Maybe Riley Green’s advice for Ella Langley wasn’t all that bad. It was just a little … unrealistic.

The pair are set to perform “You Look Like You Love Me” at the 2024 CMA Awards on Wednesday (Nov. 20). Though they played it during a Toby Keith tribute last summer, this is the first time they’ve tried in front of all their country music peers, plus legends like George Strait.

Talking to Taste of Country, Langley said the pep talk she used to give herself won’t work any longer.

“‘Don’t fall down’ is usually my No. 1,” she shares. “Recently, I just did fall down for the first time so now I’m extra afraid of it.”

Green — who has been working these stages for a few years longer than she has — wasn’t much help.

• “You Look Like You Love Me” is nominated in the Musical Event of the Year category at the 2024 CMAs.
• This is the first CMA nomination for both artists.
• The 2024 CMAs air on ABC at 8PM ET.

Related: Are Ella Langley and Riley Green Dating?

“Riley’s like, ‘Just get up there and do your thing. Get up there and sing it,'” she says.

On the surface, that’s cool. However, Langley has to do her thing in a dress and heels, days after falling so hard that her guitar player went down with her. Plus, she’s got major first-timer jitters, something fans don’t always understand.

“I did The Tonight Show,” she tells ToC’s Adison Haager. “I don’t read comments because people are mean but … there were some weird ones like ‘Can’t move around too much, can’t not move around too much.'”

“I was like, ‘Linda, I would love to see your first time on The Tonight Show. The Roots are right there. I’m a little bit nervous,'” she admits.

For what it’s worth, Green may also be a teensy, tiny bit nervous to perform, too, even if he looks like a cool customer.

“I feel like I can hide a lot of emotions behind my mustache,” he jokes during his visit with Taste of Country at CMA Radio Row.