During a performance at Nashville’s Nissan Stadium Friday night (April 14), country music star Riley Green made a significant change to one of his popular songs, drawing cheers from the audience.
Riley Green removed Bud Light from the lyrics of his 2019 hit “I Wish Grandpas Never Died” and replaced it with Coors Light.
Newsweek reported that the audience cheered when Green sang the modified lyrics, “And coolers never run out of cold Coors Light!” instead of the original “And coolers never run out of cold Bud Light.”
Now-viral video clips posted to social media by concertgoers show the crowd erupting in cheers and applause at the lyric change.
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Green’s decision to drop Bud Light from his song was timely, as it came amid controversy surrounding Anheuser-Busch’s sponsorship deal with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney.
Riley Green is the latest country artist to show their disapproval of the Bud Light partnership. Kid Rock, Travis Tritt, John Rich and Brantley Gilbert have each publicly expressed their dismay. Kid Rock was the first to openly declare war on the brand with a profanity-laden video posted to social media. *STRONG LANGUAGE WARNING*
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Travis Tritt and John Rich followed suit by removing Anheuser-Busch products from their tour rider and Nashville bar, respectively. During a weekend concert, Brantley Gilbert was tossed a can of Bud Light mid-concert. He proceeded to swear at the can before smashing it on the stage.
There doesn’t appear to be an end in sight for the Bud Light boycott.
Anheuser Busch’s CEO, Brendan Whitworth, issued a statement on the brand’s website and social media channels.
In the statement, Whitworth stated that they never intended to be part of a “discussion that divides people.” He also addressed the company’s history and heritage of bringing people together, but he fell short of a directly confronting the controversy.
“As the CEO of a company founded in America’s heartland more than 165 years ago, I am responsible for ensuring every consumer feels proud of the beer we brew,” Whitworth wrote. “We never intended to be part of a discussion that divides people. We are in the business of bringing people together over a beer.”
The statement from Brendan Whitworth came as company stocks plummeted due to the boycott. Was it too little too late for Bud Light? Only time will tell.
Who is Riley Green?
Riley Green is a reality television star-turned-country singer. Prior to becoming a country artist, the Alabama native was a Division 1 FCS Quarterback on the Jacksonville State University football team. He also appeared on CMT’s reality show, Redneck Island, during its fourth season. He returned for a later season and won the $100,000 cash prize along with his partner, Becky Andrews.
In 2013, Green released a self-titled EP, followed by additional EPs in 2015, 2016, and 2017. He signed to the Big Machine Label Group in 2018 and released his debut single, “There Was This Girl,” shortly after. The song charted on the Country Airplay chart, giving Green his first charting single.
In April 2019, Green released his second single, “In Love by Now.” “I Wish Grandpas Never Died” was released in 2019 and helped Riley Green earn the New Male Artist of the Year Award from the Academy of Country Music that same year.