“THEY’RE BACK AT CMA 2025… AND THIS TIME ALL EYES ARE ON THEM.” Last year, Ella Langley and Riley Green stepped onto the CMA stage like two familiar strangers — nobody expected much, and then the whole room shot to its feet when they launched into “You Look Like You Love Me.” That moment exploded online, pulling in more than 12 million views in just a few days, and no one forgot the way they looked at each other under that warm gold light. This year feels different. They’re no longer the pair who got “invited up for a surprise.” They’re walking back in with big nominations, real wins, and a wave of fans cheering them on. Now everyone’s wondering: will they repeat last year’s magic… or create something even bigger?
Ella Langley and Riley Green Deliver a Captivating Performance of “You Look Like You Love Me” at the 2024 CMA Awards
Ella Langley and Riley Green brought undeniable chemistry and artistry to the stage during their performance of the seductive, waltz-inspired duet “You Look Like You Love Me” at the 2024 CMA Awards. The two artists also earned the award for Musical Event of the Year for the very same song, marking a career-defining night for both performers.
The performance began in a strikingly intimate way. Langley, dressed in a sheer black feathered ensemble, remained seated among the star-studded audience as she delivered the opening lines. Positioned in front of Parker McCollum and his wife, Hallie Ray Light McCollum, she rose from her seat and moved toward the stage, singing directly to the crowd as she walked.
As she made her way forward, Langley reached out and briefly touched the cowboy hat of Michael Trotter Jr. from The War and Treaty during the lyric, “Well, I saw him walk in with his cowboy hat,” creating a playful and cinematic moment that brought the song’s storytelling to life. Once she reached the stage, she stepped up to a microphone set before a bar scene complete with stools, beer bottles, and glasses, adding to the song’s sultry atmosphere.
Riley Green entered moments later, emerging from the audience with an acoustic guitar in hand. Wearing blue jeans, a white shirt beneath a black suede jacket, and his signature cowboy hat, Green began his verse while standing behind Nate Smith before joining Langley on stage. Together they traded verses with an effortless ease before blending their voices into a seamless and powerful harmony on the chorus.
“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.”
Co-written by Ella Langley, Riley Green, and Aaron Raitiere, “You Look Like You Love Me” appears on Langley’s acclaimed debut album hungover. The track has quickly become one of her most-streamed releases and a standout moment in both artists’ current catalogs.
The Official Performance Video
The 2024 CMA Awards performance can be viewed below:
Ella Langley and Riley Green Reflect on the Song’s Success
Before the 58th Annual CMA Awards, Riley Green spoke with the Country Music Association about the song’s remarkable rise. He shared that its success felt refreshingly organic. “I’ve been a fan of Ella for a long time,” Green explained. “When we recorded the song, I didn’t expect it to become such a big hit. Watching it take on a life of its own has been incredible. Even before radio or awards attention, it was already a fan favorite. Performing it live has been the biggest moment for me, hearing the crowds sing every word.”
Ella Langley also discussed what it meant to collaborate with Green during an interview with Entertainment Tonight. “Riley was the perfect fit because we grew up on the same kind of music,” she shared. She also referenced classic country influences, explaining how the conversational elements in the song remind her of the iconic track “You Never Even Call Me By My Name.” Langley admitted that she originally wrote the song jokingly, never expecting it to take off. “Its success is wild,” she said. “It’s truly changing my life, and it’s exciting.”
Looking ahead, Langley will join Riley Green on his headlining The Damn Country Music Tour in 2025, giving fans more opportunities to hear their hit duet performed live.
A Memorable Night at the 2024 CMA Awards
The 2024 CMA Awards delivered a night full of standout performances from some of country music’s biggest stars. Artists such as Luke Bryan, Lainey Wilson, Post Malone, Ashley McBryde, Shaboozey, Chris Stapleton, Cody Johnson, Eric Church, Bailey Zimmerman, Megan Moroney, Luke Combs, and Kacey Musgraves lit up the stage with unforgettable sets.
The three-hour broadcast offered unique collaborations, including Post Malone and Chris Stapleton debuting “California Sober” and Kelsea Ballerini with Noah Kahan performing their emotional duet “Cowboys Cry Too.” A tribute to the late Tom Petty featured Dierks Bentley, Molly Tuttle, Sierra Hull, and Bronwyn Keith-Hynes, delivering a heartfelt rendition of “American Girl.”
Thomas Rhett and Teddy Swims blended their current singles “Somethin’ Bout A Woman” and “Lose Control” into a dynamic mashup, while Brooks & Dunn joined Jelly Roll on “Believe,” a highlight from the duo’s Reboot II album.
The evening was rounded out by an impressive lineup of presenters including Simone Biles, Clint Black, Jeff Bridges, Jordan Davis, The Oak Ridge Boys, Mitchell Tenpenny, Dustin Lynch, Caleb Pressley, Freddie Freeman, Little Big Town, Carly Pearce, Katharine McPhee, Billy Bob Thornton, and many others.
Co-hosted by Luke Bryan, Peyton Manning, and Lainey Wilson, the 58th Annual CMA Awards aired live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on November 20 and became available to stream on Hulu the following day.