The Masked Singer asks celebrities to do something unusual: put on very elaborate costumes, like sports mascots, and sing about their lives. There aren't many other shows where A-list stars like Kevin Hart, politicians like Sarah Palin, and other famous celebrities perform like this to be judged and entertained by the television world.
While many stars successfully showcased their new musical sides and even reminded viewers of their proven vocal prowess, others failed to make it past the first episode. But it's still a recipe for success, and The Masked Singer is now in its 11th season as the quality of its contestants continues to improve.
While the show is based on the Korean TV series The Masked Singer, the success of the American version has spawned more international versions, from the UK to Australia, offering some surprising crossovers. Here are the 20 most shocking celebrities from The Masked Singer .
Demi Lovato
The panelists speculated about Demi Lovato so many times throughout the first 10 seasons that it seemed like it would never happen. But then it did happen — albeit as a special guest on a celebratory Season 10 special rather than an actual competition. If she were a real contestant, her high-pitched voice wouldn't fool anyone.
Katharine McPhee & David Foster
David Foster has won 16 Grammy Awards, making him one of the most decorated winners of all time. That made it even more shocking to see him step out in a banana boat costume with his wife, actress and singer and American Idol runner-up Katharine McPhee.
Dear Boo Boo and Mama June
Many were surprised to see former beauty queen Alana "Dear Boo Boo" Thompson and her mother Joan strutting their stuff in beach ball outfits. Baby Boo Boo is multi-talented, y’all.
pentatonic scale
It didn't take long for fans to correctly guess that California Roll was the a cappella pop band Pentatonix. The Masked Singer is already pretty good at pulling off double costumes, but what made their reveal so surprising was how well they were able to pull off the disguises for the quintet.
donny wahlberg
It's no surprise that Boyz on the Block member Donnie Wahlberg is showing off a new side of himself on "The Masked Singer." Shockingly, he made it all the way to the semi-finals without his wife, fellow panellist Jenny McCarthy, guessing it was him. Needless to say, her reaction was TV gold.
seal
Seal, a four-time Grammy winner and hitmaker of classics like "Kissed from a Rose," plays The Leopard (in a Victorian dress) in season two. He managed to hide his voice within the dramatic style of the big band song "Respect," making his reveal truly shocking.
William Shatner
William Shatner seems unsuitable for starring in "The Masked Singer," especially playing the role of a knight riding a golden duck. However, the 93-year-old Star Trek actor is also an established singer, releasing his debut album in 1968 and releasing multiple records since, so it's perhaps no surprise that he wants to remind the world of his musical talents .
Tom Sandoval
What do people do when your reality show cheating scandal breaks and you become "the most hated person in America"? Of course, continue "The Masked Singer" . Tom Sandoval of Vanderpump Rules decided to be a diver in the aftermath of Scandoval. Most fans quickly guessed it was him.
Kermit the Frog
The Masked Singer has achieved something no one could have imagined: the birth of the puppet. In the Season 5 premiere, the snail is none other than Kermit the Frog, which means they actually put the puppets in the puppets (costumes). Ironically, the judges thought a male celebrity was disguising his voice to sound like Kermit, without even thinking that it might be the Frog himself.
Rudy Giuliani
Yes, former New York City mayor, disbarred lawyer and Donald Trump campaign staffer Rudy Giuliani plays Jack in the Box on "The Masked Singer." (Yes, the four seasons overall landscape was used as a clue). His involvement was leaked to the press ahead of the Season 7 reveal, but that didn't make it any less controversial, with panelist Ken Jeong even quitting in protest of the show's decision.
Gladys Knight
Gladys Knight appeared on The Masked Singer Season 1 and was arguably the first contestant to showcase the show's star talents. The Grammy winner expertly disguised her signature voice to make it to the finals, only to lose to an even more surprising artist.
T-pain
T-Pain is a prime example of The Masked Singer success story. His performance in the blue monster costume in Season 1, as Rasouli in Monsters, Inc. , won him the entire show. But when his identity was revealed, viewers and judges alike were stunned to discover that the stunning voice came from a rapper known for his Auto-Tune, meaning he was able to reveal a whole new side of himself.
Dionne Warwick
Between her hilarious social media appearances, her Saturday Night Live sketches and her star turn on The Masked Singer , Dionne Warwick has done an incredible job of sharing her voice with future generations. But she remains one of the most high-profile artists of all time, which makes her reveal all the more surprising.
Raven Simone and Adrienne Bailon
It makes sense that former Cheetah Girls stars Raven-Symoné and Adrienne Bailon would appear on The Masked Singer to remind us of their epic vocal styles. The most shocking thing is that the two people who are still good friends competed in the same season without knowing each other. Imagine a Cheetah Girls fan reunion.
Michelle Williams
Destiny's Child's Michelle Williams didn't just make a surprise appearance on The Masked Singer. She loved the experience so much that she also appeared on the UK and Australian versions of the show, shocking viewers every time.
Sarah Palin
It's still surreal for politicians to appear on reality TV, and Sarah Palin's appearance on "The Masked Singer" was no exception. The former Alaska governor and vice presidential candidate was the first politician to appear, playing a tie-dyed bear in the third season of "Baby Got Back."
Mickey Rourke
While former boxer and Oscar nominee Mickey Rourke isn't known for his vocals, he made his appearance on The Masked Singer even more stunning by becoming the first contestant to unmask during the show.
Lil Wayne
The Masked Singer needed a big reveal for its Season 3 premiere, which aired after the Super Bowl, and they brought in one of the best-selling rappers of all time. Lil Wayne wowed everyone with his performance of Lenny Kravitz's "Are You Gonna Go My Way" in full robot costume People were shocked.
Kevin Hart
Season premieres usually feature the season's biggest stars, and for Season 11, they brought in Kevin Hart, who dressed up as a book and slaughtered Ne- "So Sick" by Yo). After only Thicke guessed it correctly, the comedian revealed himself and said it was a prank on Cannon, before the two hilariously argued on stage.
Ryan Reynolds
Ryan Reynolds was on The Masked Singer before it was cool — as he starred in the show months before it premiered in the United States. In May 2018, the actor appeared on the Korean version of The Masked Singer to promote Deadpool 2 , with Annie dressed as a unicorn singing "Tomorrow." Naturally, everyone in the crowd lost their minds.
