Kelly Clarkson marked her 43rd birthday with a performance of Riley Green’s “Don’t Mind If I Do” on the April 24, 2025, episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show. The country song joined her “Kellyoke” covers, the show segment in which she performs music by other artists.
Clarkson’s rendition put her voice at the center of a song about the pull of a past relationship and the difficulty of moving on. The birthday performance also continued her recent run of covers from Green’s catalog: in February 2025, she sang his song “Worst Way” on the program.
A song about an old connection
“Don’t Mind If I Do” is the title track from Green’s third studio album, released in October 2024. Green and Ella Langley released the song after their earlier collaboration, “You Look Like You Love Me,” found viral success. The album reached No. 8 on the US Top Country Albums chart and No. 25 on the Billboard 200.
The song’s story centers on the temptation to reconnect with a former love despite the hurt that remains. Clarkson’s performance brought that emotional thread into a solo Kellyoke rendition, offering her interpretation of a track associated with Green and Langley’s country collaboration.
Clarkson’s connection to Green’s music
Her February cover of “Worst Way” was another Kellyoke take on a Green song. The newer performance adds “Don’t Mind If I Do” to that small collection and shows Clarkson returning to his country material.
Clarkson has expressed admiration for both Green and Langley, including the way their voices work together. Her appreciation for the pair’s music gives the birthday cover an additional connection to the artists behind the song, beyond the occasion itself.
Kellyoke has given Clarkson a regular opportunity to move among different songs and genres. This time, she chose a recent country release whose subject is lingering attachment, pairing the show’s cover format with a birthday performance. The song’s place on Green’s album and its connection to Langley’s earlier collaboration provide context for why Clarkson’s selection is part of a broader interest in their music—not simply a one-off country choice.
