Riley Green, the 34-year-old country music sensation, made waves during his performance at the Nissan Stadium in Nashville on Friday night.
He drew cheers from the audience when he decided to drop Bud Light from the lyrics of one of his hit songs and replaced it with Coors Light, in response to the controversy over Anheuser-Busch’s sponsorship deal with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney.
Green was singing his 2019 hit “I Wish Grandpas Never Died” when he made the tweak to the lyrics, changing “And coolers never run out of cold Bud Light” to “And coolers never run out of cold Coors Light!”
Newsweek reported on the viral moment, and fans took to social media to express their support for Green’s decision.
“Thanks for knowing your audience @RileyGreenMusic,” wrote one Twitter user, while another commented, “Good for him! He can say or sing whatever he wants. First Amendment right??” Even self-described anti-woke lawyer Rogan O’Handley acknowledged the positive response from the crowd, saying, “The crowd goes nuts.”
When @RileyGreenMusic sang his hit song “I Wish Grandpa’s Never Died” last night, he changed the lyrics a bit
The new line is “and coolers never ran out of cold Coors Light” instead of Bud Light
The crowd goes nuts
pic.twitter.com/4sDkqQ5pAH— DC_Draino (@DC_Draino) April 15, 2023
The controversy surrounding Anheuser-Busch’s partnership with Mulvaney, who has over 10 million followers on social media, has had financial repercussions.
Shares of Coors’ parent company, Molson Coors Beverage Co., have risen by nearly 9% since the announcement of the rival ad campaign. At the end of March, the stock price was trading at $51.68 a share.
Anheuser-Busch faced backlash for sending Mulvaney a can with her likeness on it to commemorate her one-year anniversary of transitioning genders, a move criticized by conservatives.
Fellow country singers Travis Tritt and John Rich, as well as rocker Kid Rock, called for a boycott of the iconic brand, with Kid Rock even using cases of Bud Light for target practice.
In response to the controversy, Anheuser-Busch InBev CEO Brendan Whitworth issued a meek apology, saying, “We never intended to be part of a discussion that divides people,” and adding that the company is in the business of bringing people together over a beer.
He also pledged to continue working to bring great beers to consumers across the nation.
Meanwhile, Riley Green continues to make waves in the country music scene, with his bold decision to drop Bud Light from his lyrics garnering attention and support from fans.
As an award-winning artist, Green has used his platform to make a statement and spark conversations about social issues.
In conclusion, Green’s decision to drop Bud Light from his song lyrics during his performance at the Nissan Stadium and replace it with Coors Light has stirred up conversation and support.
The controversy over Anheuser-Busch’s sponsorship deal with Dylan Mulvaney has had financial repercussions, and Green’s actions have demonstrated the power of artists to express their views and make a statement through their art.
As the conversation continues, Riley Green remains a notable figure in the country music industry, using his platform connect with his audience.
