“This is the one show. There’s no smoke, there’s no mirrors, no nothing,” he then said of American Idol. “Just the piano and me. And if you don’t like it, you don’t like it.”
Sheldon Riley; Photo Courtesy of American Idol / ABC
After years of hiding behind elaborate costumes and larger-than-life personas, Sheldon Riley stepped onto the American Idol stage ready to be seen for who he truly is. Riley has been chasing the same dream since he was a child. And while he’s already tasted success, this time around, he’s approaching it differently—as himself.
The 26-year-old hopeful from Melbourne, Australia, auditioned for American Idol Season 24 on Monday (Feb. 2) night, marking yet another major televised spot in a career that has seen stints on shows like The X Factor Australia (2016), The Voice Australia (2018), the Eurovision Song Contest (2022), The Masked Singer (2022), and most recently America’s Got Talent (2024).
Standing before judges Carrie Underwood, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan, Riley made it clear that this audition was much different than the ones he’s done in his past. For the first time, he was appearing as himself, leaving the masks and elaborate costumes behind.
“About 10 years ago, I auditioned for a big TV show in Australia,” Riley told the panel, sharing a poignant part of his personal story. “It’s my big moment, and I sang my song, and they said it wasn’t quite enough.”
“That experience made me doubt myself,” he added of how the rejection left a lasting mark. “It made me feel I had to play a character just to be seen.”
Riley went on to say that those feelings of doubt led him to develop a visually striking alter ego, one that was defined by dramatic masks, alluring crystals, and bold fashion.
“The outfit just got crazier and crazier and crazier,” he recalled, adding that “it almost felt like an addiction to be the most memorable person in the room.”
Though that image propelled him to global opportunities, from Eurovision to America’s Got Talent, Riley admitted that he wasn’t happy.
“I’d come home, I’d take the mask off, the makeup, the accessories, everything. And I would hate the person that I saw in the mirror. I hated that version of me,” he said, noting that he ended up stepping away from music for two years.
“This is the one show. There’s no smoke, there’s no mirrors, no nothing,” he then said of American Idol. “Just the piano and me. And if you don’t like it, you don’t like it….”
Proving his worth as Riley, the talented singer then blew the judges away with his rendition of “Brother” by Australian singer-songwriter Matt Corby. Accompanied only by a piano, he sold himself with a performance that was raw, controlled, and deeply emotional.
“You’re crazy talented. Crazy. Unbelievable,” Bryan raved. “Don’t know why you ever had to wear the mask because you’re an amazing-looking person. You don’t always have to be the loudest guy in the room or the most dynamic singer in the room. It’s okay to just peel a layer off, but that was impressive.”
Richie echoed Bryan’s sentiments, adding, “You’re an artist, man, and you’re authentic. I love watching someone in their moment. You have stage presence. It’s all there. Accept you. Embrace you.”
Underwood kept it simple. She said, “I’m really glad you’re here. I love your voice.”
All three judges then delivered a resounding yes, sending Riley to Hollywood with a golden ticket.
Afterward, Riley reflected on the moment that felt unlike anything he’d experienced before.
“I’ve been judged by a lot of people—very important people,” he said into the camera. “But I feel like that was the first time it really meant something, because I went out there not playing a character. It was me.”