During a year in which every aspect of life felt unsparingly serious, at least we had The Masked Singer — the Fox reality competition featuring various celebrities singing in elaborate costumes — providing some crucial silliness.
The entire third and fourth seasons of the series aired during 2020, culminating in the season 4 finale on Wednesday night (Dec. 16), when Sun bested Mushroom and Crocodile to take home the golden mask; before that, we got wacky rap performances, teenybopper takes, soaring ballads and several shocked looks from the faces of judges Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg, Robin Thicke, Nicole Scherzinger and Ken Jeong.
Check out the 10 best performances from The Masked Singer in 2020, as determined by someone who has absolutely watched every episode of The Masked Singer in 2020.
10. Ludacris, “Money Maker” by Whatchamacallit (Lonzo Ball)
Imagine telling NBA guard Lonzo Ball that he’d be closing out 2020 by rapping alongside two inflatable unicorns while dressed as an off-brand Cousin Itt… and that he’d sound pretty great in the process! The Masked Singer has showcased some cringe-worthy hip-hop performances over the years, but this Whatchamacallit showcase proved that Ball’s flow is just as reliable as his on-court awareness.
9. Celine Dion, “It’s All Coming Back to Me Now” by Kitty (Jackie Evancho)
A song like “It’s All Coming Back to Me Now” requires oversized vocals, naturally, and Jackie Evancho more than did the classic Celine Dion ballad justice during her season 3 apex as Kitty. Yet the stage setup that pays homage to Dion’s timeless music video — Kitty gazing into a mirror that shows more than just a simple reflection — elevates this into the top 10.
8. Britney Spears, “…Baby One More Time” by Seahorse (Tori Kelly)
Tori Kelly swam into the upper tier of season 4 thanks to her sterling vocal skill, but it was her chameleonic take on Britney Spears’ debut single that stands as Seahorse’s highlight. The sultry, cooing tone that Kelly adopts here is so different from her full-throated approach that anyone who did a “Wait, is that actually Britney under there…?” double-take could be forgiven.
7. Maxwell, “This Woman’s Work” by Mushroom (Aloe Blacc)
The reason why Mushroom’s identity was so difficult to pinpoint, leading all the way up to the season 4 finale? Aloe Blacc, the artist behind the mask, embraced a lilting falsetto that’s light years away from his huskier delivery on hits like “Wake Me Up!” and “The Man.” His take on Maxwell’s “This Woman’s Work” was the highlight of the opening round, and ultimately paved the way for a finals run.
6. The Proclaimers, “(I’m Gonna Be) 500 Miles” by Serpent (Dr. Elvis Francois)
Elvis “Dr. Elvis” Francois went viral earlier this year for a reason: the orthopedic surgeon with a golden voice helped inspire millions while championing frontline workers and raising money for COVID-19 relief funds. His run as Serpent also helped demonstrate his range, with his surprisingly soulful cover of the Proclaimers favorite his strongest work in season 4. Somebody get this man a recording contract ASAP.
5. Coldplay, “Fix You” by Turtle (Jesse McCartney)
Can one reasonably describe the spectacle of a spiky-haired turtle crooning Coldplay on a square platform as “cinematic”? No doubt, after watching Jesse McCartney’s high-water mark in season 3. Judge Robin Thicke declared the performance “beautiful” before Turtle even got going during the song’s crescendo — and McCartney, long underrated as a pop vocalist, fully came into his own behind the mask.
4. Imagine Dragons, “Whatever It Takes” by Frog (Bow Wow)
Bow Wow’s performance as a pinstripe suit-clad amphibian highlighted season 3 — so much so that when he finished in only third place in the finale, #JusticeForFrog was too tempting of a hashtag not to fire off. The entertainer born Shad Moss delivered a high-energy hip-hop approach week after week, with his reimagining of Imagine Dragons’ “Whatever It Takes” as a pulse-pounding rap anthem the most enjoyable feat of his run.
3. Aerosmith, “I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing” by Crocodile (Nick Carter)
When Backstreet Boys’ Nick Carter needed a showstopper to power his pink Croc into the finals, he brought Armageddon to The Masked Singer, as the Aerosmith power ballad made sense as both a fan favorite and an impressive showcase of his range. Special kudos to Carter for actually climbing the mountain that is Steven Tyler’s high note on the bridge and living to tell the tale.
2. Ike & Tina Turner, “River Deep – Mountain High” by Night Angel (Kandi Burruss)
In perhaps the most exciting finale performance in Masked Singer history, Kandi Burruss left it all on the stage to secure the season 3 crown, sounding spectacular while flanked by cheerleaders and tackling a Tina Turner classic. Night Angel was always a front-runner to become the first female winner of the series amidst stiff competition, but Burruss’ take on “River Deep – Mountain High” left little room for doubt that she had sealed the deal.
1. Billie Eilish’s “When The Party’s Over” by Sun (LeAnn Rimes)
As any Masked Singer viewer knows, a performance that causes judge Nicole Scherzinger to cry is placed in the highest esteem — but if Ken Jeong chokes up too, that means it’s an all-timer. Season 4 champ Sun caused plenty a misty eye with her bare-bones rendition of Billie Eilish’s already sparse ballad “When The Party’s Over,” as country-pop icon LeAnn Rimes provided a reminder that her voice, which broke through in her teen years, can still compete with any modern artist. Although the performance took place during the penultimate episode of Season 4, “When The Party’s Over” showed that Sun was very clearly the, er, brightest star in the season, and helped her take home the trophy.
