Introduction
Rising country stars Ella Langley and Megan Moroney are making headlines, not just for their 2025 ACM Award nominations, but for a swirling love triangle rumor involving fellow country heartthrob, Riley Green. As all three navigate the spotlight, fans are dissecting every interaction, social media move, and lyrical hint for clues about their interconnected relationships.
The buzz around Ella Langley and Riley Green ignited after their powerful duets, “You Look Like You Love Me” and “Don’t Mind If I Do,” and their undeniable chemistry on Riley’s “Damn Country Music” tour. A viral clip showing a seemingly intimate moment backstage at The American Rodeo in Arlington, Texas, further fueled speculation, leading many fans to believe they were more than just collaborators.
However, both artists have consistently downplayed the romance. Ella, 26, clarified in a Taste of Country interview, “We’re not dating. We’re just good friends. Riley was probably the first famous person I ever met. He was playing all the same bars I went to and I played the same bars as him. It’s cool to see Alabama people winning.” Riley, 36, echoed this sentiment on Nick Viall’s podcast, The Viall Files, jokingly stating, “Yeah, I mean, Ella’s probably too smart to date me anyway.” He also noted, “When we first started having the success that we did with that song [‘You Look Like You Love Me’], I told Ella, I was like, ‘There’s gonna be a lot of things said, but we don’t really got to play into it or not play into it.'”
Despite these denials, the plot thickened when fans noticed Ella unfollowed Megan Moroney on Instagram. This came amidst rumors of a romantic connection between Megan and Riley, sparked by sightings of the two on the small island of St. Barts. While fans speculated about a tropical getaway, both Megan and Riley clarified it was a mere coincidence. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Megan explained, “He [Riley Green] was individually on his vacation with his friends. St. Barts is a popular place!” She added, “It’s one of those things where if you know someone on a small island, you’re like, ‘Oh, s–t, you’re here too.’ So it was fun.” When directly asked about dating Riley, Megan stated, “Just because we’re hanging out doesn’t mean we’re romantically dating. You know what I mean?” She humorously acknowledged her fans’ “FBI research” into her love life.
The online detective work intensified on Reddit, where a thread dedicated to the “love triangle” quickly gained traction. One user highlighted Megan wearing Riley’s hat, a comment from “Carl” on her Instagram, Ella unfollowing Megan, and Megan’s “passive aggressive” Instagram stories, including a lyric from her song “I’m Not Pretty”: “I bet one of his friends let my name slip again.”
Reactions from fans varied, with one suggesting, “Maybe she’s realizing how Riley is lol and I think Ella is just annoyed with Megan and Riley.” Another added, “I feel like Ella seems like a very no bs person and just wants to focus on being an artist so perhaps just doesn’t to be roped into the Nashville romance drama.”
Some fans offered their own perspectives on the alleged Riley-Ella connection, with one commenting, “Can I just say drama aside this is a terrible match and I don’t see any benefits outside of the now publicity that will later become a hate filled entire album about Riley doing her wrong. If I was his team I’d tell him to stay the f away from female songwriters and singers!” Another even drew comparisons to Morgan Wallen’s career trajectory, suggesting Riley’s team might be strategically leveraging the dating rumors for publicity. “Let’s face it, Riley is the hot face/body of country music right now. Kind of the Tim McGraw of this era. He’s talented, but not a great performer, so his looks are what he is building on. So, while I believe he and Megan are talking, I don’t believe he’s in it for the right reasons.”
Regardless of the truth behind the whispers, all three artists are set to be under the same roof at the 2025 ACM Awards on Thursday, May 8. Megan Moroney is nominated for Album of the Year for “Am I Okay? (I’ll Be Fine)” and Female Artist of the Year. Ella Langley is also nominated for Female Artist of the Year and New Female Artist of the Year, along with six additional nods for “You Look Like You Love Me.” Riley Green will also be a presenter at the ceremony, ensuring all eyes will be on this speculated trio.