Carly Pearce Opens Up About Filming Intimate ‘If I Don’t Leave I’m Gonna Stay’ Video With Riley Green
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Pearce shares why Green was the ideal choice to help bring the song’s story to the screen, while also opening up about the experience of shooting their more intimate moments together.
Carly Pearce and Riley Green have generated plenty of attention with their new duet, “If I Don’t Leave I’m Gonna Stay.” The collaboration arrived with a music video that leans heavily into the chemistry between the two country stars, prompting Pearce to explain how the pairing came together and what it was like portraying such an intense relationship on camera.
Pearce recently shared the behind-the-scenes story during a rare quiet moment at home while preparing pizza. She explained that she and Green have known each other for years, and she has long admired him as an artist.
When Pearce began looking through songs for a potential collaboration on her forthcoming album, Honest Woman, “If I Don’t Leave I’m Gonna Stay” immediately caught her attention. After hearing the sultry track, written by Devin Dawson, Seth Ennis, Jordan Minton and Jordan Reynolds, she knew she wanted to record it—but first needed to find the right partner.
Green was her first choice. Rather than going through their respective teams, Pearce decided to contact him herself. She sent Green a direct message encouraging him to listen to the song, and his response came remarkably quickly. Within minutes, he told her he was interested in joining the project.
Green followed up about an hour later with a voice recording of himself singing the opening verse. After Pearce’s vocals were sent over and Green recorded his part, she received his completed vocal late that night. Hearing his performance for the first time left her convinced they had created something special.
The finished duet plays on the push-and-pull of a complicated attraction, with Pearce and Green portraying two people who are drawn to each other despite knowing that giving in could bring consequences.
For Pearce, however, the song needed more than a strong recording. She wanted the accompanying video to tell the story visually, taking inspiration from music videos of the 1990s that focused on narrative-driven performances and characters.
She approached Green about stepping into the roles of two people who repeatedly find themselves pulled back together. Green agreed, resulting in a video that embraces the romantic tension and chemistry at the center of the song.
Pearce has been particularly enthusiastic about the finished visual, confidently calling it one of the hottest country music videos in years and encouraging fans who have not yet watched it to check it out.