The twelfth season of the American television series The Masked Singer premiered on Fox on September 25, 2024, and concluded on December 18, 2024. The season was won by vocal R&B group Boyz II Men as the "Buffalos", with singer Mario finishing second as "Wasp".
Panelists and host
Nick Cannon, singer-songwriter Robin Thicke, television and radio personality Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg, actor and comedian Ken Jeong and recording artist Rita Ora all returned from the previous season. Ora was absent in the eleventh episode due to illness, so Robin Thicke, Jenny McCarthy, and Ken Jeong appeared alone.
William Shatner, who portrayed "Knight" during the eighth season, appeared as a special guest during the first episode. Kevin Bacon appeared as a special guest during the second episode. Joel McHale and Nikki Glaser (who portrayed "Snowstorm" in the eighth season) appeared as guest commentators in the fourth episode. The Peanuts gang appeared during the ninth episode. Season five winner Nick Lachey, Robin's mother Gloria Loring, and Rita's husband Taika Waititi, the latter two appearing in the audience, appeared in the season finale.
Production Much like the previous four seasons of the series, the twelfth season features the return of themed nights. Throughout the season, themes include nights dedicated to Miley Cyrus and the film Footloose. Additionally, other themes include a night dedicated to the toy-film brand Barbie, "60s Night", "Sports Night", "Who Are You Fest", and "Peanuts Thanksgiving". "Soundtrack Of My Life" was featured once again after having already been represented in the previous two seasons.
Contestants The contestants were revealed between August 15 and September 23, 2024. The season features 15 contestants divided into three groups of five. This is the first season since the seventh season to not feature Wild Card contestants or contestants that join the competition later than the rest. Additionally, the "Ding Dong Keep It On" bell returned from the previous three seasons. The bell allows the panel to save one contestant from being eliminated throughout the three group finals and bring them to the quarterfinals.
On August 15, 2024, it was confirmed that former contestants such as Dick Van Dyke, Jewel, Ne-Yo, and DeMarcus Ware would appear as Mask Ambassadors for the new contestants throughout the season. Each Mask Ambassador has a connection to the contestant and serves as a clue to their identity.
The Buffalos made history as they became the first group ever to win in the American edition of the Masked Singer.
Stage name Celebrity Occupation(s) Mask Ambassador Episodes 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Group A Group B Group C Buffalos Boyz II Men Vocal R&B group Nick Lachey SAFE SAFE WIN SAFE RISK WINNERS Wasp Mario Singer Ne-Yo SAFE SAFE WIN SAFE WIN RUNNER-UP Strawberry Shortcake AJ Michalka Actor/singer Hayley OrrantiaSAFESAFE WIN RISK OUT Goo Kobie TurnerNFL player Keenan Allen SAFE SAFE KEPT OUT Sherlock Hound Bronson Arroyo Former MLB player Barry ZitoSAFESAFE OUT Royal Knight Jana Kramer Actor/singer Savannah ChrisleySAFESAFE OUT Ice King Drake Bell Actor/musician HansonSAFE OUT Macaron Bethany Hamilton Surfer Willie Robertson OUT Bluebell Natalie Imbruglia Actor/singer Kelly Osbourne SAFE SAFE OUT Chess Piece Laverne Cox Actor/activist Nikki Glaser SAFE OUT Dust Bunny Andy Richter Actor/comedian Dick Van Dyke OUT Ship Paula Cole Singer Jewel SAFE SAFE OUT Woodpecker Marsai Martin Actor/producer Jenifer Lewis SAFE SAFE OUT Showbird Yvette Nicole Brown Actor Joel McHale SAFE OUT Leaf Sheep John Elway Former NFL quarterback DeMarcus Ware OUT
Episodes Week 1 (September 25) - "Season 12 Premiere: Who Can It Be Now?" Guest performance: Panelist Rita Ora performs "Who Can It Be Now?" by Men at Work + Performances on the first episode # Stage name Song Identity Result 1 Buffalos "(I Just) Died in Your Arms" by Cutting Crew SAFE 2 Woodpecker "Flowers" by Miley Cyrus SAFE 3 Leaf Sheep "I Like It, I Love It" by Tim McGraw John ElwayOUT 4 Showbird "Just Fine" by Mary J. Blige SAFE 5 Ship "Pompeii" by Bastille SAFE
Week 2 (October 2) - "Footloose Night" Guest performance: Panelist Robin Thicke performs "Footloose" by Kenny Loggins + Performances on the second episode # Stage name Song Identity Result 1 Showbird "Let's Hear It for the Boy" by Deniece Williams Yvette Nicole BrownOUT 2 Ship "Almost Paradise" by Ann Wilson and Mike Reno SAFE 3 Woodpecker "Holding Out for a Hero" by Bonnie Tyler SAFE 4 Buffalos "Waiting for a Girl Like You" by Foreigner SAFE
Week 3 (October 9) - "Group A Finals: Soundtrack of My Life" Group performance: "High Hopes" by Panic! at the Disco + Performances on the third episode # Stage name Song Identity Result 1 Ship "Because the Night" by Patti Smith Group SAFE 2 Woodpecker "Put Your Records On" by Corinne Bailey Rae Marsai MartinOUT 3 Buffalos "Bitter Sweet Symphony" by The Verve SAFE Battle Royale 4 Ship "Go Your Own Way" by Fleetwood Mac Paula ColeOUT Buffalos WIN
After being unmasked, Cole performed her signature song "I Don't Want to Wait" as her encore performance.
Week 4 (October 16) - "Group B Premiere: Sports Night" Guest performance: Panelists Rita Ora and Robin Thicke perform "Rock You Like a Hurricane" by Scorpions + Performances on the fourth episode # Stage name Song Identity Result 1 Wasp "Rock Your Body" by Justin Timberlake SAFE 2 Chess Piece "Believe" by Cher SAFE 3 Bluebell "We Belong" by Pat Benatar SAFE 4 Dust Bunny "Sweet Caroline" by Neil Diamond Andy RichterOUT 5 Goo "Lose Control" by Teddy Swims SAFE
Week 5 (October 23) - "Barbie Night" Guest performance: Panelist Ken Jeong performs "I'm Just Ken" by Ryan Gosling + Performances on the fifth episode # Stage name Song Identity Result1Bluebell"Dance the Night" by Dua Lipa SAFE2Goo "Miss Independent" by Ne-Yo SAFE3Chess Piece "I'm Every Woman" by Chaka KhanLaverne CoxOUT4Wasp"Skyscraper" by Demi Lovato SAFE
Week 6 (November 6) - "Group B Finals: '60s Night" Group performance: "Fun, Fun, Fun" by The Beach Boys + Performances on the sixth episode # Stage name Song Identity Result 1Goo"The House of the Rising Sun" by The Animals SAFE 2Bluebell"Do You Love Me" by The ContoursNatalie ImbrugliaOUT 3Wasp"Ain't No Way" by Aretha Franklin SAFE Battle Royale 4Goo"I Heard It Through the Grapevine" by Marvin Gaye KEPTWasp WIN
Week 7 (November 13) - "Group C Premiere: Who Are You Fest" + Performances on the seventh episode # Stage name Song Identity Result 1 Royal Knight "You and I" by Lady Gaga SAFE 2 Sherlock Hound "Under the Bridge" by Red Hot Chili Peppers SAFE 3 Ice King "Tonight Tonight" by Hot Chelle Rae SAFE 4 Macaron "Call Me Maybe" by Carly Rae Jepsen Bethany HamiltonOUT 5 Strawberry Shortcake "Slow Burn" by Kacey Musgraves SAFE
Week 8 (November 20) - "Miley Cyrus Night" Group performance: "Party in the U.S.A." + Performances on the eighth episode # Stage name Miley Cyrus song Identity Result 1 Sherlock Hound "Used to Be Young" SAFE 2 Ice King "Midnight Sky" Drake BellOUT 3 Strawberry Shortcake "Wrecking Ball" SAFE 4 Royal Knight "When I Look at You" SAFE
Week 9 (November 28) - "Group C Finals: A Peanuts Thanksgiving"
Guest performance: Panelists Rita Ora and Robin Thicke perform "You Make My Dreams" by Hall & Oates
+ Performances on the ninth episode # Stage name Song Identity Result 1 Strawberry Shortcake "I Hope You Dance" by Lee Ann Womack SAFE 2 Royal Knight "Holiday" by Madonna Jana KramerOUT3 Sherlock Hound "Ho Hey" by The Lumineers SAFE Battle Royale 4Sherlock Hound"Shivers" by Ed SheeranBronson ArroyoOUTStrawberry Shortcake WIN
Week 10 (December 4) - "Quarter Finals: Merging of the Masks" + Performances on the tenth episode # Stage name Song Result 1Wasp"Standing Next to You" by Jungkook SAFE2Goo"Iris" by Goo Goo Dolls RISK3Strawberry Shortcake"Closer" by Tegan and Sara RISK4 Buffalos"You're Still the One" by Shania Twain SAFE Smackdown Identity Result 5 Goo"Hold On, I'm Comin'" by Sam & DaveKobie TurnerOUT Strawberry Shortcake"Scars to Your Beautiful" by Alessia Cara SAFE
Week 11 (December 11) - "Semi-Finals: The Final Three" Group performance: "Some Nights" by Fun + Performances on the eleventh episode # Stage name Song Result 1Strawberry Shortcake"Lose You to Love Me" by Selena Gomez RISK 2Buffalos"Africa" by Toto RISK 3Wasp"Beautiful Things" by Benson Boone WIN Smack Royale Identity Result 4 Strawberry Shortcake"Counting Stars" by OneRepublicAJ MichalkaOUTBuffalos SAFE
After being unmasked, Michalka performed her signature song "Potential Breakup Song" as her encore performance.
Week 12 (December 18) - "Finale: A Champion Is Crowned" Guest performance: Nick Lachey performs "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" by Andy Williams +Performances on the twelfth episode#Stage nameSongIdentityResult1Wasp "When I Was Your Man" by Bruno MarsMario RUNNER-UP "I'm Your Baby Tonight" by Whitney Houston2Buffalos "Somebody That I Used to Know" by Gotye Boyz II Men WINNERS "Too Good at Goodbyes" by Sam Smith
After being unmasked, Mario performed his signature song "Let Me Love You" as his encore performance, and Boyz II Men performed their signature song "Motownphilly".
Ratings
Notes
References