Ne-Yo was crowned the Season 10 winner, taking home the coveted Gold Mask trophy after stripping off his cow outfit on Wednesday's finale of The Masked Singer on Fox.
Before he was unmasked, Robin Thicke suggested he was “his boy Ne-Yo,” and Nicole Scherzinger, 45, agreed. Ken Jeong, 54, thought he was Usher and Jenny McCarthy, 51, insisted he was Billy Porter.
Dukes of Hazzard star John Schneider took second place as Donut and delivered an emotional performance in honor of his wife, who died in February, that moved the judges and audience to tears.
Ne-Yo, 44, then took off his cow head and then held the Golden Mask trophy up to the sky. Presenter Nick Cannon, 43, told him he fooled him on the first few songs.
“I gave a real girl cow reality, damn it,” Ne-Yo said.
“Ne-Yo, you take the cake because no one has ever fooled us like that,” Nicole said.
Ne-Yo was crowned the Season 10 winner, taking home the coveted Gold Mask trophy after stripping off his cow outfit on Wednesday's finale of The Masked Singer on Fox
Dukes of Hazzard star John Schneider took second place as Donut and delivered an emotional performance in honor of his wife, who died in February, that moved the judges and audience to tears
“I chose the female cow because I thought, I can't hide my singing voice, but I can hide my speaking voice,” Ne-Yo said. “I can change that.”
“Have you really never given a Grammy acceptance speech before?” Nick asked.
“I’ve won Grammys, but I’ve never walked the Grammy stage,” Ne-Yo said. “I won in categories that weren’t televised.”
“Well, it’s definitely going to be televised,” Nick said.
“Man, I don’t need the Grammy stage,” Ne-Yo said. “I got the Masked Singer stage.”
Ne-Yo dedicated his win to his mother, who he said taught him to be a better listener.
“My mom has been my rock my whole life,” Ne-Yo said. “She still is to this day. 'So this is for you, Ma!'
He also thanked his children loudly.
“I chose the female cow because I thought, I can't hide my singing voice, but I can hide my speaking voice,” Ne-Yo said. “I can change that”
“Have you really never given a Grammy acceptance speech before?” Nick asked
“I’ve won Grammys, but I’ve never walked the Grammy stage,” Ne-Yo said. “I won in categories that weren’t televised.”
The show began with the final four contestants – Cow, Gazelle, Sea Queen and Donut – singing “What I Like About You” together in a group number.
Ne-Yo took the stage first for his solo performance as the cow, wearing a polka dot apron and glasses over his black and white animal costume, singing Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation.
“That was outstanding!” Ken Jeong, 54, said.
“I was a fan of this show before I came here,” said the cow. “I've always wanted to do this show and this is already a dream come true. “I'm just having fun. I'm really.'
Next up was the Gazelle, who wore a long floral crepe. She shared that she actually got a deer tattoo to honor someone who had passed away.
Gazelle sang Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol surrounded by colorful flowers. The audience gave her a standing ovation.
“Being truly the Gazelle has helped me find my voice and confidence in singing,” she said after the song. “And now I never want to stop.”
Nicole thought Gazelle might be Jane the Virgin star Gina Rodriguez. Ken guessed it was Constance Wu because he knew her voice.
Ne-Yo took the stage first for his solo performance as the cow, wearing a polka dot apron and glasses over his black and white animal costume, singing Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation
Next up was the Gazelle, who wore a long floral crepe. She shared that she actually got a deer tattoo to honor someone who had passed away
“Being truly the Gazelle has helped me find my voice and confidence in singing,” she said after the song. “And now I never want to stop”
Nicole thought Gazelle might be Jane the Virgin star Gina Rodriguez. Ken guessed it was Constance Wu because he knew her voice
Sea Queen, who wore a giant blue sea creature outfit, said her costume made her claustrophobic at times and made her feel really hot, but she fought through it and moved on next. She then took the stage and sang “Rescue Me” by Fontella Bass. She ended her song by kneeling on the stage, falling to the floor and then dropping her microphone.
'That was excellent!' Robin said.
“Sea Queen, are you okay,” Nick said.
“Oh yeah, I did it on purpose,” Sea Queen said.
“She wanted us to save her,” Nicole said.
Nick asked him what the experience was like for her.
“I feel like I’m a better entertainer now because of this show,” Sea Queen said.
Nicole thought the Sea Queen might be Macy Gray. Ken and Robin agreed.
Sea Queen, who wore a giant blue sea creature outfit, said her costume made her claustrophobic at times and made her feel really hot, but she fought through it and moved on next. She then took the stage and sang “Rescue Me” by Fontella Bass. She ended her song by kneeling on the stage, falling to the floor and then dropping her microphone
Nicole thought the Sea Queen might be Macy Gray. Ken and Robin agreed
Next came donut. He said he loved his costume because it reminded him that his late wife would go out and get them donuts on the weekend. He said putting on the costume helped him remember all of their fond memories.
Donut wore a giant outfit covered in sprinkles and icing with donuts for legs and then sang You Are So Beautiful by Joe Cocker. Nick asked him what the experience meant to him.
“It was actually my beautiful wife who first said she wanted me to be on this show,” the donut said. “It gave me great pleasure to be able to check this off her wish list!”
Nicole thought the donut might be Engelbert Humperdinck. Robin suspected it might be Tom Jones. Jenny thought it might be John Schneider from the TV show The Dukes of Hazzard.
After the votes were tallied, Sea Queen was the first unmasked candidate with the lowest score. Nicole, Ken, Jen and Robin all agreed it was Macy Gray.
“There is no gray area!” said Robin.
Sea Queen fell to the ground before removing her mask, revealing that she was actually Macy Gray. Nick asked her what motivated her to do the show.
“It’s a great show,” Macy said. “My friends are the stars, including you. And you know it's always fun with the fans.”
Next came donut. He said he loved his costume because it reminded him that his late wife would go out and get them donuts on the weekend. He said putting on the costume helped him remember all of their fond memories
Nicole thought the donut might be Engelbert Humperdinck. Robin suspected it might be Tom Jones. Jenny thought it might be John Schneider from the TV show The Dukes of Hazzard
Sea Queen fell to the ground before removing her mask, revealing that she was actually Macy Gray. Nick asked her what motivated her to do the show
Nick asked if she had anything to say to her fans.
“Just be good, be good to yourselves, be good to each other,” Macy said. “Don’t let anyone shit!”
“I believe these are the words of the Dali Lama,” Robin said.
Next, Nick announced that the Cow and the Donut would be making one final appearance and that Gazelle would be unmasked.
Robin thought Gazelle was Ashley Tisdale and Jenny agreed. But Ken instead suspected it was Constance Wu, his good friend. Nicole thought it was Gina Rodriguez.
It turned out Gazelle was Janel Parrish, 35, from Pretty Little Liars.
“Singing is my first love,” Janel said. “It's the first thing I did as a kid, and at some point in my journey, singing became my biggest fear and my biggest insecurity.” And when I became known for acting, it almost felt like it was a lie to say I'm a singer.'
She said that now after the show she feels like a singer again.
It turned out Gazelle was Janel Parrish, 35, from Pretty Little Liars
“Singing is my first love,” Janel said. “It's the first thing I did as a kid, and at some point in my journey, singing became my biggest fear and my biggest insecurity.” And when I became known for acting, it almost felt like it was a lie to say I'm a singer.'
The show then recapped Donut's journey on the show. He said he wanted to win the show for his late wife. Donut then took the stage and sang his final song, Drift Away by Dobie Gray. Nick asked him what winning the show would mean to him.
“God knows I could really use a little joy in my life right now, and winning would bring me great, great joy,” the donut said.
Cow then shared his journey on the show. He said he has been very blessed with his success in his life. He said he helped so many artists achieve their dreams but didn't feel recognized as a creator. As the cow, he sang “Take A Bow” by Rihanna, a song he was reportedly involved in. The audience cheered him on.
Nick asked the cow what winning would mean to him.
“This is an absolute dream come true because I’ve always been a fan of the show,” said the cow. “Winning the trophy would just be the icing on a beautiful cake.”
After the votes were tallied, Nick said that the cow was the winner and the Golden Mask trophy was his.
'I feel great!' said the cow.
The donut, the runner-up, was then unmasked. Robin's final guess was that he was Tom Jones and Ken agreed. Nicole still insisted that he was Engelbert Humperdinck. Jenny thought it might be actor John Schneider from the TV series Dukes of Hazzard, and she was right.
The donut, the runner-up, was then unmasked. Robin's final guess was that he was Tom Jones and Ken agreed. Nicole still insisted that he was Engelbert Humperdinck. Jenny thought it might be actor John Schneider from the TV series Dukes of Hazzard, and she was right
“So that’s why it’s still so fresh,” John said. “But I think it will always be fresh.” If you love someone very much, make sure they know it before you go to sleep tonight.
John Schneider, 63, was the donut. Nick asked him where his incredible voice came from.
“I’m a theater brat,” John said. “I have been doing theater for a very long time. “I always thought of myself as a singer who performed for food.”
Ken told him that Dukes the Hazzard was one of his favorite shows as a child. John said it was an honor to be on the show and he became emotional while talking about how his wife just passed away in February.
“So that’s why it’s still so fresh,” John said. “But I think it will always be fresh.” If you love someone very much, make sure they know it before you go to sleep tonight.