Masked Singer
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This is what (comedy) friends are for. On Wednesday night’s (March 6) season 11 premier of The Masked Singer, host Nick Cannon got totally got by his comedy pal Kevin Hart, who made a surprise guest appearance in the clunky Book costume.
While actual cloaked performers Ugly Sweater, Starfish, Goldfish and Lovebird sang for a spot on the show, Hart stumbled his way through Ne-Yo’s “So Sick,” drawing smiles and laughs from judges Robin Thicke, Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg, Ken Jeong and newbie Rita Ora. The panel could not contain themselves as Hart — whose voice was unmistakable underneath the boxy costume — bumbled his way through the song by last season’s winner.
“They love the book because that was so amazing,” Cannon said after the performance, which Thicke also called “amazing.” “Like, I’ve done a lot, but what I’m doing right now? This might be my most novel experience yet,” Hart said through a voice changer afterwards as Thicke said his face hurt from smiling.
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When the big reveal came later in the show, Thicke, who had guessed Hart, took a victory lap and hugged the funnyman while Cannon complained that the comedian was breaking the rules. “I got you! Oh, I got you Nick! This was a prank, you had no idea!… And guess what Nick? There’s nothing you can do about it!,” Hart shouted as the host lamented that his friend was out of order by bringing their longtime prank war to his stage.
“This is stupid,” Cannon complained. “That was the worst performance ever in the history of this show, how about that!”
“On purpose, Nick!” the stand-up shouted. “I performed bad on purpose!”
“You embarrassed yourself, that was stupid!” Cannon shot back.
“No, I don’t look stupid. I look put together Nick,” Hart said while wearing a flesh-colored sock on his head to go with a black long sleeved shirt, white pants and book-shaped shoes. “There’s nothing stupid about me. You know who looks stupid? You, in that stupid jacket!”
Cannon — wearing a sparkly dinner jacket — disagreed, saying, “you ruined the freakin’ show! We was gonna bring everybody out, vote, deliberate…” Hart checked his pockets and snapped, “I’m trying to see if I have a little bit of care, cuz I don’t care. That’s not my problem, that’s your problem. This is me, up on you now, Kevin Hart 1, you nothing!”
The two old friends co-hosted the 2023 E! series Celebrity Prank Wars and have played tricks on each other before, including Cannon getting Hart a llama for his 42nd birthday in 2021 and Kevin posting Nick’s personal phone number on a billboard in 2021.
Elsewhere, Lovebird sang Phillip Phillips’ “Home,” Ugly Sweater did Tina Turner’s “The Best,” Starfish took on Madonna’s “Material Girl” and Goldfish ran through Olivia Rodrigo’s “Vampire.” Next week’s show will feature a Wizard of Oz theme, with former competitor LeAnn Rimes (aka Sun) returning to perform “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” and the introduction of new singers Gumball, Afghan Hound, The Beets and Miss Cleocatra.
Watch Hart’s performance and unmasking below.
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SPOILER ALERT: This story contains the identity of the contestant eliminated on Wednesday night’s (Dec. 13) episode of The Masked Singer.
Anteater isn’t gonna lie: His super-awkward costume on The Masked Singer was cumbersome and, frankly, pretty ugly. But the dulcet-voiced veteran singer charmed the judges with his Battle run through Justin Timberlake’s Trolls hit “Can’t Stop the Feeling!,” a Philly soul take on the Backstreet Boys’ “I Want It That Way,” and an energetic Smackdown cover of Toni Basil’s “Mickey.” His gritty ramble through one of his favorite songs, Marc Cohn’s “Walking in Memphis,” cemented early on that this was definitely an A-lister, which might explain the top-shelf guesses.
Robin Thicke was pretty sure it was Jackson Browne or Paul Simon, while Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg was thinking it was either Bob Seger, E Street Band guitarist “Little” Steven Van Zandt or Willie Nelson, and Nicole Scherzinger guessed John Cougar Mellencamp or Bryan Adams. Always-wrong Ken Jeong, as usual, was way off, guessing ’80s pop heartthrob Rick Springfield.
After self-described leftie “short king” Anteater’s final high-energy rip through his childhood favorite, Chuck Berry’s “Johnny B. Goode,” on Wednesday’s show, the cat, or ant, was out of the bag. The man behind the long snout was none other than mustachioed Hall & Oates member John Oates; also eliminated on Wednesday night’s season 10 Group C finals was Candelabra (Keyshia Cole), with Donut advancing to next week’s final against Cow, Gazelle and Sea Queen.
Billboard spoke with Oates, 75, before his elimination to find out how he chose the costume, why his intense cardio helped him survive the costume and whether the show has been a welcome distraction from the Hall & Oates lawsuit headlines.
Who came to you with the offer to be on the show? Were you already watching it?
I found out about it through my PR and social media team. Interestingly enough, I wasn’t aware of the show until I did a guest spot on The Goldbergs and [star] Hayley [Orrantia] reached out to me to say I was going to be a clue on The Masked Singer [when she was the Ringmaster in season 7]. I had no idea what she was talking about and then I started watching and said, “Wow!” That was my introduction to the show. I kind of followed it and then when it was a good time for me in between tours … I’m always up for something new and I realized how massive the reach of the show is. Here was a chance to talk to folks like you about my new music coming out in the spring, my single out next week and the charity work I’m doing with Feeding America and Movember.
I’m not gonna lie, John, Anteater is probably the ugliest costume to date so far. Why did you pick that one?
Thank you. That’s what we were going for. I have to be honest, I didn’t like the costume when they showed me the rendering. “Why that?” Then I thought maybe it was a subtle connection between [Hall & Oates’ 1982 hit] “Man Eater” and Anteater, which I thought might be a subtle clue without being a clue. At a certain point they convinced me it’s cool, but I’m still not sure it’s true.
The arms were so long you couldn’t even hold the mic!
I had what I call a “Madonna mic,” the Janet Jackson mic that goes around your ear. The weird thing is I could only flap my arms up and down and it also had gigantic shoes that had a pair of sneakers inside the giant boots. I had to put my foot into the giant boot, so I could barely walk and I couldn’t see.
You’re 75 years old, but you had so much of what the kids calls “rizz” onstage. How did you keep your wind up in that cumbersome costume?
It got challenging near the end, especially during the Smackdown performance, and then I had to sing it again. I ride my bicycle, cross-country ski and hike — so for my age, I’m in really, really good shape. The hardest thing for me was I couldn’t see because they had choreography for me and I had to count out the steps and sing at the same time. I should have gotten a freakin’ medal for that!
You seemed to really get out of your traditional lane with Justin Timberlake’s “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” and the Smackdown with “Mickey.” Were you excited to explore some different genres?
The “Mickey” one was too weird. But it’s fun and it’s crazy. I don’t mind being thrown into a situation like that and being on a tightrope. I’ve been singing “Johnny” since I was 6-7 years old when it first came out. It was one of the first songs I learned.
Were any of your friends or family hitting you up knowing it was you?
My wife and my team knew. When I had to go to L.A. to do the show every week for three weeks — I have a lot of friends in L.A. — I would go out to dinner with them and they’re like, “Why are you in town?” I was like, “Oh, I’m doing a TV pilot.” I would do the show all day and then hang with friends and lie to them.
In a way you’re kind of the best singer for the show since people know your vocals from songs like “She’s Gone” and “Time Won’t Pass Me By,” but you kind of slip under the radar by being able to do different styles.
That was one of the things that intrigued me and made me want to do it — the reaction to me singing without knowing my past. Daryl’s vocals are the signature of the big Hall & Oates hits, so I do fly under the radar. It was interesting to see what type of artist they thought I might be: Mellencamp, Bryan Adams, Willie Nelson… that one threw me. It was interesting to see what the reaction would be when they heard someone singing and connect their voice with the image and career without a preconceived notion of who it could be.
The guesses were definitely all over the place and, I assume, kind of flattering? Bob Seger, Wilie Nelson, Paul Simon, John Mellencamp, Bryan Adams, Billy Joel and Rick Springfield?
All people who I really respect and like.
Is this the weirdest gig you’ve ever had?
It right up there! [Laughs] Right up there with when I was inducted into the Mustache Hall of Fame and performed a Halloween show for them where everyone in the audience, including women, wore mustaches. That was weird.
You also said it’s the most fun you’ve ever had. What was so fun about it?
It was just so fun to sustain this secret over a month. During the last episode I was scheduled to play the Newport Folk Festival — talk about a conflict in styles! — so on Sunday I played a show in the afternoon, took the red-eye and then Monday I started rehearsing and doing choreography. I was wasted, really tired, and it was the last episode. When I got unmasked, I wasn’t 100% disappointed.
Are you bummed you didn’t win? Who do you think has the inside track to win?
It was OK. It was a great experience and I some fun doing it, but when it was done I was pretty happy about that.
Tell me about your “Get Your Smile On” single. It’s such a sweet, old-school soul song, but with a bit of a modern drum machine touch.
It’s a song I wrote during COVID — I wanted to write something really positive — and this is a great time to put it out, with all proceeds from the download of the song going to Teen Cancer America. It’s a good-feeling song and I recorded it all at home on Garage Band.
I know you can’t talk specifics, but has it been fun promoting this show as a distraction from the headlines you’ve been dealing with lately about the catalog dispute with Daryl [Hall]?
Any time I can talk about music and not the other stuff, that’s better.
Well, I hope that all gets resolved and we can see the two of you perform again together someday soon.
Yup, we’ll see.
The Masked Singer season 10 finale will air on Fox on Dec. 20 at 8 p.m. ET.
SPOILER ALERT: This story contains the identity of the contestant eliminated on Wednesday night’s (Dec. 6) episode of The Masked Singer.
During his deep run into season 10 of The Masked Singer, Husky proved he was a big dog with a series of impressive performances. The canine with deep-blue eyes wowed the judges with his soulful spin on Elton John’s “Bennie and the Jets,” busting out a sky-high falsetto and working the crowd like a veteran. He seemed more in his favored lane on a growly, fist-pumping run through Rick James’ “Super Freak,” on Harry Potter Night, which got judge Nicole Scherzinger thinking it could be R&B singer Tank, while Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg guessed it might be Brian McKnight or Babyface.
Robin Thicke said no to both of those, keying in on a crying-emoji clue that made him think it might be actor Terrence Howard, while always-wrong Ken Jeong suggested another sometimes weepy thespian, Morris Chestnut. The key clue, as it turned out, was the singer’s early success with the ladies, who, he said, would often shower him with their undergarments when he was onstage.
On Wednesday’s rock-themed Group C finals show — which featured a cameo from Poison’s Bret Michaels singing “Nothing but a Good Time,” as well as covers of songs by KISS and Mr. Big — Husky got emotional with the Bon Jovi ballad “Always,” once again proving his range with a lighters-in-the-air-worthy performance. Jeong clued into a “wild” clue and thought it might be DJ D-Wrek from host Nick Cannon’s long-running Wild ‘N Out series, while Thicke clued in on a carousel and doubled down on his earlier guess that it was none other than “Pony” singer Ginuwine.
The night also saw the elimination of Tiki (Sebastian Bach), with Group B champion Sea Queen moving on to the season finale.
Billboard spoke with Ginuwine before his elimination about coming out of his shell to do the show, why the Husky appealed to his “go-getter” personality, and how he felt about the viral Justin Timberlake “fo shiz” moment in Britney Spears’ recent The Woman in Me memoir.
You’ve done a bit of reality TV, including Celebrity Big Brother in the UK in 2018, but is it safe to assume this was even weirder than sharing a house with a drag queen, ballet dancer and a detective?
It’s two totally different shows. … I’m pretty much a reserved person. I try to stay out of the limelight as much as I possibly can, but over the last few years, I’ve tried to get out of being such a loner and come out of my shell and try some things, so I just gave it a chance. Now I’m back in my reserved mode.
In which case, how did you end up on the show? Was it your idea?
Oh no! It wasn’t my idea at all! They just happened to call. I was pretty much forgotten for a minute until this year, a couple things went viral and my name was poppin’. … I definitely wasn’t even trying to go viral — that’s not my thing. Crazy stuff happens. [Laughs] But it was good because I got to try out new things.
Did you think you had a chance at winning?
Again, anything I was gonna try, I’m definitely gonna try to win, but there were obstacles that stop you. You have no authority over whether you stay or go; you just do your best and hope for the best.
Talk about those obstacles — what made it hard for you?
[Laughs] Wearing that mask! Because it was real hot and very uncomfortable. I had fun, but the only reason I felt like I didn’t make it as far as I possibly could have was because of the mask … which was very hot and I have asthma, so it dried me out and I couldn’t sing as well as I usually do. I was hoarse a whole lot. If you came to one of my concerts, you would definitely see a big difference, but I have no regrets. I’m glad I did it.
Gotta ask: Why Husky?
They sent me that one, and right off the bat I could relate it to who I am: an alpha male, a go-getter and just focused on whatever it is that I try. So that was the one that suited me perfectly.
And, like, a horse would have been too obvious right?
[Laughs] Yeah, that would have been way too obvious!
You really got to spread your wings, singing a couple of rockers from Elton John and Bon Jovi — plus that Rick James jam — how did it feel to get out of your comfort zone?
They picked those, but I was real happy about the Rick James one, but I didn’t know the other two. I had to learn them and they were totally out of my comfort zone. I’ve been in this business for 27 years and I’m used to doing my own stuff, not stuff I have to learn.
The guesses were all over the place — Terrence Howard, Morris Chestnut, Brian McKnight — how did you feel about them? Did any of them piss you off?
Nah, I wasn’t pissed off about the guesses; that’s part of the fun. I was more like, “You think it’s Brian McKnight? We sound totally different!” I knew Robin would have a better guess than anyone else because I’ve been around him a lot. Because I was hoarse, I might have sounded a little less familiar and I was trying to throw them off so they couldn’t get it, and I wasn’t going to try to sound like myself.
It’s been more than 20 years since you released a new album, do you have anything in the works?
The state of music, in my opinion, has changed dramatically. Unless you have a big machine behind you, a song lasts a month, but back in my day one song could last a whole year. It’s oversaturated and, for me, I’m just humble and blessed that I came out in the ’90s era with music that still stands the test of time. I’ve never worked as much as I’ve been working in the last 10 years — doing shows, people using my music, all that — and so I really don’t have to work, which is a blessing for me to do the ’90s tour all over Australia, Japan, and because I wrote so much of my music back in the days, the royalty thing is good.
You mentioned some viral moments earlier, so I have to ask about the Justin Timberlake “fo shiz, fo shiz” moment in Britney Spears’ memoir and if you remember that.
Nah, I don’t remember that. [Laughs] I would have probably looked at him very weird if he did that like she said. I just don’t remember that, but I remember him being a cool dude and me kicking it down there in Florida with [*NSYNC’s] producer at one time. Nah, I don’t remember that.
I have to ask because I’m obsessed: Is it fair to say — as I do all the time — that “Pony” has basically become the modern shorthand for sex thanks to Magic Mike and every karaoke bar playlist over the past 20-plus years? How does it feel to have a Marvin Gaye-level sex jam in your catalog?
I couldn’t have said it better myself! You absolutely hit it right on the head. The No. 1 karaoke song and it’s stood the test of time. Even more successful artists than myself have used it … Rihanna [2014’s “Jump”], Britney [a viral ALTÉGO “Toxic Pony” remix], Drake [2016’s “Fake Love”] … so many people. So it introduces me to the younger generation and it keeps me relevant.
Spoiler alert: This story contains the identity of the contestant eliminated on Wednesday night’s (Nov. 29) episode of The Masked Singer.
With his rakish graham cracker, marshmallow hat and chocolate-dripping goatee, the swashbuckling S’more had a killer run on The Masked Singer. The clearly veteran stage performer displayed his personality and people skills early on during a swoony run through The Plain White T’s’ “Hey There Delilah,” which made judge Nicole Scherzinger “melt.”
After the snack singer told viewers he’d spent time on the road with his “brothers” back in the day and revealed that he’s a dad, Scherzinger guessed New Kids on the Block singer Jordan Knight, or maybe Jury Duty actor James Marsden. Meanwhile, always-wrong panelist Ken Jeong guessed Matchbox 20 singer Rob Thomas, while Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg — an avowed expert on boy bands — cued in on a “hairspray” clue and though it could be O-Town singer and Broadway vet Ashley Parker Angel.
S’more, who also brought it on NFL Night with Maroon 5’s “Moves Like Jagger” — during which the tall drink of water scored a touchdown with his smooth moonwalk — got the judging panel lasciviously touching marshmallow props along with him after his crush-worthy take on former One Direction member Niall Horan’s solo hit “Slow Hands.”
His last splash was on Wednesday night’s (Nov. 29) Disco Night Group A finals, where S’more went up against Cow and Gazelle as he took on one of his favorite dance-floor hits, “That’s The Way (I Like It)” by KC and the Sunshine Band.
Other clues along the way included his journey from obscurity to worldwide fame and “heartthrob status” in just weeks, as well as a Chicago deep-dish pizza and oranges, which led to some more close-but-not-quite boy band guesses, including *NSYNC’s JC Chasez, Backstreet Boys’ Kevin Richardson and Jeong’s other swing-and-misses: Shang-Chi star Simu Liu or BSB’s AJ McLean
All wrong, however — except for McCarthy-Wahlberg, who, as it turns out, had already correctly guessed that the singer was none other than Wicked‘s Fiyero Tigelaar, aka O-Town’s Ashley Parker Angel.
Billboard spoke to Angel before his elimination, asking what inspired his return to singing, whether this is a precursor to a boy band reunion, and how he felt watching one of his favorite groups, *NSYNC, come back together after a 20-year hiatus.
You’ve done time on a number of reality shows — Celebrity Cooking Showdown, Celebrity Surf Invitational, Making the Band — how did this experience compare?
This was unlike any other experience Ive ever had. It’s such a unique style show. I had watched the previous seasons and a lot of my family are obsessed [with it] and I’d had a lot of people guessing I was characters from previous seasons. But I never thought I’d be in a giant S’more costume performing these awesome songs I got to sing.
Why now? What inspired you to do this show at this point?
I had taken a break from performing for a little while after Wicked on Broadway and I moved home to focus on being a dad and then the pandemic hit and I started an online fitness company [High Level Performance Academy] and it ended up being so fulfilling working with people who had followed my career and it felt like I was making an impact helping people change their lives for the better. I told my agent this was what I was focused on and they were ready to let me me go because I was turning down so many things and stepping away from entertainment, which is what I’d done for 20 years as a singer, actor and performer. When I got the call for The Masked Singer, I already loved the show, so it was kind of perfect. Who doesn’t love to see their favorite celebrity get revealed? So I said, “hell yeah!”
Is this a precursor to you returning to the music biz?
I’ve been getting this question a lot and the truth is I love what I’m doing now as a health and wellness coach, but I had this opportunity now that my son is older and I wanted him to have a moment where he could see his dad on stage because I’d stepped away for a solid amount of time. It will always be a part of who I am, but no. I have no plans to launch an album or do music again. I get questions about an O-Town reunion [the group reunited in 2013 without Angel] and I’m not excited about that at this time in my life. I’m always excited about evolving to the next stage and taking on new challenges.
So many of the guesses were other boy band members — was that flattering?
It was, and the one I loved the most was Rob Thomas of Matchbox 20… I’m a huge fan and it was an honor and a privilege to have that guess. One of the things was that the mask looks so much like Kevin Richardson with that goatee, but that would have been almost too on-the-nose.
Jenny seemed to know it was you from the jump, though. What do you think gave it away for her?
She knows her MTV, as she said, and I feel like because of that clue the night that she guessed [a video of S’more curling dumbbells], that was unique to what I’ve been doing the last five years.
You got to show off your indie rock, disco and pop chops on the show with songs by Maroon 5, Plain White T’s and the Sunshine Band. Was it fun to tap into those different aspects of your vocals?
Totally. And the KC song, that’s one of my all-time favorite disco songs. With Niall from One Direction, of all the boy band members he looks like my younger brother and doing another boy bander was a nod to my boy band past.
You said you were nervous at first and you said you did tons of cardio to get your breath. But judging by the many ripped, shirtless pics on your Instagram, it seems like you’re probably in the best shape of anyone who has ever been on the show.
You are far too kind. I am 42 years old, so it’s not quite the same as in my 20s. And now I’m in a giant, heavy costume. They did say with your boy band background and Broadway experience, they wanted to give me a lot of choreography, and I said yes and then later I almost regretted it singing these songs — which takes so much breath — and adding the choreography. My focus on fitness gave me a real advantage. If not, I couldn’t have made it through one song.
Was part of your strategy flirting with the female judges?
I really tried to be as creative as possible during this process and I kept asking for these moments I might have with the judges. My idea to sing and serenade Nicole was because going back to when she was in Eden’s Crush and we would play a lot of the same shows, I’ve always been a huge fan, so it was really fun to ham it up and switch around some of the “Hey Delilah” lyrics to sing it to her.
Your old pals in *NSYNC recently got back together after 20-plus years. What did you think of their return?
I am friends with those guys and I think it’s awesome and I celebrate it. One of my audition songs for O-Town was *NSYNC’s “Tearing’ Up My Heart.” When i was in high school, Backstreet Boys and *NSYNC were the biggest bands in the world and O-Town was from the same camp, but I declined an opportunity to rejoin O-Town because it’s not exciting to me where I am in my life now.
The Masked Singer season 10 kicked off on Wednesday night (Sept. 27) on Fox, and saw a brand new cast of elaborately costumed players performing to see who will emerge as this cycle’s champion. The first unmasking of the season came courtesy of the Rubber Ducky, who took to the stage of the competition show to performing his rendition of Dexys Midnight Runners’ hit “Come on Eileen.”
After the performance, judge Ken Jeong had nothing but praise for the star underneath the mask. “I dare say this is the most fun performance of the night,” he said. “I love everything about this. Amazing job.”
The duck gave a clue that revealed his family is “full of stars,” which prompted Robin Thicke to guess he’s a comedian. “I’m definitely getting a comedian vibe from this guy. I’m thinking famous families, and this guy is known for being in very famous horror movies like Scream … what if this is David Arquette? Famous brother of Patricia Arquette?” he wondered.
Fellow judge Jenny McCarthy, however, had others in mind. “That’s not bad. I could see David doing something like this,” she said. “But … what about Wayans brothers?”
Jeong, who is a comedian outside of the show, put his knowledge to the test and shared his expert opinion on why it couldn’t be one of the Wayans brothers. “They’re, like, two of the most celebrated, legendary stand-up comedians of all time. This person said he did stand-up comedy, he didn’t like it, so right now I’m thinking Anthony Anderson,” he explained. “Anthony Anderson is not known for stand-up, but he is one of the best comedic actors around. That is something that is screaming Anthony Anderson. Great job, Anthony!”
Sure enough, Jeong’s guess was spot on. Anderson was unmasked and joked, “Ken, you finally got something right, baby.” The judge replied, “It’s a season 10 miracle!”
Anderson followed up his elimination with a hilarious exit interview that held a few insights as to why his performance didn’t take flight flight like he intended it to.
“I flew all the way from South Africa to be on the show, and they kicked me off! I’ve always wanted to do The Masked Singer. I got the call, and I was like, ‘Hell yeah!’ My performance … I will admit was slightly off a little bit. I think I was trying to perfect it in rehearsal,” Anderson said. “When it came time to showtime, I didn’t have anything left to give. I over rehearsed. Come on … you’re supposed to breathe through the diaphragm and I have a huge head, but they gave me a small mask. And the mask constricted my mouth from opening to hit the notes I wanted to hit. I mean … yeah, it’s over right now, but … I’ve got your number.”
Watch the judges try to figure out who was behind Rubber Ducky in the above video, and watch the comedian’s exit interview below.
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Robin Thicke grew up on TV sets. His beloved late father, Alan Thicke, played everyone’s favorite TV dad, Dr. Jason Seaver, on the 1980s sitcom Growing Pains, as well as hosting game shows and talk shows and producing and writing the iconic theme songs to a number of sitcoms (Diff’rent Strokes) and game shows (Wheel of Fortune).
But after deciding early on to focus on music and releasing eight studio albums — including 2013’s multi-platinum Blurred Lines, which featured the Billboard Hot 100 chart-topping title track — Thicke took what he thought would be a brief detour into prime-time TV when he joined the panel of The Masked Singer.
Fast-forward more than four years, and Thicke is gearing up for Wednesday night’s (Sept. 27) launch of the reality singing competition’s 10th season and marveling at how much joy he takes from the guessing games he gets to play with fellow panelists Ken Jeong, Nicole Scherzinger and Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg every week.
Before the season 10 debut, Thicke sat down with Billboard for a chat about this year’s new format; whether he really, seriously has no idea who is under those masks; his opinion on why the show has struck such a chord with viewers during a wild few years; and his plans for the follow-up to his 2021 album On Earth, and in Heaven.
Your dad spent seven years in prime time on Growing Pains and logged hundreds of episodes on game shows. Did you ever imagine you’d follow in his footsteps and put up 10 seasons on a prime-time show?
There was a moment when I never saw myself as a TV guy. I loved and idolized my father — he was my Greek God — but I definitely wanted to pave my own way and be an artist and I didn’t see myself as a TV guy. Then, this opportunity came and when we finished the first season and T-Pain was the winner as Monster… I came home and said, “This could be a hit show!” I looked up at the sky and said, “My dad would love this.” He loved prime-time TV and he loved hosting all kinds of shows and would have been jealous of [Masked Singer host] Nick Cannon. He loved every day of work and always joked that he was the affordable [season 8 Masked contestant and Star Trek star] William Shatner.
This season will really mix it up, taking the best styles from previous seasons, using the Wild Card, Battle Royale and Ding Dong Keep It bell and all kinds of themed nights (Elton John, Harry Potter, Trolls Night). How do you keep things fresh after this many seasons?
Any time a show gets around season 7, it starts to stale out and you have to rejuvenate it. The last few seasons the theme nights have been so fun — Elton John, the disco night we did last season was amazing — and I think what’s great about season 10 bringing back favorite contestants (Jewel, Bret Michaels, Le’Veon Bell) and the fan-favorite elements from previous seasons [will keep it fun].
Do you have any say in the theme nights? This year’s sounds fun: NFL, One Hit Wonders…
It gives us a chance to dress silly like we’re going to a themed birthday party. It’s a blast to dress up. We are so in love with each other from the beginning. I had never met Ken, but I knew Jenny from a couple parties and Nicole and I were both on Interscope at the same time… Nick and I knew each other from the Real Husbands of Hollywood. In fact, Nick was the one who suggested me [for the panel], so I have to thank him for. When we first started I didn’t know if it was my thing, but then I kind of fell in love with it and it was a blessing.
Readers ask all the time, so I have to ask: Do you really have no idea who the singers are?
Absolutely not. We’re not near them and we don’t hear them warming up. Most of the time, up until the last second [I don’t know who they are]. It’s only when I hear a familiar voice that I’ve listened to a million times and know the voice in my head [that I can guess it]. The amount of times when one of us thought we were 100% sure and were wrong…
I am a bit bummed that he’s never tweeted at me about it — since I have consistently referred to him as “Always Wrong Ken Jeong” — but, seriously, how does the good Doctor always get it so wrong?
He’s starting to take it more seriously lately. But he’s the court jester and he loves to have fun and nobody has more fun than Ken. He brings the drama and energizes the crowd.
Have there ever been ones that you figured out right away because they had a tell only you would know?
I used to watch the Ricki Lake show as a teenager in school, and when she was touching her heart when she was speaking [during season 1], I was like, “That’s Ricki Lake!” And when [fellow season 1 contestant and NFL great] Terry Bradshaw laughs, his shoulders pump up and down, so as soon as he started talking I was like, “That’s Terry! I know that laugh!”
You have four kids, and contestants often tell me they do the show because their kids love it or they love watching with their kids. How do yours feel about it?
They love it. Because of COVID restrictions, I finally just brought the three young ones to their first full shoot during season 10, and they had the time of their lives. Their eyes were glued to the stage and they asked all kinds of questions later. I think it’s kind of a surreal, magic land experience with crazy characters and beautiful scenery and amazing music and dancing.
I know Nicole is still around this season [before sitting out season 11 during her current run as Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard in London], but how do you feel about Rita Ora stepping in for the next one?
Nicole is part of the OG four, so she’s on Mount Rushmore. We’re so lucky to have Rita, who is just a pro and so lovable and funny. … She blended in perfectly and is also a ham like the rest of us. We blend in like a nice smoothie.
Why do you think this show has struck such a chord with viewers? Is there something about this crazy time we’re living in that has made it so popular?
You can do everything by yourself now with streaming [and phones]. The warmth of community and brotherhood and sisterhood is dwindling, so I think it’s important any opportunities we have to go to a ball game or go with a bunch of friends to a concert where everyone puts their phone down to watch the show. That’s rare in these days and the bond we bring is meaningful.
This show has kept you busy for years, do you have any music you’re working on to give you a break from your day job?
My home burned down in the [2018] Malibu fires, so I’ve been on the road for four years and having children, so I have a big vault of unreleased music. Since we moved back to the Malibu house, the past eight or nine months have been the most productive I’ve been for years. I’m excited for new music at the top of 2024… I have 75% of the album done.
On Wednesday (Sept. 13), Rita Ora was announced as the next judge on The Masked Singer, joining the panel for the show’s 11th season, filling in for Nicole Scherzinger. “We’re grateful to have the amazing @ritaora shine her light and join us as a panelist on #TheMaskedSinger Season 11!” the show shared on Instagram. Fox TV’s Instagram […]
The Masked Singer is back! Before season 10 officially premieres on Sept. 27, everyone’s favorite mystery singing competition will return with a special kick-off episode at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday night — and Billboard has exclusive previews of two very special duets below. The first duet combines an eight-time Grammy-nominated boy band alum with […]
Spoiler alert: This story contains the identity of the winner of season 9, revealed on Wednesday night’s (May 17) episode of The Masked Singer.
Like something straight out of Greek mythology, Medusa’s journey to the Masked Singer crown was a heroic one.
It was a star-studded season, which featured iconic actors Dick Van Dyke, Malin Akerman, George Wendt and Lou Diamond Phillips; impressive singers like Sara Evans, Debbie Gibson, Michael Bolton, Dee Snider and Pentatonix; and every type of celebrity in between. It all led up to The Masked Singer‘s final battle of season 9 on Wednesday night, in which two of the season’s favorites, Macaw and Medusa, went head-to-snake-filled-head.
Throughout the season, Medusa wowed judges with mystical, powerful renditions of Billie Eilish’s “Happier Than Ever,” Rihanna’s “Diamonds,” Shawn Mendes’ “Mercy,” My Chemical Romance’s “Welcome to the Black Parade” and more. However, it almost came tumbling down during New York Night, when Medusa and California Roll competed in the Battle Royale, singing “Uptown Girl” by Billy Joel. The panel of judges chose California Roll to go on to the next round, but used their first-ever save on Medusa when judge Nicole Scherzinger rang the Ding Dong Keep It On Bell.
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Before getting crowned the winner of The Masked Singer on Wednesday night, the judges were perplexed when it came to her identity. Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg initially thought she might be Ellie Goulding or Halsey, while Ken Jeong thought Medusa might be the Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle, and Robin Thicke guessed Kesha. Scherzinger predicted Tove Lo or Lorde, before accurately guessing the woman behind the myth: British-American singer-songwriter, Bishop Briggs.
The star — known for her passionate vocals in hits like “River” — spoke to Billboard before Wednesday night’s finale, sharing her emotion-filled journey to the crown, the inspiration behind her upcoming EP When Everything Went Dark and how Medusa helped turn her weaknesses to stone.
Congratulations on your big win! How does it feel?
Thank you! It is the coolest thing ever. I can’t believe that I can even share that this is happening.
Did anyone in your personal life suspect that Medusa was you?
I definitely got a lot of text messages and I tried my best to keep it a secret. I just can’t wait to text them all back tonight and tell them they were right.
You had the judges pretty stumped throughout the season. Was it exciting to be the secret but incredible talent on the show?
I wasn’t super surprised that I didn’t get guessed just because I’m still an up-and-coming artist. I will say though, when Nicole eventually guessed me, all of a sudden you feel very exposed [laughs]. I felt very aware of my body and mannerisms. It was nice to fly under the radar, though.
On the other hand, you got compared to some amazing artists. The judges thought you might be Ellie Goulding, Halsey or Kesha. How did that feel?
Never forget, they also said Lorde at one point. I’m definitely holding on to those and never forgetting that it’s the coolest thing ever.
Nicole Scherzinger also saved you earlier in the season. Do you know her personally and how did it feel to be championed by her throughout the show?
I do not know her personally, but I am obviously obsessed with her. Coming into the show, she was vocalist that I really, really admire and I feel like she’s really underrated for what an incredible vocal talent she has. I mean, she sings like Whitney Houston. So the fact that she had any response to my voice, it meant so much to me. And with the bell, that moment, I cannot even explain how everything turned into slow motion. They were all yelling ‘Take it off!’ I really thought that I was going to be going home. You really learn in those moments how much you want to be there.
We have to talk about your amazing costume. Why Medusa?
I feel that she is someone who was really misunderstood and I was balancing a lot when I was on the show. I was six months postpartum. I was a new mom and I was pumping in between performing. I feel like the idea that women can be so many different things all at once really is Medusa to me. To be able to use Medusa strength when I really needed it, meant so much.
Balancing your postpartum journey with this show sounds tough.
I barely balanced it at all. I was writing notes to my son even if I was away only for a few hours and I was bombarding him and my husband with FaceTime. There is no such thing as balance, but we can find that space where we get to do what we love, and also be present as a parent. I think finding those moments means everything and it’s not talked about enough. I’m still on the journey of postpartum and it’s crazy how much your mind and body completely evolves and changes.
With the physical struggles of postpartum and choosing such difficult songs to perform, how did you manage it all while in a costume?
I love performing so much, and my favorite thing about performing is really losing myself in whatever song I’m singing. I feel like I got to use the fact that I really lean into the emotion of every song to my advantage. I also feel like the snakes were good luck charms and they whispered to me. The company kept me warm at night, so I think there was a side of it where I wasn’t alone on stage.
It’s an exciting year for you. You released a new single, “Baggage,” and your EP, When Everything Went Dark, is out June 23. What’s the story behind your new music?
It’s about these past few years, the past, present and future. I lost my sister really unexpectedly. The journey of grief is an ever evolving one and, with that and becoming a mom, I felt like exploring the topics of love, loss, grief and, hopefully, by the end of it, feeling empowered to keep going. That really is the main thing that I really am trying to work on, not only as an artist and through the EP but as a human being. Then I have a tour coming up, that I’ll be bringing the baby on, of course. I’m really excited to be able to perform the songs.
Is it strange to have grief co-exist with the joy of bringing a new life into the world?
Yes, and it’s so hard. You can’t help but feel like perhaps the new life was a gift left behind from that loved one. The amount of times that you hear about these things happening in such close proximity, I always wonder that because my son is someone that really helped me continue. Even when I was pregnant, I made sure to work on my mental health just to make sure that I was going to be a grounded mom that could talk about what has happened.
What do you hope viewers take away from your Masked Singer journey?
Everything we’re talking about, which is you can be multiple things all at once. Don’t be afraid to lean into those different sides of your personality and your spirit, and I hope that people feel empowered to do so.
Spoiler Alert: The following story contains the identities of the two contestants who were eliminated on Wednesday night’s (April 26) episode of The Masked Singer.
The “Battle of the Saved” night of The Masked Singer amped up the drama on Wednesday (April 26) when a trio of season 9 contestants who’d gotten a second chance earlier in the season — Medusa, Gargoyle and Mantis — squared off to move on to the next round. The night began with Medusa crushing Shawn Mendes’ “Mercy,” which judge Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg said was so good it “alone could win this.”
Gargoyle was next, taking on Usher and Pitbull’s “DJ Got Us Fallin’ in Love,” followed by Mantis rocking through The Kinks’ “You Really Got Me.” After the audience vote, the first one to get sent packing was Mantis, who was revealed to be actor Lou Diamond Phillips, no stranger to the music game thanks to his breakout role as Ritchie Valens in the 1987 musical biopic La Bamba and roles on Broadway in the 1996 revival of The King and I.
Following a head-to-head-battle with Medusa on Fall Out Boy’s “Centuries,” Gargoyle was next to fall, with the reveal unmasking Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen. The pair joined this season’s other eliminated celebs including: Dick Van Dyke (Gnome), Sara Evans (Mustang), Howie Mandel (Rock Lobster), Debbie Gibson (Night Owl), Grandmaster Flash (Polar Bear), Michael Bolton (Wolf), Malin Akerman (Squirrel), Lele Pons (Jackalope), Alexa Bliss (Axolotl), Holly Robinson Peete (Fairy), George Wendt (Moose), Christine Quinn (Scorpio), Dee Snider (Doll), Alicia Witt (Dandelion) and Melissa Joan Hart (Lamp).
Next week’s British-themed quarter finals episode will celebrate the upcoming coronation of King Charles III with the four remaining singers — Macaw, California Roll, UFO and Medusa — competing for a spot in the semi-finals.
Check out Mantis and Gargoyle’s unmasked interviews below.