With the help of some friends, The Masked Singer returns for its twelfth season, bringing even more excitement, surprises, and hidden celebrities. One of the show’s most memorable past contestants, William Shatner, also known as “The Knight” from Season 8, makes an appearance to kick off the new season.
Shatner reminds viewers that The Masked Singer has featured 186 celebrities over 11 incredible seasons. Now, it’s time to welcome more mystery singers who are ready to entertain and leave the audience guessing. The show, famous for keeping fans on their toes, asking, “Who is that?” promises that this season will bring even bigger names and performances.
As the season begins, Rita Ora opens the show with a lively performance of “Who Can It Be Now” by Men at Work, setting the stage for what’s to come. Nick Cannon, the show’s long-time host, then introduces the new season, calling it the biggest yet.
He shares that this year’s lineup includes 15 of the most well-known personalities from the worlds of television, film, sports, and music.
Cannon also reveals some impressive stats about the contestants, noting that collectively, they have 21 Grammy nominations, 14 Emmy nominations, 202 film appearances, and five of them have personal ties to pop icon Taylor Swift. With these credentials, the stakes are higher than ever as the contestants compete for the coveted Golden Mask trophy.
In the premiere, the first five mystery singers perform, each hoping their performance will be good enough to keep them safe from elimination.
However, only four will continue, and one celebrity will face unmasking by the end of the night. By the time all five contestants perform, it’s clear who is most likely to be unmasked, though there are still some surprises left.
A New Game-Changing Twist Is Introduced
Before the first performance even begins, Nick Cannon announces a brand-new twist for Season 12 that will change the dynamic of the competition. This year, each masked singer will be paired with an Ambassador—a past Masked Singer contestant who has a special connection to the current competitor.
The Ambassadors will provide important clues about the singer’s identity, making it both easier and harder for the panel and audience to guess who’s behind the mask. This twist adds an extra layer of fun and mystery to the game.
The first contestant to perform is Buffalo, and their Ambassador is none other than Nick Lachey, the Season 5 winner who was disguised as Piglet. During Buffalo’s clue package, Lachey shares that Buffalo was “raised in the poorest grasslands,” slept in “roach-filled beds” at night, and practiced at bus stops during the day.
The package includes additional clues such as a football player, appearances by Betty White and Vanna White, and credits on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Lachey adds that Buffalo is the center of attention at his Super Bowl parties.
Buffalo’s performance of “(I Just) Died In Your Arms” by Cutting Crew is powerful and soulful, but it’s the twist that follows the performance that grabs everyone’s attention.
Just as the audience is soaking in Buffalo’s solo performance, two more Buffalos appear on stage—revealing that Buffalo is actually a trio! The herd of Buffalos stuns the panel and audience alike.
Following the performance, Cannon reveals that each contestant will receive a special gift from their Ambassador. Buffalo’s gift from Lachey is a crown.
The panel then takes a stab at guessing Buffalo’s identity, throwing out names like B2K, Earth, Wind & Fire, and even Nick Lachey himself, possibly sending in the other members of his group, 98 Degrees, to trick everyone. Could one of these guesses be correct, or is Buffalo hiding an even bigger secret?
Woodpecker Brings Style, but Leaves the Panel Stumped
Next on stage is Woodpecker, whose Ambassador is Jenifer Lewis, who performed as Miss Cleocatra in Season 11. Lewis reveals that she has known Woodpecker since the beginning of her career and describes her as a mogul and a chic CEO.
Lewis adds that Woodpecker is friends with none other than Beyoncé. In her clue package, Woodpecker talks about her ambition to become the youngest billionaire and knocks on a door marked “family.” Another significant clue is a S.A.T. Scantron sheet.
Woodpecker performs “Flowers” by Miley Cyrus, bringing a smoky and unique tone to the song. While she isn’t the strongest vocalist, her performance has character.
For her special gift, Ambassador Lewis sends Woodpecker a framed world record, which suggests that Woodpecker could be an athlete or someone who has broken significant records.
Despite this, the judges guess names like Willow Smith, Kiki Palmer, Cardi B, and Halle Bailey—though none of these guesses seem to fully align with the clues provided.
Showbird Surprises with Soulful Vocals
Following Woodpecker is Showbird, a colorful contestant whose Ambassador is Joel McHale, a regular guest panelist on the show. Showbird’s clue package reveals that she’s a tomboy who enjoys building Legos and attending Comic Cons.
She mentions that she has appeared in some of the biggest Hollywood blockbusters. The package also includes a book titled “Advanced Singing 401” and a gavel, hinting at someone with significant experience in both acting and music.
For her performance, Showbird delivers a soulful rendition of “Just Fine” by Mary J. Blige. Despite some simple choreography, her strong voice carries the performance. Her Ambassador gift from McHale is a bucket of popcorn, adding to the mystery of her identity.
The panel offers guesses like Jennifer Hudson, Taraji P. Henson, and Kerry Washington, though none of these names seem to fit perfectly. Some speculate that Showbird might be Yvette Nicole Brown, a close friend of McHale and a fellow Community cast member.
Ship Stuns with Sultry Performance and Intriguing Clues
The next contestant, Ship, takes the stage with a stunning performance. Her Ambassador is Jewel, the Queen of Hearts and winner of Season 6. Ship’s clue package reveals that the “tides can change from angry to serene” and includes visual hints like a plane clock and a wanted poster with a $15,000 reward.
Ship also says she made history but later lost control, which adds to the mystery. Jewel hints that she and Ship have worked together before, providing a big clue about Ship’s identity.
Ship delivers a sultry and familiar performance of “Pompeii” by Bastille, attracting both the audience and panel. For her special gift, Jewel sends Ship a glittery cowboy hat.
With the clues provided, some panelists, including Rita Ora, guess that Ship could be Cyndi Lauper, Joan Osborne, Enya, or Sarah McLachlan. As with the other contestants, only time will tell if any of these guesses are correct.
Leafsheep Rolls Out With Humor but Faces Elimination
Finally, Leafsheep takes the stage, wearing what is perhaps the season’s strangest costume. The judges aren’t even sure if Leafsheep is real when they first see the giant ball of fluff roll onto the stage. Leafsheep’s Ambassador is NFL star Demarcus Ware, who competed as Koala in Season 11.
The clue package hints that Leafsheep might be another football player, as it mentions scoring headlines, topping charts, and reviving a franchise. Visual clues include a quarter and a seahorse wearing a cowboy hat.
Leafsheep performs Tim McGraw’s “I Like It, I Love It,” bringing humor and energy to the stage. Ware gifts Leafsheep a Hall of Fame trophy, suggesting that Leafsheep has had a notable career, likely in sports.
The judges guess names like Troy Aikman, Billy Bob Thornton, and John Elway. When the votes are counted, Leafsheep receives the lowest score and is eliminated. As expected, Ken Jeong’s guess was correct—Leafsheep is indeed Denver Broncos legend John Elway!
With the competition heating up and more stars yet to be unmasked, this season promises more exciting performances, shocking reveals, and wild guesses. Tune in next week for Footloose Night as the competition continues.
The Masked Singer airs every Wednesday at 8:00 p.m. on Fox. Episodes are available to stream on Hulu.
