Riley Green strolled into his first acting gig on last night’s episode of Marshals, and it’s safe to say the country star left an impression on fans.
The Yellowstone spinoff is chronicling Kayce Dutton’s life after stepping away from his family’s ranch to join the U.S. Marshals, and the CBS drama is a certified hit. It’s already been renewed for a second season, which is expected to air in the fall.
But first, viewers got to meet Riley Green’s character Garrett, a troubled friend from Kayce’s past. The two served together in the Navy SEALs, and Garrett has had a difficult time dealing with the transition into life as a musician. He says he’s been “in and out of jail, psych wards, rehab, sleeping on the streets.” In an emotional scene, Kayce holds Garrett as he deals with a PTSD-induced nightmare.
Like Riley, Garrett is a country singer from Alabama, and the character jokes, “The only good thing to come out of [Alabama] is I-20, myself included.”
Riley’s fans will know that he meant no harm by poking fun at Alabama, but he told USA TODAY, “I certainly need to clarify that. One thing about my fans, especially my Alabama fans: They know how I feel about being from here, and I am proud of this area where I'm from.”
So, what’s the verdict on Riley’s acting debut? We posed the question to our followers on Facebook and were met with hundreds of replies, and they are overwhelmingly positive. Here are a few of our favorites:
- “He was a interesting character. He did a great job acting. I can hear and understand his words. Most of the other actors I can't understand what they are saying.”
- “I love the show. All the actors are good. Riley did a good job. Would love to see him have recurring role in next season for a few episodes if he can fit it in his busy touring schedule. He fit in well with the cast.”
- “He did an excellent job acting. Keep him on.”
- “A natural! Perfect for the role!!”
- “I wanted him to get on that stage in the bar and play and sing!”
It’s unclear what the future holds for Garrett, but he will return for the April 26 episode of Marshals. Riley is out on the road for his Cowboy as It Gets tour, but we hope he makes time to film more episodes soon.
Katie Bowlby is Digital Director at Country Living, where she covers pop culture news including country music, Yellowstone, and all things HGTV, plus gift guides and product reviews. She has been with Country Living for more than 11 years. Before that, she worked for Southern Living. The Indiana University grad also stitches up the cross-stitch pattern for every issue of the magazine.
