At this year’s ACM Awards, one performance had fans swooning and social media buzzing: Ella Langley and Riley Green’s emotional duet, “You Look Like You Love Me.” It’s the kind of song that sneaks up on you—soft and simple, but packed with heart—and it’s quickly become one of the most talked-about country collaborations of the year.
The song, a soulful blend of longing and chemistry, first made waves in late 2024 and hasn’t slowed down since. What started as a sleeper hit has now turned into a fan favorite and a milestone moment for both Langley and Green.
A Song That Hit Home
Backstage at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, the rising stars opened up about the unexpected success of their duet.
“We knew it felt special when we recorded it,” Langley said. “But hearing fans sing it back to us at shows? That’s a feeling I’ll never get tired of.”
Riley Green added,
“It’s one of those songs that just hits different. The lyrics may seem simple, but they carry so much weight. Singing it with Ella brought out a side of me I haven’t tapped into in a while.”
Though they didn’t walk away with the trophy for Musical Event of the Year, their stripped-down, spotlighted performance on the ACM stage stole the show for many viewers. Just an acoustic guitar and two voices—that’s all it took to make the moment unforgettable.
A Turning Point for Both Artists
For Langley, a powerhouse from Alabama with a rock-meets-country edge, the song marks her first Top 10 hit on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart and a defining moment in her fast-moving career.
Green, known for his classic country sound and easygoing charm, sees this duet as a return to what drew him to music in the first place—storytelling that feels honest and raw.
Critics have especially praised the song’s bridge, calling it a “masterclass in subtlety,” letting the pause between lines say as much as the lyrics themselves.
More Than Just a Song
As the night wound down and the red carpet buzz gave way to afterparties, one thing was clear—Ella Langley and Riley Green had struck a chord. Not just with a great song, but with a performance that reminded fans why they fell in love with country music in the first place.
“It all started with a look,” Green said with a smile, quoting the line that kicked it all off. “And it turned into something way bigger than we ever expected.”
