Riley Green and Lily Pearl Black Share Special Duet at Music City Grand Prix
Fans at the 2024 Big Machine Music City Grand Prix were treated to a heartfelt surprise when Riley Green invited Lily Pearl Black to join him onstage for a duet of “When I Said I Do.”
The beloved country love song was originally recorded by Lily Pearl’s famous parents, Clint Black and Lisa Hartman Black, and became one of the genre’s most iconic duets.
A Family Classic Reimagined
On September 15, during Green’s headlining set on the iHeartCountry FanZone Stage at Nashville Superspeedway, the Alabama native welcomed the 21-year-old rising singer to the stage.
Introducing the performance, Green told the crowd:
“Ms. Lily Black has become a good friend of mine recently… her mom and dad, Mrs. Lisa Hartman Black and Mr. Clint Black, are legends. One of my favorite love songs, one of the best ever written, is theirs. We’re gonna give it a try.”
Together, Green — dressed in jeans, a pearl-snap shirt, and ball cap — and Lily Pearl — wearing a floral strapless mini dress — delivered an emotional rendition of the 1999 classic as her mom looked on from the side of the stage.
Stepping In for Ella Langley
Following the duet, Green asked Lily Pearl to fill in for Ella Langley on his hit “You Look Like You Love Me.” The two blended their voices seamlessly on the song’s flirty chorus, earning cheers from the packed crowd.
How They First Met
The collaboration came after Green and Lily Pearl crossed paths at the 2024 CMT Music Awards in Austin, Texas. Serving as a red carpet correspondent, Lily Pearl asked Green about a 2022 tweet where he praised Clint Black and called “When I Said I Do” one of the best love songs in country music history.
Green reaffirmed his admiration during the interview, recalling the emotion he feels when Clint and Lisa perform it together live. He even named Clint Black as his “dream duet partner.”
The Legacy of “When I Said I Do”
Written by Clint Black, “When I Said I Do” was released in 1999 as the lead single from his album D’lectrified. It became his 13th No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart and crossed over to the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 31.
Riley Green’s Next Chapter
Green continues a busy run of headlining shows as he gears up for the release of his new album, Don’t Mind If I Do, arriving October 18, 2024. The duet with Lily Pearl Black only added to the buzz surrounding his current live shows, proving once again that country’s past and future are deeply connected.
