( footsteps )
Hi, there. It's William Shatner.
I used to be the Knight till I got unmasked.
But that was history. And what a history it's been.
186 celebrities over 11 seasons of "The Masked Singer."
Can we get-- can we get some lights in here, please?
- ( crowd cheering ) - Oh!
That's better.
Now it's time to start the show.
The only show that keeps you guessing,
wondering, begging to know, who could it be now?
( cheering )
( music playing )
♪ Who can it be now?
- Yeah! - Whoo!
♪ Who can it be now?
♪ Who can it be knocking at my door? ♪
♪ Go away, you don't come round here no more ♪
♪ Can't you see that it's late at night? ♪
♪ I'm very tired, and I'm not feeling right ♪
♪ Who can it be now?
Whoo!
♪ Who can it be now?
Come on!
♪ Who can it be now?
♪ Let me hear ya
♪ Who can it be now?
♪ Ooh, I gotta see ya
♪ Who can it be now?
♪ Oh, let me hear ya
♪ Who can it be now?
♪ Yeah, yeah
♪ Is it the man come to take me away? ♪
♪ Why do they follow me?
♪ It's not the future that I can see, yeah ♪
- ♪ It's just my fantasy - Go, Rita!
- ♪ Yeah - ♪ Who can it be now?
♪ Who can it be now?
♪ Oh, who can it be now?
♪ Who can it be now?
♪ I said, who can it be now?
♪ Who can it be now?
♪ Yeah
( cheering )
- Woohoo! - Whoo!
Nick: Wow!
What a way to open the show.
- The one and only Rita Ora. - Thank you.
- Amazing. - Rita!
Welcome to the moment we've all been waiting for.
- It's the season 12 premiere of "The Masked Singer!" - Ken: Yes!
- Yes! - I am your host Nick Cannon.
And once again, ladies and gentlemen,
give it up for the incredible Rita Ora.
I've gotta go?
This is our biggest season yet.
We have 15 of the most powerful names
in TV, movies, sports, and music.
- Whoo! - This cast truly has it all--
talent, success, worldwide fame!
The only thing they don't have
is the Golden Mask trophy.
( choir vocalizing )
Right here.
Tonight the first five mystery singers
will blaze the stage with electrifying performances.
And then the audience and panel
will vote for their favorite of the night.
- The singer with the least amount of votes... - Great job, Rita!
...will be the first celebrity of the season to get unmasked.
- Now let's get this season started! - Yeah!
Unleash the mask.
Robin: What could it possibly be?
( music playing )
( heavy footsteps )
( crickets chirping )
Nick: Meet the Buffalo.
♪ Can't nobody tell me nothing ♪
- Whoa! - Oh, my God! That's so amazing.
- Hey! Hey! - ♪ Gonna take my horse to the old town road ♪
- ♪ I'm gonna ride till I can't no more ♪ - Looks kinda young.
He moves like an athlete. Like a dancer.
♪ Gonna take my horse to the old town road ♪
He's just, like, huge.
♪ Ride till I can't no more
Wow. The Buffalo-- I--
He's sizing me up, too.
He's looking at-- I don't want--
- I don't want no problems. - Hands off.
For the first time ever, our singers will be introduced
by a previous masked celebrity
- they have a strong connection to. - Oh!
- Oh, wow. - Wow, okay.
We're calling them our ambassadors.
So what famous alum is connected to the Buffalo?
It's your first and biggest clue of the season.
Thanks, Buffalo.
Hey, what's up, guys? It's me, Piglet, winner of season five.
- It's Nick! - Piglet?
I am so pumped to be part of an exclusive group
of "Masked Singer" ambassadors here to endorse our friends.
And my vote goes to the Buffalo.
Raised in the poorest grasslands,
the Buffalo had it tough.
Sleeping in roach-filled beds at night
and practicing at bus stops by day.
That's right, Piglet.
But thanks to a big break at a cattle call,
it was game on.
- Is that Betty White? - Yeah, Betty White.
- Vanna White. - He's an actor?
From there, it was traveling the world, the walk of fame,
and starring in two of the biggest sitcoms of all time.
Hit the jackpot and couldn't have done it alone.
Buffalo, you really are a national treasure,
and always the center of attention at my epic Super Bowl parties.
I just have no doubt you are gonna stand out from the herd this season.
So, good luck out there, Buffalo.
- Just you wait. - Ken: Oh, wow.
Nick Lachey is the Masked ambassador of the Buffalo.
- That's a big clue. - Oh, here we go, here we go. It's gonna be good!
- Here we go, here we go. - Season 12!
♪ Oh, I, I just died in your arms tonight ♪
- Wow. - ♪ It must've been something you said ♪
♪ I just died in your arms tonight ♪
♪ Ooh, yeah
( no audible dialogue )
- ♪ I keep looking for something I can't get ♪ - Jenny: What?
- So there's two of them. - ♪ Broken hearts lie all around me ♪
♪ And I don't see an easy way to get outta this ♪
♪ Her diary sits on the bedside table ♪
♪ The curtain is called, the cat's in the cradle ♪
♪ Who would've thought that a boy like me ♪
- Oh, my God! Look! - What? What?
- Both: Oh, my God! - Now there's three Buffalo!
♪ Oh-oh-oh-oh
- ♪ Oh, I just died in your arms tonight ♪ - It's a herd!
♪ It must've been some kind of kiss ♪
♪ I should've walked away
♪ It was a long hot night
♪ She made it easy, she made it feel right ♪
♪ But now it's over, the moment is gone ♪
♪ I followed my hands not my head ♪
- ♪ Oh-oh - ♪ I
♪ I just died in your arms tonight ♪
♪ Must've been something I said ♪
♪ I just died in your arms tonight ♪
♪ Ooh, yeah
♪ I-- I just died in your arms tonight ♪
♪ Must've been some kind of kiss ♪
♪ I should've walked away
Yes!
Nick: Wow!
Wild, wild, and more wild.
That was amazing.
That's definitely the first big reveal of the season right there.
( crowd chanting ) Buffalo! Buffalo! Buffalo!
- Robin: Already fan favorites. - Ken: Oh, my God.
Okay, okay. I see what's going on here.
- We're in the presence of greatness, right? - Yes.
I mean, I can't believe what I've just seen.
This is only act one, by the way.
- This is only one. - Thank you.
Well, tonight our ambassadors have sent
their masked friends a gift for good luck.
- So what did Nick Lachey send the Buffalos? - Ken: Huh.
Men in Black, bring out the gift.
( fanfare )
They're fun, whoever they are.
( drumroll, rimshot )
- Rita: King. - Ken: Oh, a crown.
- Rita: Royalty. - Nick: Wow.
- The crown. - Right, so we're in the presence of royalty clearly.
This helped me out. Did it help you guys out?
- Thank you, Men in Black. Thank you for that. - Yeah, that helped me out.
Well, Nick, you know, if I go on the clues,
- I'm getting a little B2K. - Yeah, me, too.
Because Omarion-- the crown, bringing the band back.
- Omarion was the Yeti, right? - Yes.
You saw they had the dance moves.
- That's right. - Ken: Oh, they had the dance moves.
I was thinking also B2K, and I was going down that route,
and I think maybe-- maybe they're more experienced.
Now that they came out with the crown,
maybe they're, like, legendary.
I was thinking more Earth, Wind & Fire.
- Judges: Oh! - Earth, Wind, Fire.
Ken: That would be incredible.
Right? You've got-- Verdine White equals Vanna White, Betty White.
- See what I did there with the clue? - Oh! Look at you.
- It's my first guess. - Does Philip Bailey got them type of moves?
- You know. - I love, Rita, but that-- just look at them.
They don't look like Earth, Wind & Fire to me.
Well, you know, we never know on this show.
- They're always trying to trick us. - Yeah.
So I'm thinking more in the Jo-Bro world, and maybe--
or are we being tricked and Nick Lachey
sent the other three members of 98 Degrees?
- That's right! - Ah!
I love it. 95 Degrees.
- All very amazing guesses. - Yeah, Buffalos!
Y'all keep it going for the Buffalos.
Now go roam backstage and we'll see you
for the first vote of the season.
I mean, I can't wait to see what else happens in season 12, guys.
Me, too. That was the best surprise--
And, Rita, we're glad to have you back.
I love being back. Thank you for having me back.
- Yeah, hi, Rita! - How about that open?
- Hi, Rita! - Jenny: Amazing.
Rita: I love this show so much.
♪ Who is that?
Aww, yeah. Welcome back to the season 12 premiere
- of "The Masked Singer." - Both: Yes!
Our singer next in the pecking order
is a real threat, so bring 'em out!
I love this part.
( music playing )
Nick: It's the Woodpecker.
♪ Knock, knock, knock on wood ♪
- Oh, my God! - Look at her.
- The Woodpecker! - That is gorgeous.
Rita: She's fierce!
Oh, she's an itty-bitty thing.
♪ Knock on wood
- Rita: You better go! - Gorgeous.
- She's got dancer legs. - Gorgeous.
- The Woodpecker is in the building! - Yes, honey.
All right, so which Masked alum is its ambassador?
Let's find out together.
Hey, everybody! It's me, Jenifer Lewis.
- Who else? - Jenifer Lewis!
You'll remember I kicked up a storm on season 11.
And now I have top-secret information
on someone I have known since her start.
Woodpecker!
She's been called a mogul, a chic CEO...
Sports tape. She's an athlete.
And she even became friends with Beyoncé!
We have a superstar on our hands.
What? Friends with Beyoncé?
This bird is a baddie.
Okay, that's a lot to live up to.
I try not to think about all that.
I've just been taught that the only doors that open
are the ones you knock on, so I knock on them all.
And now I'm striving to be the youngest billionaire.
I want to prove that I can do anything. That's why I'm here.
The singing, the dancing, bring it on.
I believe in you 100%.
Make Auntie Jen proud.
( birds chirping )
♪ We were good, we were gold ♪
♪ Kind of dream that can't be sold ♪
♪ We were right till we weren't ♪
♪ Built a home and watched it burn ♪
What?
♪ Oh, I didn't wanna leave you
♪ I didn't want to lie
♪ Started to cry, but then remembered I ♪
♪ I can buy myself flowers
♪ Write my name in the sand
♪ Talk to myself for hours
I know this voice.
♪ Say things you don't understand ♪
- Yeah! - ( overlapping chatter )
♪ Oh, I can take myself dancing ♪
♪ And I can hold my own hand ♪
♪ Yeah, I can love me better than you can ♪
♪ Can love me better
Aww, man, who is this?
♪ Oh, baby
♪ I can love me better
♪ Love me better
♪ I can love me better, baby ♪
♪ Can love me better, I
♪ I didn't want to leave you, I didn't wanna fight ♪
♪ Started to cry, but then remembered I ♪
♪ I can buy myself flowers
♪ Write my name in the sand
♪ Talk to myself for hours
♪ Yeah, say things you don't understand ♪
Unh!
- ♪ Yeah - ♪ I can love me better
- ♪ Can love me better, I - ♪ Oh!
- Jenny: Yes. - Whoo!
- Who is it? - It's like at the tip of my tongue.
- I know! - Whoo!
- It was, like, effortless. - Nick: Woodpecker!
- Thank you. - Just tore the roof off.
- Rita: Yeah! - Well, you know what? We learned earlier
that Woodpecker's ambassador is the legendary Jenifer Lewis.
- Ken: Yes, yes, yes. - Mm-hmm.
So what did the queen gift her buddy here?
Let's find out. Men in Black, bring it out.
( fanfare )
Yeah!
( drum roll, rimshot )
- World Record? - Robin: Oh.
All right, world record. Well, thank you, Men in Black.
- Ken: Thank you. - Panel?
Ken: Okay, Nick, off of that,
the person I'm thinking right now
holds a Guinness World Record for being the youngest artist
to have a top 20 single in the US and the UK.
- Who? - Home art wall deco-- "family." Iconic.
No one's more iconic than the Smith family.
All signs point to Willow Smith.
- Adorable. - Rita: I don't know, Ken.
- Jenny: Not bad. - Nick: Okay.
- I think, for me-- - Yeah, who do you think, Rita?
I actually have a song with this artist.
She is a baddie, and I think she has a world record.
No, she definitely does. I actually think this could be someone like Cardi B.
- Ken: Ah. Could be Cardi B. - Nick: Okay.
Rita: Because my head went everywhere.
I went to Halle Bailey.
She's really close with Beyoncé.
I don't know. You have got me so confused,
but I'm gonna stick with Halle Bailey.
- Ken: Okay. - Robin, what do you think?
When I see some of the clues,
and I'm thinking Jenifer Lewis connection--
extremely talented in every department,
it could be Keke Palmer.
Jenny: Oh, I like Keke Palmer.
Ken: Keke Palmer's a good guess.
- That's the best guess so far. - Off the clues, yeah.
But then after I see the performance,
I'm thinking we don't have it yet.
- No. - I think it's more in the Jojo Siwa world.
- I think we're talking about somebody who's-- - Jenny: No!
Can you tell that you've completely confused all of us?
- Except me, 'cause it's Willow Smith. - I like that a lot.
You've got me stumped, Woodpecker.
The Woodpecker was amazing. Keep it going for her.
Men in Black, please help out the Woodpecker.
I actually think none of us are right.
We'll see you for the vote.
- She's hard. - Jenny: I know.
♪ Who is that?
Welcome back to our season 12 premiere of "The Masked Singer."
- Whoo! - Does our next character
have what it takes to go all the way?
It's sink or swim time, literally.
Come on out.
( music playing )
Meet Leaf Sheep.
♪ Doesn't matter when, it's always a good time ♪
Oh, my God! What the heck is that?
- What the heck is that? - Rita: That's not real.
- You can fit a dozen Kens in there. - What is that?
Wow. What in the world is going on?
This might be the most
- amazing costume I've seen... - Yes.
- Oh, my Lord. - ...on this show.
- Hold on. - What in the heck is that?
- Does it have a-- - It's literally a Leaf Sheep.
- Is this real? - Yeah, a Leaf Sheep is a real thing.
It's actually pretty beautiful.
- It's amazing, right? - Yeah.
Let's meet its ambassador and fish out some clues.
Hello, everyone. This is Demarcus Ware,
AKA Koala from Season 11.
You know, keeping my identity a secret was pretty tough to handle.
But I know someone who can manage it all-- the GOAT!
Er, sheep?
That's Leaf Sheep, to be exact.
I know, I know. You're very confused right now.
And so was I until about, uh, three days ago?
But the Leaf Sheep is a real thing. Look it up.
- Quarter. - Quarterback.
Now, these days I'm a little sluggish,
but you should have seen me in my prime.
- I made a total splash. - Announcer: Unbelievable!
Scored headlines, topped the country's charts, even revived a franchise.
- Cowboy. - The country? Country singer.
And now I'm here to keep the good times rolling.
Well, based off running in the same circles,
I think your glory days are still ahead.
Good luck out there, Leaf GOAT.
It's Leaf Sheep.
( music playing )
♪ Spent $48 last night at the county fair ♪
- Ha! - Love it.
♪ I threw out my shoulder, but I won her that teddy bear ♪
( laughs ) Yeah!
♪ She's got me saying "sugar pie," "honey," "darling," and "dear" ♪
♪ I ain't seen the Braves play a game all year ♪
♪ My long lost buddies say I'm getting in too deep ♪
♪ But I like it, I love it, I want some more of it ♪
- ♪ I tried so hard, I can't rise above it ♪ - Go, Robin. Go, Robin.
♪ Don't know what it is 'bout that little gal's loving ♪
♪ But I like it, I love it, I want some more of it ♪
♪ Gotta wash my truck and dress up ♪
♪ To pick her up to watch TV
♪ When she sits down on the sofa ♪
♪ She'll move a little closer
♪ She can't get enough of me
♪ Yeah, I like it, I love it, I want some more of it ♪
♪ I tried so hard, I can't rise above it ♪
♪ Don't know what it is 'bout that little girl's loving ♪
♪ But I like, I love it, I want some more of it ♪
- Ha-ha! - Ken: Yeah!
Okay! Rocking and rolling.
- Whoo! - Oh, wow.
Ken: Yes!
I think they're hiding someone big and tall in there.
- This is what it's all about. It's all about having fun. - I can't stop laughing.
- I like it. I love it! - Wow.
- Nick: And we want some more of it! - Ken: Yes! Well done.
- The Leaf Sheep setting it off! - He's shaking.
- Jenny: He's loving it. - The Leaf Sheep is shaking.
- Ken: It is so adorable. - Rita: I can't stop laughing!
We learned Demarcus Ware is Leaf Sheep's ambassador.
So what did the NFL superstar gift him?
Men in Black, bring it out.
( fanfare )
What's this?
( drum roll, rimshot )
- Whoa! - Wow.
- Hall of Fame. - This is big.
All right, Jenny, what you thinking?
- Well, he's a quarterback. - Uh-huh.
And, I'm sorry, no matter what you guys say...
- Yes. - ...there is only one GOAT in football,
and that is Tom Brady, my friend!
- Are you saying this could be Tom Brady? - This could be Tom Brady.
- I know Tom Brady. - Is that the GOAT?
Oh, man. Real talk, Hall of Fame quarterback, someone who's a legend,
that guitar pick with number one.
- Number one draft pick. - Yeah, uh-huh.
I don't think Bra-- I think Brady was actually not even in the first round...
- No, sixth round. - ...of being drafted. I think he was sixth round.
- Sixth round, yeah. - He's now the GOAT.
- Semantics. - But someone who played,
maybe either with Demarcus Ware or someone from the Broncos.
You're talking about GOAT, you could be talking about someone like John Elway.
- Rita: That's not bad, you know. - That's a good guess.
- Wow. - What about you, Robin? What are you thinking?
So in the package it says he revitalized a franchise, right?
- Yeah. - And Demarcus Ware used to play for the Cowboys.
- Oh. - Ahh.
And somebody who did revitalize the cowboys was Troy Aikman.
Ken: That's a great guess, brother.
Jenny: I still think mine's the best.
Seriously, that's a great guess.
- A bunch of great guesses. - Jenny: Thank you. Thank you, Nick.
And definitely a great job out of Leaf Sheep!
- Ken: Whoo! Leaf Sheep! - Rita: Bye, Leaf Sheep!
Men in Black, help the Leaf Sheep out.
We like it, we love it. We want some more of it.
If it's any one of those people,
they're in a Leaf Sheep shaking.
- Yeah, right? - ( Ken laughs )
♪ Who is that?
Welcome back to "The Masked Singer" season premiere party!
- Yeah! - It's time to meet our next Group A challenger.
- Bring 'em out! - No way.
Jenny: What do you think it is?
( music playing )
( birds chirping )
Nick: Meet Showbird!
♪ Ahh, shake it
♪ Shake it, shake it, shake it, shake it, baby ♪
Oh, my God! What an amazing costume!
- ♪ Shake it up, baby - Yeah!
Jenny: She has a stage presence about her.
She's got some moves.
♪ Come on, baby, shake your tailfeather ♪
- ♪ Ahh, shake it - Twist it, twist it, twist it, baby!
Okay, Showbird.
So just who is this colorful chickadee?
Let's meet its ambassador here with some clues.
- Because let's face it, we do not want to wing it. - Jenny: No.
Uh, why am I here again?
You do know that I've never sung on this show before.
You do know that, right?
- ♪ I'ma need a good girl - ( buzzer )
All right, maybe I did sing,
but it was an unauthorized performance.
But I have been a panelist, and every time I do it,
they're like, "Wow, you are so much better than Ken."
- Boo! - That said,
I want to introduce you to a good friend.
It's Showbird, everyone.
Thanks, Joel.
Honestly, I'm just as confused as you are.
- I mean... - Man: Cut!
...I never imagined all of this for myself.
I was a total tomboy growing up, and a total nerd.
Legos, Comic-Con, the works.
I thought I'd keep things a little more humble, low-key, modest...
- Gavel? - Gavel? So, like a judge?
- Judge show? - ...not baring my soul
in some of the biggest blockbuster movies ever.
Unlike Joel here.
I laugh because that's very true.
I am jealous. And I know you're a little bit out of your element,
but don't worry, you're gonna be just fine.
♪ Let it go
♪ Can't let this thing called love get away from you ♪
- ♪ Feel free right now, go do what you wanna do ♪ - She can sing.
- Whoa! - Right?
- Oh, my God. - ♪ Can't let nobody
♪ Take it away from you
♪ From me, from we
♪ No time for moping around, are you kidding? ♪
♪ And no time for negative vibes, 'cause I'm winning ♪
♪ It's been a long week, I put in my hardest ♪
♪ See, I wouldn't change my life, my life's just ♪
♪ Fine, it's fine, my life is fine, fine ♪
♪ My life is fine, so fine, my life is fine ♪
♪ It's fine, so fine, my life is fine ♪
♪ I wouldn't change my life, my life's just ♪
♪ I ain't gon' let nothing
♪ Get in my way
Whoo!
♪ No matter what nobody
♪ Has to say
♪ Oh, feels so good
♪ When you're doing all the things that you wanna do ♪
- Wow! - Oh, my God.
♪ Treat yourself to something new ♪
♪ It's a really good thing to say that ♪
♪ I wouldn't change my life
- ♪ My life's just, it's fine - Whoo!
♪ So fine, it's fine, fine
♪ I wouldn't change my life, my life's just fine ♪
- Robin: Yeah! Wow! - Jenny: Oh, my God!
- Wow, what a surprise. - That was outstanding!
- Jenny: That was such a surprise. - That was great.
- Nick: So fly! - Rita: Shake that tailfeather!
- Jenny: Showbird! Oh, my God! - Ken: That was amazing!
- Thank you. - Living up to her name.
So fly.
Now, we learned Joel McHale is Showbird's ambassador.
So what did he gift her? Men in Black, bring it out.
( fanfare )
What is it? What is it? What is it?
- ( drum roll, rimshot ) - Rita: Popcorn!
- Movies. - Popcorn. She's an actress.
- Movie star. - She's an actress!
Does that clue help you guys out at all?
You picking up on anything? Got any guesses?
Okay, I'm just free-flowing it right now.
Based on the clues, and because Joel McHale, off the record,
he's one of my best friends in the entire world--
please don't use that on tape.
This is screaming out Jennifer Hudson.
- Because you're talk-- let me finish. - ( crowd jeering )
- Let me finish. - Jenny: I like that you said it so confidently.
- Let-- can I explain? - I thought you were actually about to make sense.
- Jenny: Yeah, me, too. - Rita: I know!
Let me explain. The microphone is for "Dreamgirls."
Oh, and also Joel McHale knows Jennifer Hudson.
He was a guest on "The Jennifer Hudson Show."
- Jenny: No. - She couldn't book anybody else that day.
- Yeah. - No one else is clapping with you, Ken. No one--
- You're clapping alone. - Jenny: So, Rita, who are you thinking?
You know what? I'm gonna hit you with someone that I think is super confident.
She's a friend of mine. I did a show with her.
Actually, a singing show, where I was so surprised that she could sing that well.
The mic clue gave me the show, "Empire,"
so I started thinking could this be Taraji P. Henson?
- Ken: That's a good guess. - Jenny: Not bad.
- Rita: Yeah. - What do you think, Robin?
Robin: When I see some of the clues, what I am getting
is a big movie star that can sing, obviously, and is very talented,
and could be connected with Joel McHale.
Could this be Kerry Washington?
- Ah. - Jenny: Not bad.
And where does the judge part come in with Kerry Washington?
- She's great. - Oh, she's, uh, very judgmental.
All right, ladies and gentlemen,
let's keep it going for the Showbird!
- Robin: Amazing. - Rita: Oh, Showbird! Love you.
All right, Miss Thang, you can fly on back to your cage.
♪ Who is that?
Welcome back to our star-studded premiere of "The Masked Singer!"
Yes! Season 12!
And we're on to our final Group A singer.
Who is this masked mystery?
Let's find out. Release them!
( creaking )
- Meet the Ship. - What?
( music playing )
♪ Come sail away, come sail away ♪
- ♪ Come sail away with me - It's a ship!
Oh, my God.
Jenny: I thought I saw it all on "The Masked Singer."
- ♪ Come sail away with me - Wow, what a costume.
Wow. The Ship.
All right, well, what famous alum is its ambassador?
All aboard for some clues.
Hey, y'all, it's the Queen of Hearts from season six.
- Aah! - Ooh, Jewel.
I love you, Jewel.
I was surprised at how much depth
there was to the competition beneath the surface.
And that's something that I think will serve someone
that I've always had a great relation-"ship" with.
The Ship.
Ship: I know how quickly the tides can change,
from angry to serene on a dime.
And my life has been the same.
My career set sail at a rapid clip.
I had massive hits, made history,
but I lost control.
I became lost at sea,
and at times felt totally forgotten.
A wanted sign? What could that mean?
It's taken me years to find my way back to shore,
but I finally got the career I've always wanted.
And that's why being here is so scary.
Because once again, I'm in uncharted waters.
Well, that's exactly why I think you should do this,
to steer towards your fears head-on,
just like we did all those years ago together.
And if you do that, I know that you'll be unsinkable.
- Rita: Aww! - Oh, we love Jewel.
I got the chills. I love her.
( exhales )
♪ I was left
♪ To my own devices
♪ Many days fell away
♪ With nothing to show
♪ And the walls kept tumbling down ♪
♪ In the city that we love
I know that voice.
♪ Great clouds roll over the hills ♪
♪ Bringing darkness from above
Wow.
♪ But if you close your eyes
♪ Does almost feel like nothing's changed at all? ♪
♪ And if you close your eyes
♪ Does it almost feel
♪ Like you've been here before? ♪
♪ How am I gonna be an optimist about this? ♪
- Whoo! - ♪ If you close your eyes
♪ Oh-oh-oh
♪ Oh
♪ If you close your eyes
( vocalizing )
♪ How am I gonna be
♪ An optimist about this?
♪ Oh-oh-oh
( crowd cheering )
- Robin: Yeah! - Jenny: We've got a legend on our hands here.
- That's season premiere right there! - Nick: Wow.
- Season premiere shutdown. - That's what I'm talking about!
- What? - Rita: Shutdown!
- Nick: Wow. - Robin: Ship it down.
- Rita: That was phenomenal. - Jenny: You know what?
I have one thing to say. Take it now, girl.
- Rita: Take it, girl. - Take it now.
- I hope I floated your boat. - You sure did!
Well, season six winner Jewel is the Ship's ambassador.
What gift did the great Queen of Hearts send her?
Men in Black, bring it out.
( fanfare )
( drum roll, rimshot )
- Jenny: Cowboy hat? - Rita: Cowboy?
Ken: Cowboy hat.
- Okay, okay, okay. So, country. - All right.
Thank you, Men in Black.
Panel, you guys got any guesses on who this possibly could be?
So, for me, if I do go to the clues--
the wanted poster-- "Girls Just Want To Have Fun."
Clock, airplane-- "Time After Time."
Could this be Cyndi Lauper?
Ken: Cyndi Lauper is good.
Jenny: I'm not feeling Cyndi Lauper.
You know, she had a little bit of the tone
of the musician that sings "What If God Was One Of Us?"
- Yes! That's what I was thinking. - Yeah.
- Oh, Joan Osborne. - Yeah, I was thinking that
she sounded a little bit like Joan Osborne to me.
- Robin: Yeah. - Ken: I think that's great.
That's what I was feeling. Picking up on that--
She's around that time with Jewel.
You could tell that they would kind of be friends together.
- Yeah, late '90s. - You know? So...
- Yeah, yeah. - However, she has a very distinct vocal tone,
- so I was thinking Enya. - Jenny: Oh, I like that.
- Ken: Yeah, yeah, Enya. - And there's Sarah McLachlan.
- Rita: Oh, right, yeah. - Jenny: Okay, okay.
Nick: Those are some great guesses.
Now let's give it up for that incredible job by the Ship!
Ken: I love you! I love you!
Now, please, Men in Black, help the ship out, please.
- The Ship has sailed. - We love you, Ship!
- Rita: The ship has sailed. - Ken: The ship has sailed.
Jenny: We love you, Ship!
- What a season premiere, right? - Rita: Yeah!
- Yeah! - So you know what time it is.
- That's right. - Audience and panel, time to choose...
- No! - ...your favorite singer of the night.
- That's what we do. - Already?
- It's the worst part of it all! - The one with the least
amount of votes will be our first unmasking of the season.
Which singer is taking it off?
We'll find out after the break.
You guys, honestly, they were all great tonight.
As the kids like to say, this is fire, slay, et cetera.
♪ Who is that?
Welcome back to "The Masked Singer."
The results are in.
The first singer of the season
to unmask is...
Oh, my God! This is the first one.
Oh, no! Oh, no!
- Oh, no! - This is happening.
They're coming in hot.
- Oh, they were so good. - I know!
Ken: All of them were great.
- Leaf Sheep. - ( all groan )
Oh, Leaf Sheep!
- Oh, no, Leaf Sheep. - To our singers who are safe, congratulations.
You have officially advanced to next week's "Footloose" Night.
Let's keep it going for Leaf Sheep.
( crowd chanting ) Leaf Sheep! Leaf Sheep!
- Leaf Sheep! Leaf Sheep! - Leaf Sheep,
we hate to see you go, but we can't wait to see who you are.
I know! We can't wait to see who you are.
So, panel, you know what time it is.
Let's hear those final guesses.
Robin: I'm feeling pretty good about this guess.
We saw the seahorse, right, in the clue package?
- Yeah. - Horse, Cowboys.
We heard "revitalize a franchise."
All these roads lead to the amazing hall-of-famer, GOAT, Troy Aikman.
- Ken: Good guess. - I'm feeling good about it.
Well, you know, I'm gonna go with someone a bit left field
just to throw it in there, because why not?
I'm gonna actually give you an actor
who played a coach in a movie-- "Friday Night Lights."
From the tone of your voice, it sounds a bit like Billy Bob Thornton.
- Robin: Billy Bob Thornton. - Ken: That's a good guess.
- What to you think, Ken? - Well, the quarter clue,
one of the best quarterbacks of all time.
The country western theme because he was a Denver Bronco.
I believe Leaf Sheep is John Elway.
Rita: Okay.
See, but I believe that there's only one GOAT.
He is a future hall-of-famer.
Hello, how could this not be--
season 12 premiere--
the amazing Tom Brady, everybody?
Yeah. Good guess. Hey, I ain't mad at that.
- Right? - I ain't mad at that.
All right, well, panel,
let's see if any of you are correct.
- I am. - Come on out, Troy!
Let's go, go, go, go.
Audience, you know the drill. Say it with me.
- ♪ Who are you? - Take it off! Take it off!
- Rita: How?
- How is he gonna take it off? - I don't know.
I am dying to see who this is. Who is it?
- ( chanting continues ) - How?
- How are we gonna do this, Nick? - Come on, Troy!
- ♪ You, you, you - Oh! Wait, wait!
- ♪ Are you? - Take it off!
- Two-time Super Bowl champion! - Oh!
NFL hall-of-famer!
The legendary Duke of Denver, John Elway!
- Rita: Whoa! - Ken was right!
- Rita: Wow. You were right! - Jenny: What?
Yeah!
I mean, you gotta tell me,
why in the world would you do "The Masked Singer"?
That's a good question. I'm not sure.
I was definitely not in my comfort zone doing this.
But, you know, I'm in retirement now,
- I had the opportunity, and took advantage of it. - Yeah!
- Good for you. Yeah! - Wow.
Spoken like a true legend.
You know, as somebody who watched you growing up, huge fan, just like Ken.
- Yes. Yes. - I watched you win two Super Bowls.
Huge fan. We're honored to have you here on the show.
- Rita: Honored. - Thank you very much. Thank you.
Is there anything you want to say to your family, your friends?
- Of course, your fans? - Well, it's great to be here. I've had a great time.
And I think all the grandkids are gonna be happy
to see poppy jump out of the Leaf Sheep.
- Rita: You're a GOAT! GOAT, GOAT, GOAT! - There it is.
- GOAT, GOAT, GOAT, GOAT! - In the building. The GOAT!
That wraps up our big season premiere.
Tune in next week as our Group A singers
compete on "Footloose" Night.
But right now, ladies and gentlemen,
put your hands together for the artist formerly known as Leaf Sheep.
- Oh, my God. I'm a big fan. - Give it up for John Elway!
- Whoo! - Thank you. Here we go!
- Yay! - ♪ But I like it, I love it
♪ I want some more of it
♪ I tried so hard, I can't rise above it ♪
♪ Don't know what it is 'bout that little girl's loving ♪
♪ But I like it, I love it, I want some more of it ♪
- Hell, yeah! - Yeah!
Nick: The legendary John Elway!
( cheering )