The Simpsons
1989
Search results
- "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" Watch the full performance here
- "I Will Always Love You" (Whitney Houston Version) Watch the full performance here
- "4 Minutes" Watch the full performance here
- "Hate on Me" Watch the full performance here
- Personal Life
- Career
- Trivia
Riley was born to Elwin Riley and Tiny Hightower in Los Angeles, California. She grew up in La Mirada, California and has two older sisters, Toyia and Ashley.She graduated from La Mirada High School in La Mirada, California in 2004.
Film and Television
Riley auditioned for American Idolat age seventeen but didn't make it past producers. She auditioned for the role as Effie White in the 2006 movie musical Dreamgirlshowever Jennifer Hudson was chosen instead. Riley was casted as Mercedes Jones in 2008 and has had a main role on Gleefrom 2009 - 2012. Her role from then on was reduced to a guest role. Riley was announced, in August 2015, to have joined NBC's upcoming live-action remake of The Wiz, titled "The Wiz Live". It aired on December 3rd...
Stage
In 2012 Riley made an impressive New York stage debut, in an off-Broadway production of Cotton Club Parade. On August 1st, 2014 Riley starred in ‘Hair the Musical’ alongside friend and Glee co-star Jenna Ushkowitz. The Adam Shankman directed production was shown at the Hollywood Bowl. On February 5, 2016 it was announced that Riley would star as Effie White in the West End production of Dreamgirls musical at the Savoy Theatre. Riley went on to win the 2017 Olivier Award for Best Actress in a...
Music
Riley's debut single was titled "Colorblind". It was premiered live on April 3, 2014, on The Queen Latifah Show. The song was written by Emeli Sandé, Claude Kelly and Steve Mac. The song was later performed by Riley on Glee on an episode titled Bash (Season Five, Episode Fifteen).
She auditioned for American Idolwhen she was 18, but she was rejected.The first song she sang in front of an audience was "Just a Prayer Away" by Yolanda Adams.She's best known for being the "prankster" of the Glee Cast.She's obsessed with shoes.- “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going,” season one, episode 13. With no flashy outfits, sexy choreography, or grand stages, Riley can still leave your jaw on the floor with the sheer power of her vocals.
- “I’ll Stand By You,” season five, episode three. Glee‘s tribute episode to Cory Monteith after the actor’s passing is a hard watch. The entire cast had to act out their grief for their Glee Club partner and leader, Finn, but it’s clear most of those emotions were 100 percent genuine.
- “Ain’t No Way,” season two, episode 17. Aretha Franklin’s “Ain’t No Way” is one of Riley’s most famous covers from Glee, having gone on to sing it every night during the Glee Live!
- “Sweet Transvestite,” season two, episode five. Let’s talk about stage presence and sex appeal. This iconic rendition of “Sweet Transvestite” as part of Glee‘s tribute episode to The Rocky Horror Picture Show is exemplary of why this is one of the show’s best ever episodes.
Amber Patrice Riley sometimes known mononymously as RILEY, is an American actress and singer. She is best known for her portrayal of Mercedes Jones on the Fox comedy-drama series Glee. For her performance on the series, she and the rest of the cast won a Screen Actors Guild Award, and have been nominated for three Teen Choice Awards, three NAACP Image Awards, and a Grammy Award. In 2016, Riley ...
