
“We’re just friends,” Riley said with a smile. “I mean, Ella’s probably too smart to date me anyway.”

Cue the internet meltdown.
Country fans love a good musical love story — just look at Tim McGraw and Faith Hill. So naturally, when Riley and Ella lit up the stage with their duet, it sparked all kinds of rumors. But according to Riley, they saw it coming.

“When the song started taking off, I told Ella, ‘People are gonna talk,’” he shared. “‘We don’t need to lean into it — or avoid it. Just enjoy it like we enjoy singing it.’”

And enjoy it they do. “It’s a cool moment we get to have together on stage every night,” he added, clearly fond of their performances.
Still, fans aren’t buying the “just friends” line so easily. Under a clip of the interview shared on TikTok, one commenter wrote, “EXCUUUUSE ME, you look like you love her.” Another chimed in, “He was blushingggg,” and the likes poured in.
https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/7447228084698303774?lang=en-US&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fkarkpost.com%2Friley-green-says-ella-langleys-too-smart-to-date-him-but-fans-think-theres-more-to-the-story%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwY2xjawLPRA5leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFyNnJBOXAwamxOWEluNWpaAR6NCmGQYPn1UkWP5GWmQOxnuA9EJRYC6i3NL1Q-ufSiMxauzk7pnSEyK8FSEw_aem_g97OcLwEfj_NWHE8FD3aug&embedFrom=oembed
After joining Riley on tour in 2024, Ella’s now back as an opener for his 2025 Damn Country Music tour — meaning fans will get plenty more of those “just friends” moments to obsess over.

Whether it’s friendship, a slow-burn romance, or just great stage chemistry, one thing’s for sure: Riley and Ella know how to keep us watching.