Aussie singer Sheldon Riley wows judges on huge US TV talent show

A young Aussie singer has wowed the judges on America’s Got Talent, returning to US screens to settle some “unfinished business.”

Australian singer Sheldon Riley has wowed the judges on yet another TV talent show – this time, in America.

Riley, 24, is a TV veteran at this point, having first found fame in 2016 when he competed on the eighth season of The X Factor Australia. Two years later, he placed third on the seventh season of The Voice Australia.

Since then, he’s returned to The Voice as an all-star contestant, represented Australia at Eurovision and in 2020, came runner-up on The Masked Singer Australia and made it to the quarter-finals of America’s Got Talent.

Sheldon Riley wows the judges. Picture: Trae Patton/NBC

Now, Riley’s back on US television for the latest America’s Got Talent spin-off, AGT: Fantasy League, which sees past contestants return for another shot at glory.

And in the latest episode of the show, Riley paid homage to his Eurovision past with a stirring performance of the 2023 contest’s winning song, Loreen’s Tattoo.

In his intro package, Riley also opened up about the performance style that’s become something of a trademark for him: Hiding his face under ornate masks. Riley confessed that his choice of onstage attire was initially a way to combat low self-confidence and insecurity about his looks.

Mask on … Picture: Trae Patton/NBC

Mask off.

But while Riley started his Tattoo performance masked, he revealed his face for the song’s climax, much to the judges’ delight.

“I have to say, you’re gorgeous,” said his mentor, Spice Girl Mel B, who said she was “blown away.”

Host Terry Crews and judge Heidi Klum both heaped praise on Riley.

“Not only did you step it up from anything you’ve done on AGT before, but I think you did something wonderful for the world,” said fellow judge Howie Mandel.

Music mogul Simon Cowell said he’d felt Riley had “unfinished business” with America’s Got Talent since his first appearance on the show almost four years ago, which saw him make it to the third quarter-final before being eliminated.

“Your voice is so distinct, and you are what I would call a proper frontman singer,” Cowell told Riley after his AGT return.

“Congratulations, and welcome back.”