Top 10 Best Performances on The Masked Singer

Most of us would probably prefer to sing a Celine Dion song with a mask on. Because if you flop on a Celine song, you flop hard. Let’s face it, it takes a lot to nail those powerful notes. This Season 4 contestant blew the judges away with her take on “My Heart Will Go On.” Later revealed to be gospel singer Tori Kelly, the Seahorse gives an arresting performance of the love theme from “Titanic” that tugs at the heartstrings. That’s no small feat when you have sharks and octopi doing an interpretative dance on the stage behind you.

Any child of the ‘90s probably recognized this voice right away. Formerly of the boy band Dream Street, singer, songwriter, and actor Jesse McCartney’s run on Season 3 was impressive. As the punk rock Turtle, McCartney took a swing at this Coldplay classic and knocked it out of the studio. The song is slow, steady, and requires a delicate touch. Luckily, being a Turtle, slow and steady is his specialty. He may have come in second place when the season ended, but this moment proves he’s one of the best to ever grace the “Masked Singer” stage.

When “Unwritten” singer Natasha Bedingfield was revealed to be Season 6’s Pepper, many fans weren’t surprised. The singer, who’s also known for “Pocketful of Sunshine,” just had too distinctive a voice to hide for long. Her cover of British artist Labrinth’s song “Jealous” was a hit. It was a perfect choice to show off her smooth vocals. All the songs on the show are shortened for time, but this one was over way too soon. Sure, that incredibly wide smile on Pepper’s face was immediately off-putting. But as soon as she started singing, everyone forgot the face and fell in love with the talent.

Whether you’re taking on the Whitney version or the original Dolly, this ballad is a daunting task for anyone. How many of us have sat through a misbegotten karaoke performance of this very song? Within the first few notes, though, the judges were on board. Ringmaster immediately cleared the set of vocal runs that opens the song, and unleashed some serious lung power on that stage. The crowd was on their feet once she hit that last chorus. Later revealed to be professional singer and “The Goldbergs” actor Hayley Orrantia, Ringmaster would make it all to the finale off the back of this amazing performance.

The Yeti began his cover of this surprisingly depressing Justin Bieber and Benny Blanco song against a projection of ice and snow. This Season 5 performance is one of the show’s most visually stunning stagings. With a voice as graceful and smooth as his roller skating moves, R&B singer Omarion, in character as the Yeti, had the audience in the palm of his hand. Even with the ornate costume, it was almost easy to forget it was “The Masked Singer” and not a Yeti concert. The solemn, truly beautiful presentation left the judges shocked and heartbroken.

The Harp chose the right instrument. Her voice is as close to heaven as you can get. Every time she stepped onto the stage, the Harp demonstrated her range, power, and energy. But this classic belt fest from “The Bodyguard” soundtrack was her greatest achievement on the show. She absolutely nailed this signature Whitney Houston track. It cemented her place in the competition, and also made it pretty obvious to any “Glee” fan exactly who was behind the mask. To the shock of no one, it was actor and powerhouse vocalist Amber Riley who was revealed as the voice behind the Harp. She emerged the Season 8 champion.

Apparently, the Queen of Hearts, a.k.a. Jewel did not speak French when she took on this essential Edith Piaf hit. The singer later revealed she only had a track of the spoken French lyrics in her earpiece and her own musical instincts to guide her. We’ll leave it to the native speakers to critique her pronunciation. However, as far as outstanding vocals go, we’re willing to say she absolutely killed it. The song perfectly fits her versatile instrument, letting her soar on the high notes and then dip into that sugary sweet breathy part of her range. Some singers take us to church. Jewel took us to a smoky, 1950s Parisian café.

In its first season, the American version of the franchise was still finding the balance between the gimmicks and the talent. The Monster’s moving interpretation of Sam Smith’s “Stay With Me” gave us all a peek at what the show could be. What’s great about this one is that the man behind the Monster, rapper and singer T-Pain, is actually known for popularizing the Auto-Tune effect. But there’s no need for Auto-Tune here. The show’s very first winner had a voice rich with rasp, full of intense feeling and emotional heft.

Judge Nicole Scherzinger almost burst into tears halfway through the Thingamajig’s rendition of the Kacey Musgraves anthem, “Rainbow.” Who wouldn’t? The song is so sweet, but his deep and smooth vocals hit the ear like butter. Eventually unmasked as Victor Oladipo, an NBA player with a side hustle as a singer, the Thingamajig brought the crowd to its feet with his pure tone and heartfelt vocals. If singing is his side gig, he must be really good at basketball. A minute and a half just isn’t enough. It’s been a few years, but we’re still waiting on a full version, Victor.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

“Wrecking Ball,” Bee / Gladys Knight
Where Else Would You Hear the Empress of Soul Do a Miley Cover?

“The Greatest Show,” Peacock / Donny Osmond
The Show’s First Ever Contestant Started Things off on the Right Note

“Someone You Loved,” Rottweiler / Chris Daughtry
The Rocker Shocked With This Lewis Capaldi Cover

“Try a Little Tenderness,” Fox / Wayne Brady
The Song & Dance Man Was Always a Crowd Pleaser

“Million Reasons,” Night Angel / Kandi Burruss
The Musician & Real Housewife Gave the Audience a Million Reasons to Vote for Her

The show’s entire concept - dressing celebrities in silly and ornate costumes while they sing other people’s songs - doesn’t seem to suggest it could make you cry. Season 4 winner LeAnn Rimes did just that when she delivered a truly heartstopping version of Billie Eilish’s “When the Party’s Over.” In costume as the Sun, Rimes’s cover is haunting, elegant, and absolutely breathtaking. Even behind the mask, she manages to convey the song’s deeply personal narrative without ever tipping a toe into camp territory. It doesn’t seem like it should be as beautiful as it is. That’s what makes it even more powerful. It’s completely unexpected.