CMA Stories: Behind The Song. Ella Langley and Riley Green’s Smash Hit “You Look Like You Love Me” Earns CMA Nomination for Musical Event of The Year

It’s official: Ella Langley and Riley Green’s hit “You Look Like You Love Me” has been nominated for the CMA Musical Event of the Year—a first for both artists. Given the song’s meteoric rise in popularity since its release, it's no surprise that fans and industry insiders alike are already buzzing that this playful, chart-topping track might just take home the win.

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A Song That Almost Wasn't

The story behind “You Look Like You Love Me” is as unexpected as its success. Recently, Riley and Ella sat down with Bobby Bones on The Bobby Bones Show to share how the viral track came to life.

Riley admitted that, at first, he didn’t see the song’s potential to become a smash hit. “I thought the song was fun. Had no clue it was a giant hit,” Green confessed. “You know, I thought talking verses was probably a little too old-school, a little too traditional, but how cool is it that a song that’s this country is doing this well?”

Ella echoed the sentiment, explaining that the song wasn’t even meant for release. “This song was never supposed to leave my audio recordings on my phone,” she laughed. “I wrote it as a joke with Aaron Reitier at first, and then the label heard it and loved it. And then Riley asked us to go on tour. Him and I, just kind of being from the same area and growing up on the same kind of music, I thought maybe we could try it out on the road.”

Ella also noted that she gave creative liberty for Riley on his verse. “I was like hey just kind of write the second verse how you how you would respond to a girl I was like hey just kind of write the second verse how you how you would respond to a girl coming up to you in the bar like that.”

That on-the-road collaboration blossomed into something magical, and soon enough, “You Look Like You Love Me” became a fan favorite.

Playful, Fun, and Unapologetically Country

What makes this song stand out is its unpretentious and cheeky vibe. The chorus, catchy and lighthearted, delivers the tongue-in-cheek lines:

Excuse me

You look like you love me

You look like you want me

To want you to come on home

And baby, I don't blame you

For lookin' me up and down across this room

I'm drunk and I'm ready to leave

And you look like you love me.

The song is pure fun—a barroom flirtation turned into a playful duet, with a shared point of view that feels refreshingly whimsical. It tells the story of a girl brazenly hitting on a cowboy, and both Green and Langley bring a layer of authenticity to the flirtation with their effortless back-and-forth.

Why This Song Could Win

With its infectious melody and spirited storytelling, “You Look Like You Love Me” captures something truly unique in today’s country landscape. It blends traditional country elements with a fresh, modern energy, making it a standout not just on the charts but among this year’s CMA contenders.

Fans and critics have praised the track for being fun, original, and totally relatable. Riley’s classic country charm combined with Ella’s breakout star power has resulted in a collaboration that feels like lightning in a bottle. As Green put it, the song’s traditional roots didn’t stop it from becoming a modern hit—something that bodes well for their chances come awards night.

This CMA nomination marks a significant milestone for both artists, and given the song’s widespread appeal and continued success, it wouldn’t be a shock to see Ella Langley and Riley Green walk away with their first CMA win.

No matter what happens, though, “You Look Like You Love Me” has already secured its place as one of the most exciting musical events of the year. From a casual recording on a phone to one of the hottest songs of the summer, to its music video racking up four million views in under a month, Langley and Green have proven that sometimes, the best hits are the ones you least expect.