Riley Green’s cowboy hat “secret weapon” helps land four-chair Cade Mower on The Voice Season 30

Riley Green put his “secret weapon” to work on The Voice, and it paid off. The “Worst Way” singer, serving as a first-time Coach for Season 30 of the NBC competition, secured four-chair-turn contestant Cade Mower after a head-to-head pitch against Adam Levine, Kelly Clarkson, and Queen Latifah, according to Taste of Country. Mower, 35, earned unanimous chair turns with a cover of Zach Bryan’s “Something in the Orange.”

After the other Coaches made their cases, Green reached for the cowboy hat stowed in his customized chair, put it on, and got down to business. He has previously described the hat as his audition-room strategy, explaining in a July interview, “What I found out is having the hat — whenever you’re trying to get someone to pick you for your team — when you can pull it out and put it on, they know you’re serious… A little strategy you gotta play.” Green told Mower that choosing Bryan’s song signaled a writer’s mindset: he believed the performance pointed to a lyrics-driven approach.

Mower auditioned with his wife, mother, and two children on hand. The Utah singer works in finance while balancing music and family life, and performed with an acoustic guitar. Green even suggested Mower’s sound could make him a strong opener for his next tour. After weighing the pitches, Mower chose Green. “Cade’s voice has got a tone that you can feel emotion in it,” Green said afterward. “I got a 4-Chair Turn, and I can’t wait to work with Cade.”

For country listeners, Green’s early move on The Voice matters: he’s bringing a songwriter-first country perspective to a primetime platform and spotlighting the genre’s emphasis on story and feel. With Mower leaning into a modern country staple for his audition and Green hinting at real touring opportunities, Team Riley could offer fans a closer look at how contemporary country sensibilities translate on a national TV stage.

Source: Taste of Country