Bill Riley Talent Search
2021 Information
Bill Riley Announces Retirement after 2021 Season
10.22.2020
After 25 years on stage, Bill Riley will be retiring after the 2021 season of the Bill Riley Talent Search. “It has been a true honor to work with so many wonderfully talented young Iowans. I will always sit in amazement at the ability they have to "take the stage" and perform in front of an audience, kicking that stage fright to the curb and letting it rip!” says Riley. “I want to acknowledge and thank the parents, instructors and educators that assist these young Iowans to achieve their goals as well as the coordinators across the state that volunteer their time and make the qualifying shows possible each season. Also, the Bill Riley Talent Search would not be what it is today without our presenting sponsor, Hy-Vee. I thank them for believing in the program and supporting us for the last decade. All of these people are the foundation of the show and the reason for the program’s longevity. I look forward to working closely with the Iowa State Fair and am very excited to see what the future holds!”
“We can’t thank Bill Riley, Jr. enough for carrying on the legacy that his father started,” said Gary Slater, Iowa State Fair Manager and CEO. “Generations of talented youth from across Iowa have been proudly showcased at the Iowa State Fair on the namesake, Anne and Bill Riley stage. In 2021, we will celebrate Bill Riley, Jr.’s last tour and then plan for the future of the talent competitions in 2022. We want to be able to preserve the same level of excellence in competition and will share all the details at or after the 2021 Iowa State Fair.”
Riley took over the reins of the Bill Riley Talent Search from his father, Bill Riley, Sr. in 1997 but his involvement in the show started much earlier. “At 14 and 15 years old with my driving permit in hand, I started driving my Dad to talent shows throughout central Iowa.” Riley, Jr. has been proud to continue his father’s work.