Riley Green Says He Wants Kids Someday Just Not “a Basketball Team” Like Thomas Rhett

Riley Green may sing about small-town values and simple living, but when it comes to starting a family, the country star already knows exactly what he wants—and what he doesn’t.

The 37-year-old singer recently opened up about his future plans for fatherhood during an interview with Audacy’s Rob + Holly, where the conversation turned to kids after Green mentioned his close friend and collaborator Thomas Rhett.

Rhett, who shares four daughters with his wife Lauren Akins and is currently expecting another child, represents a level of parenthood Green finds impressive—but not necessarily aspirational.

“I don’t know how they do it,” Green admitted with a laugh. “It’s crazy to me.”

When asked how many kids he might want himself, Green didn’t hesitate to draw a clear line.

“I’ve got an interest in kids—just not 17, you know what I mean?” he joked. “I don’t want a basketball team. I’m looking for just a couple of little kids to hang out with.”

Green went on to share a humorous story that perfectly illustrated just how big Rhett’s family has become. Recalling a phone call from last summer, Green said Rhett had reached out while he was at the beach.

“He said, ‘Hey, I want to take a couple of my daughters fishing. Can you find a boat?’” Green remembered. “I said, ‘Yeah, no problem.’”

But when Rhett followed up a week later, the situation became clearer.

“He was like, ‘You don’t understand—I’ve got a lot of kids,’” Green said, laughing. “And I was like, ‘No, I get that… but you asked me to find a boat.’”

Green also pointed to his own family as an example of why he prefers a smaller household. His sister Lindy has three children, and watching her schedule unfold has been enough to make him think twice.

“They’re constantly going to ball games,” Green said. “They spend 90% of their life driving to ball games. I don’t have any interest in that.”

While Green is open about wanting children someday, he’s equally candid about the intense curiosity surrounding his personal life. In recent months, fans and media alike have speculated heavily about his dating life—a topic the Alabama native finds more amusing than frustrating.

“Frustrating isn’t the right word,” he explained. “It’s strange, but I don’t really mind it.”

Green added that as long as the attention leads new listeners to his music, he’s happy to let the rumors swirl.

“Anything that points people toward my music or finding out who I am is probably a good thing,” he said. “My friends get entertainment out of it. My family gets entertainment out of it. If it introduces somebody to my music, I guess it’s all right.”

For now, Riley Green is focused on his career—but when the time comes, he’s already certain of one thing: fatherhood is in his future, just not on Thomas Rhett’s scale.