Riley Green started the Blind Auditions with 12 contestants on his team, most of them country artists. Now that the Battle Rounds are underway, his team has gotten smaller, but several strong vocalists are still in the running.

Although Season 30 of The Voice is still in its early stages, Green has already attracted some loyal supporters. One unexpected encounter showed him just how invested viewers are in his journey.

Speaking with Country Heat Weekly hosts Kelly Sutton and Amber Anderson, Green recalled passing a woman he didn’t know in the elevator at his apartment building. She recognized him and greeted him with, “Hey, Riley.”

As Green tried to figure out whether they had met before, the woman explained, “I just want you to know we’re really pulling for you on ‘The Voice.’”

The comment caught him off guard because Season 30 hadn’t even premiered. She was already cheering him and his team on before seeing them perform.

Green said the interaction left an impression on him:

“That was the first time I heard it put like that, like pulling for me, like it’s a competition, you know? I was so glad to be on the show, and the opportunities that it’s going to create for my music career, as far as introducing me to new fans, but they’re serious about it.”

Watch the video below to hear Green tell the story in his own words.