Riley Green Taps into 'Vulnerability' for Acting Debut on Marshals

The country singer opens up about his first acting role and how his music career helped him prepare.

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Riley Green, the country singer known for hits like "I Wish Grandpas Never Died," has made his acting debut on the Yellowstone spinoff series Marshals. Green, who plays the character of Garrett, a former Navy SEAL with "a lot of vulnerability," reveals how his music career and working with an acting coach helped him tap into the emotional depth required for the role. The singer also discusses the differences between acting and his day-to-day life as a musician, and shares his excitement about potentially pursuing more acting opportunities in the future.

Why it matters

Green's transition from country music to acting represents a growing trend of country artists expanding their creative horizons and finding success in the world of television and film. His experience highlights how the skills and emotional connection required for powerful musical performances can translate to compelling acting work, especially for roles that demand vulnerability and depth of character.

The details

Green, who had previously only appeared in music videos as himself, was encouraged by his friend and Yellowstone star Luke Grimes to try acting. After meeting with an acting coach, Green worked to authentically portray his character Garrett, a former Navy SEAL struggling with emotional problems from his past. Green found that tapping into the vulnerability required for the role was similar to the process of performing emotional songs live, where he has to keep the feelings real even after repeated performances.

  • Green made his acting debut on the Marshals premiere on March 1, 2026.
  • He is set to travel to Australia for a series of shows later this month.

The players

Riley Green

A country singer known for hits like "I Wish Grandpas Never Died" who made his acting debut on the Yellowstone spinoff series Marshals.

Luke Grimes

Green's friend and co-star on Yellowstone, who encouraged Green to try acting.

Garrett

Green's character on Marshals, a former Navy SEAL struggling with emotional problems from his past.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“It certainly isn't because of the timing, because I'm probably more busy now than I ever have been. It happened really organically. It was through Luke Grimes, who's become a real good buddy of mine.”

— Riley Green (People)

“This guy was somebody that really had a lot of deep emotional problems from things that had happened to him in the past. And when you haven't lived those, you really kind of just rely on feedback from other people in the room.”

— Riley Green (People)

What’s next

Green will travel overseas for a series of shows in Australia later this month before returning to the U.S. for shows scheduled through November.

The takeaway

Riley Green's transition from country music to acting on the Yellowstone spinoff Marshals demonstrates how the skills and emotional connection required for powerful musical performances can translate to compelling acting work, especially for roles that demand vulnerability and depth of character.