Stories by Riley

Ranked by how many readers opened them.

Latest Stories

American Airlines Is Renumbering a Nashville Flight to 925 in Honor of Dolly Parton

American Airlines will change its daily Dallas-Fort Worth-to-Nashville flight from 1396 to 925, starting March 28, 2027, a nod to Dolly Parton's "9 to 5."

Dolly Parton Has Died at 80, and the Whole World Is Mourning the Queen of Country

Dolly Parton died Tuesday at 80 at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville after a brief battle with cancer, her family never shared publicly.

Coroner Says Hayden Panettiere’s Cause of Death Remains Pending After Autopsy

The Greenville County Coroner says Hayden Panettiere’s official cause of death remains pending after an autopsy found no signs of trauma. She was found in cardiac arrest.

Hayden Panettiere Has Died at 36 and Country Music Lost the Woman Behind Juliette Barnes

Hayden Panettiere, who played country star Juliette Barnes on Nashville for six seasons, has died at 36. Her father confirmed her passing in a statement.

Jon Pardi and His Wife, Summer, Are Divorcing After Nearly Six Years and Two Daughters Together

Jon Pardi and his wife, Summer, are divorcing after nearly six years of marriage. The couple say they'll move forward as co-parents with their two daughters as the priority.

Rhett Akins Finally Got His Grand Ole Opry Invitation After 30 Years and Could Barely Find the Words

Jon Pardi surprised Rhett Akins with a Grand Ole Opry invitation during '90s Country Night. After 30 years and 30 No. 1 hits, all he could say was "Thank you Lord Jesus."

Shania Twain Wore a Bold Outfit at Wembley and Fans Can’t Agree If It Was Too Much or Perfect

Shania Twain's see-through lace outfit at Wembley Stadium went viral with over 3 million views. Some fans loved it, others said she went too far. She responded.

Miranda Lambert’s “The House That Built Me” Hit No. 1 Sixteen Years Ago and It Still Wrecks People

Miranda Lambert's "The House That Built Me" hit No. 1 in June 2010. The song wasn't written for her, and her own parents were convinced she wrote it.

Ella Langley’s Video Tribute to Alan Jackson at His Farewell Concert Said What Every Young Artist Feels

Ella Langley sent Alan Jackson a video message before his final concert, saying she feels honored to exist in the same era. The tribute was pure, unfiltered respect.

George Strait Made a Rare Appearance at Alan Jackson’s Final Concert and Brought Him a Drink

George Strait strolled onto the Nissan Stadium stage at Alan Jackson's farewell, handed him a Jack and water, and sang the two songs that defined their friendship.

Alan Jackson Played His Final Concert at Nissan Stadium, and Even a Storm Couldn’t Stop Him

Alan Jackson's final concert at Nissan Stadium drew 50,000 fans, a lightning storm, and tributes from Carrie Underwood, Eric Church, George Strait, and Taylor Swift.

Chris Young and TikTok Star Justin Nunley Flew a 33-Year-Old Hospice Patient Home to Alabama in Her Final Days

Chris Young sent a private jet to fly Mariah, a 33-year-old hospice patient, from California back to Albertville, Alabama. She passed away one day after making it home.

Ricky Skaggs Is Back with “Say a Prayer” and It’s His First New Music in More Than a Decade

Ricky Skaggs released "Say a Prayer," his first new music in over a decade. He recorded the song 15 years ago and waited until the world needed it most.

Here Are the Country Artists Most Likely to Be at Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s Wedding

Taylor Swift's country music roots run deep. Here are the country artists most likely to get an invite to her rumored July 3 wedding at Madison Square Garden.

Gretchen Wilson and Ella Langley Dropped Their “Here For The Party” Duet, and It Sounds Like 2004 on Fire

Gretchen Wilson and Ella Langley released their "Here For The Party" duet on Wilson's 53rd birthday. It's the first single from her upcoming all-duets album.

The Grand Ole Opry Is Being Put Up for Sale, and the Future of Country Music’s Holiest Ground Is Uncertain

Ryman Hospitality is exploring a sale of its 70% stake in the Grand Ole Opry, the Ryman Auditorium, WSM Radio, Ole Red, and Category 10. Nothing is finalized yet.

Hannah Harper Landed a Deal with WME and Her Post-Idol Career Is Already on Another Level

American Idol winner Hannah Harper signed with WME Group, one of the biggest talent agencies in the world. She's already touring, opening for Brad Paisley, and writing new music.

Alan Jackson Released ‘Still The One’ as a Gift to Wife Denise Two Days Before His Final Concert

Alan Jackson released a cover of "Still The One" for wife Denise, the song she danced to as a cheerleader when they started dating in 1976. His final concert is Saturday.

Indiana Feek’s Open Heart Surgery Has Been Delayed and Rory Feek Is Asking Fans to Keep Praying

Rory Feek shared that Indiana's open-heart surgery was postponed after the surgeon had an emergency case. The family is asking fans to keep praying.

Morgan Wallen Flew Solo for His Walkout on Night Two at Soldier Field and the Dance He Did Had Chicago Losing It

Morgan Wallen skipped the celebrity walkout guest on night two in Chicago and walked out alone at Soldier Field. The dance he threw in had the crowd going wild.

Brad Paisley’s “He Didn’t Have to Be” Is Still the Song That Wrecks Every Stepdad Who Hears It

Brad Paisley's "He Didn't Have to Be" was written about his best friend's stepson in 1999. Twenty-seven years later, it still stops dads in their tracks.

Ella Langley Called God Her ‘One North Star’ and Shared Her Testimony in Oklahoma City

Ella Langley paused her Dandelion Tour in Oklahoma City to share her faith, saying God is her "one North Star" and she reads the Bible almost every single day.

Keith Urban Wished Ex-Wife Nicole Kidman a Happy Birthday Five Days Before What Would Have Been Their 20th Anniversary

Keith Urban posted "happy birthday nicole mary" on his Instagram Story for Nicole Kidman's 59th birthday, five days before their 20th wedding anniversary.

Bunnie XO Said She and Jelly Roll Are Still Having a Baby Together Despite the Divorce and Revealed They Already Lost Four Embryos

Bunnie XO broke her silence on the Jelly Roll divorce, revealing they lost four embryos, he's already dating, and they're still planning to have a baby together.

Morgan Wallen Gave His Dad the Father’s Day Gift of a Lifetime with a Weekly Bible Study Show on His SiriusXM Station

Tommy Wallen, Morgan Wallen's father and a Baptist pastor, is launching "Tommy's Sunday Seven" on Morgan Wallen Radio. It debuts Father's Day at 9am ET.

Shania Twain Said She Doesn’t See Herself as a Feminist and Explained Why the Label Has Never Fit Her

Shania Twain told The Sunday Times she doesn't call herself a feminist. Her explanation was classic Shania, honest, thoughtful, and nobody's but her own.

Trace Adkins Is Dropping His First New Single in Five Years and He’ll Debut It on National Television for America’s 250th Birthday

Trace Adkins will release "American Made" on June 26 and debut it live on PBS's A Capitol Fourth special. It's his first single in five years and his 30th year in country.

Gretchen Wilson Is Re-Recording Her Debut Album as Duets with Tanya Tucker, Miranda Lambert, Cody Johnson, and Ella Langley

Gretchen Wilson is re-recording "Here for the Party" as a duets album with Tanya Tucker, Cody Johnson, Miranda Lambert, Travis Tritt, and Ella Langley.

Chris Stapleton Will Headline America’s 250th Birthday Concert at the LA Coliseum on the Fourth of July

Chris Stapleton and the Smashing Pumpkins will headline America's Block Party at the LA Coliseum on July 4. Tickets are $17.76 with proceeds going to Feeding America.

Sources Say Jelly Roll’s Deepening Christian Faith Is the Real Reason Behind the Bunnie XO Divorce

Daily Mail sources claim Jelly Roll's faith clashed with Bunnie XO's bold persona. But a second source says the faith itself is an act. The truth is messier than both.