A U.S. Marine stunned the crowd by out-singing country star Riley Green onstage. The jaw-dropping moment went viral worldwide, capturing millions of views.
Country star Riley Green turned his performance at the Windy City Smokeout on Sunday (July 13) into a patriotic highlight by welcoming First Lieutenant Jackson Perkins of the U.S. Marine Corps onstage for a heartfelt duet of Jamey Johnson’s classic, “In Color.”
Dressed in full Marine uniform, the 26-year-old Perkins stood center stage beside Green, who played acoustic guitar. Green then stepped aside to let the Marine take the spotlight, and Perkins’ deep baritone carried the second verse: “Oh, and this one here’s taken overseas / In the middle of hell in nineteen forty-three…” The crowd erupted in cheers, with many fans pulling out their phones to capture the unforgettable moment.
For Perkins, the performance was more than just a song—it was personal. “I draw a lot of personal connection to that song,” he explained after the show. “Jamey Johnson himself was a Marine, so it means a lot to me, and it connects with so many people who think of their own loved ones who served.”
Currently stationed in Washington, D.C., Perkins has long dreamed of pursuing country music. He’s been writing songs, playing open mics, and working with CreatiVets, an organization dedicated to helping veterans heal through art. Backstage before the concert, he sang a few lines of “In Color” for Green, who immediately invited him to join the set: “He just said, ‘Let’s go. Let’s play it.’”
A fan-shot video of the duet quickly went viral on TikTok, with viewers praising both Green’s humility in giving the Marine the spotlight and Perkins’ impressive vocals.
Green’s Chicago show also featured performances from Jon Pardi, Kane Brown, Bailey Zimmerman, and Megan Moroney. Yet his duet with Perkins stood out as the emotional centerpiece of the night—a powerful reminder of country music’s connection to service, sacrifice, and American pride.