As the evening unfolded, it became evident that one contestant’s journey on TMS was coming to an end. Ultimately, either Mad Scientist Monster, Nessy, or Yorkie would be eliminated, while the other two would advance to the next week’s Lucky 6 show. They are set to compete against the Group A and Group B finalists, leaving viewers eager to see who will come out on top.

Additionally returning was the Battle Royale segment, allowing fans to hear these talented voices once again as they went head-to-head for a coveted chance to advance to the next round of competition.

From classic hits by The Supremes to contemporary tracks by Justin Bieber, these masked performers delivered powerful anthems, with one contestant giving their final show-stopping performance of the night.

We learned that the Golden Ear trophy has returned, which means the panelists are competing amongst themselves for the most accurate guesses this season. Currently, Robin leads with three correct guesses, followed closely by Jenny and Rita, both with two, while Dr. Ken is tied with guest panelist Casey Wilson with just one.

Who guessed correctly this week? We can say that someone did, but we won’t reveal too much just yet. You’ll have to tune in to find out what happened and who emerged victorious!

Let’s dive right into this week’s performances. Don’t worry, before we reveal the shocking unmasking(s), we’ll first review the wild (and sometimes accurate) guesses made by our esteemed panel of Robin Thicke, Jenny McCarthy, Ken Jeong, and Rita Ora. We do this because we love to keep you guessing!

(“My Sharona,” The Knack) We must commend all three vocalists for delivering an electrifying performance. Interestingly, the least physically demanding contestant turned out to be the one with the most maneuverable costume, as she focused on vocals over theatrics this time. While Yorkie showcased her vocal prowess, Mad Scientist Monster and Nessy remained the stronger singers, ensuring a memorable performance from start to finish.

(“Stop! In the Name of Love,” The Supremes) Yorkie faced a formidable challenge by attempting to channel the legendary Diana Ross, and while she has the heart, the execution fell short. This performance lacked the energy and engagement expected, despite her best efforts at choreography. Although she conveyed sincerity through her vocals, it wasn’t her strongest performance, leaving room for improvement.

Clues & Guesses: During Decades Night, Yorkie revealed her connection to the 1960s, sharing a poignant story about her mother’s romantic past and the lessons learned from heartbreak. This experience shaped her character, leading others to perceive her as emotionally distant. Now, having experienced her own heartbreak, she embraces her mother’s wisdom with a new understanding.

Visually, her clue package included a leash symbolizing restricted love, along with a judge’s gavel suggesting possible legal troubles. She also featured a vintage album labeled “Show Dog,” stating, “Yeah, I’m a show dog. I’m part of one of the biggest TV shows out there.”

Yorkie mentioned her awareness of boy band scandals in her second clue package, referencing the adoration she received when she first entered the spotlight, followed by betrayal that left her facing the repercussions of another’s choices. The media frenzy surrounding someone she cared about deeply affected her public image and emotional state.

This turmoil led her to rebuild herself gradually, demonstrating resilience and determination. The clues included a pie, a gingerbread house, and various billboards, while Chris Kirkpatrick made an appearance, tossing a t-shirt to Jenny that read, “Touring Up My Heart,” prompting speculation about Yorkie’s comedic endeavors.

“Well, my life has been a mix of comedy and tragedy, but right now it’s looking pretty good. Yes, I’ve traveled around the world,” Yorkie expressed, reflecting on her journey.

Without revealing too much in her first clue package, Yorkie characterized herself as fashion-forward, sassy, and undeniably popular. Accompanied by a mouse on a classic party hat, she mentioned experiencing a lot of “crazy stuff” throughout her life.

“One moment you’re hot, the next, it’s time to go,” she noted while showcasing an oversized diamond ring. Throughout her experiences, she emphasized that music has been her savior during the darkest times, offering her solace and strength through challenges.

When asked about her true identity, she replied, “Well, I was down and out, but then a lovely lady in Beverly Hills took me in, and now I’m wearing Chanel and dining on caviar.”

Robin speculated about the “new biggest TV show” clue, leading to a guess about a Full House star with legal troubles, while Ken revisited his previous guess of Teresa Giudice, this time landing on Kyle Richards, indicating he may be looking in the right reality TV franchise.

Jenny, a confessed Real Housewives enthusiast, made a bold guess of Erika Jayne, who has been embroiled in her own legal and romantic controversies due to her estranged husband Tom Girardi, who was found guilty of embezzlement and wire fraud.

Yorkie’s father notably abandoned the family when she was just nine months old, leaving her mother to raise her alone. Additionally, Erika has appeared on Lip Sync Battle and performed as Roxie Hart in Chicago, which could connect to earlier clues. The comment about being taken in by a “lovely lady in Beverly Hills” likely refers to The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.

Vocally, this guess aligns well, while Yorkie’s lyric, “the value of poker has completely changed,” could tie to her reference about poker chips, along with her recent documentary, Bet It All on Blonde.

(“Love Yourself,” Justin Bieber) Mad Scientist Monster captivated the audience with a sweet falsetto towards the end of his performance, further emphasizing his vocal talent and confidence. His unique delivery style, reminiscent of a country star, emotionally connected with the audience, even while donned in an outrageous costume. This performance was genuine, beautifully sung, and heartfelt, leaving viewers feeling all the emotions.

Clues & Guesses: In his latest clue package, we discovered more about Mad Scientist Monster, or MSM as we fondly call him, revealing his experiences of love and loss in life. He mentions how he “didn’t do it alone,” alluding to various theories on life that ultimately led them down separate paths, which he now realizes was the right decision. Is he referring to personal relationships or professional partnerships?

He reflected on how the 2010s were a remarkable decade for him, having received every possible accolade, except for a Nobel Prize. The package included visuals of a cowboy hat, a sun mask (symbolizing LeAnn Rimes), a silver pickup truck, and a message about not everyone loving you live—a lesson he learned along the way, which he has come to accept.

His 2010s Time Machine clue referenced The Masked Singer Season 4, where Mad Scientist Monster shared, “I’ve performed with someone from Season 4.” Could it be LeAnn Rimes again? Or perhaps Aloe Blacc, Nick Carter, Tori Kelly, Chloe Kim, Taylor Dayne, Paul Anka, Dr. Elvis Francois, Lonzo Ball, Clint Black, Lisa Hartman Black, Bob Saget, Wendy Williams, Mark Sanchez, Brian Austin Green, or Busta Rhymes? That was quite the entertaining season!

For “Boy Band Night,” MSM opened up about falling in love with his wife, recounting the moment they met while passing a bowl of cranberry sauce at a friendsgiving celebration, a heartwarming story that added a personal touch to his performance.

As he recounted their love story and eventual marriage, visuals included a grandfather clock showcasing the passage of time, a thumbs-up, a sandcastle, and a large cruise ship, adding layers of depth to his narrative. He also teased a picture of Piglet (Nick Lachey) backstage, hinting at more connections.

MSM’s Nick Cannon T-Shirt Cannon t-shirt featured both “BTS” and “BSB,” highlighting his admiration for both Backstreet Boys and BTS. He remarked, “It’s an honor to have received the same award as both iconic groups,” showcasing his appreciation for musical collaborations.

In his first package, we learned that MSM almost pursued a different career path, where he felt he was on the verge of greatness before being scouted and nearly breaking out. However, everything fell apart when there was overwhelming interest in him, sidelining him and costing him his chance at stardom.

But instead of giving up, he pivoted and found his true calling. The clues included “Fast” on a radar gun, indicating his speed, and a fish tank, along with glimpses of his lab experiments, showcasing his creativity and determination.

“You know what?” he said on stage. “This is so important to me because it gives me a chance to reintroduce myself to fans in a way they’ve never seen before,” emphasizing the significance of this performance.

Ken speculated on Brad Paisley, noting his collaborations with LeAnn Rimes. However, Jenny countered, “Brad Paisley isn’t, like, 6’5″,” pointing out that MSM is indeed a large presence on stage. She then suggested Blake Shelton, who had Tori Kelly as a coach on The Voice.

The panel is still quite puzzled, while online speculation continues to swirl around multiple names (with little support for our well-documented Brett Young guess). However, this week’s clues add fuel to a favorite guess that is neither Scotty McCreery nor Joe Nichols. Instead, Brian Kelley has certainly experienced a significant breakup after disbanding Florida Georgia Line in 2022 after a decade of dominance.

Similar to Young, Kelley was a college baseball player who was scouted by several professional teams before shifting his focus to music. Regarding his clue about how he met his wife, Kelley and his spouse met at a Thanksgiving dinner while they were dating two siblings, only reconnecting later to form their own relationship. And yes, he stands at 6’3″.

(“Can’t Fight This Feeling,” REO Speedwagon) Nessy showcased his incredible vocal range with this challenging song, demonstrating his ability to dig deep and deliver a powerful performance. Instead of reaching for every high note, he skillfully rearranged certain elements to suit his range, executing the song with artistic flair that resulted in a breathtaking moment for the audience.

Clues & Guesses: The 1980s was the decade Nessy chose to highlight, reminiscing about blasting REO Speedwagon from his boombox. He shared that he once toured with the band, learning how to express love through lyrics, claiming that “Valentine’s Day is practically my Super Bowl,” indicating his passion for love songs.

Throughout his performance, visuals included a boombox, a bee, a treadmill, and a snowman, alongside a playful reference to mullets, hinting at his fashion choices during that era. His ’80s Time Machine clue featured a cassette tape labeled “Bieber & Puth.” Nessy humorously noted, “They’re just a couple of kids who famously covered my song. And I got to earn some cool dad points.”

During “Boy Band Night,” Nessy mentioned a direct rivalry with one boy band in particular—*NSYNC. Not only were they competing for record sales and chart positions, but also for airtime on MTV’s TRL. When Ken referred to *NSYNC as his contemporaries, Nessy humorously responded, “I’m pretty sure I dropped my AARP card at the bottom of this costume while dancing.”

Nessy shared his experience of connecting with the group at a celebrity golf tournament, where they competed hard, and he humorously noted, “I played the worst game of my life.” The visuals included Nessy fishing, *NSYNC featured on a stop sign, a cart filled with popcorn, gummy worms, and (root?) beer bottles. He expressed that he misses the “friendly competition,” which is part of why he enjoys being on this show.

His concert merchandise clue came from Nick Cannon’s T-Shirt Cannon, shot by *NSYNC’s Chris Kirkpatrick. The t-shirt itself featured Nessy’s image within a heart. “Just like the boy banders, I was also known for my love songs,” he explained, hinting at his romantic side.

In his first clue package, Nessy hinted at celebrities living outside the typical celebrity lifestyle, suggesting that even his neighbors and mailman might not recognize him as the same person as another well-known figure. He described himself as a “gentle giant” in this package, emphasizing his “somewhat mysterious” and purposefully “reclusive” nature on his extensive property.

A radio adorned with a star suggests either a musical artist—something we can definitely hear—or perhaps a deejay with a remarkable singing voice. He also showcased a polished horseshoe, presented a red card with a white lip print, and revealed that his family resurfaced from the water behind him, hinting at a spouse and three children.

Nessy expressed, “I took a lot of time off to be with my family. But being able to come on here and be invited back into the limelight feels really good,” reflecting his appreciation for the show and the opportunity to reconnect with his fans.

When Rita couldn’t recall the name of Darkness lead singer Justin Hawkins, Nessy stepped in to offer that up, demonstrating even more credibility in his artistry while still supporting her guess of Dave Matthews. However, Robin countered, insisting that Dave’s voice is too distinctive to be mistaken.

Instead, he’s still considering Daryl Hall, a choice that Rita seemed unaware of when Robin mentioned Daryl’s reputation as a fantastic love song songwriter, someone who may have been covered by both Bieber and Puth. Ken is still leaning toward Pat Monahan from Train, who does have connections to REO.

While the internet has been struggling to pinpoint Nessy’s identity, the clue about competing directly with *NSYNC has made it challenging to align with the otherwise solid Daryl Hall guess, though a name has started to emerge more frequently.

Could this be Edwin McCain? Justin Bieber has performed his “I’ll Be” extensively over the years, as has Charlie Puth. In fact, McCain acknowledges both artists for covering that song and his other major love ballad “I Could Not Ask for More” on his official website—just like Nessy did here. That’s quite the coincidence—or is it?

Later on, we received a major clue when Season 3’s Banana, Bret Michaels, dropped in to inform us he has rocked out with Nessy on numerous occasions. Did you know that Bret Michaels and Edwin McCain have collaborated on stage, including an upcoming show in Tennessee? Edwin has opened for Bret, and they’ve even worked together on a song called “Raine.”

This season’s Battle Royale appears more straightforward than previous rounds. Yorkie simply lacks the depth of skill that either MSM or Nessy have exhibited throughout the season. She tends to focus more on the performance aspect rather than the vocal quality, while the gentlemen seem to sing from a place of passion that is likely rooted in their early careers.

Between the two of them, we would choose Nessy to carry on. He has shown greater strength and consistency across various styles and genres compared to MSM. While this distinction is quite slim, it reflects our overall impression. However, the audience and panel ultimately shifted the outcome, sending Mad Scientist Monster into next week’s Lucky 6.

(“Hard to Handle,” Otis Redding) Yorkie immediately lost the audience’s attention with her opening lines, and things didn’t improve. The Black Crowes had previously delivered a grittier version of this classic, which she seemed to channel, but it resulted in a complete vocal disaster. This marked a significant setback for her, with timing issues and a noticeable lack of conviction. In contrast, Nessy grasped the assignment and vibe of the original, delivering a fiery performance filled with grit, range, and character, leaving the audience wanting more.

We anticipated Yorkie to struggle against either of this week’s finalists, but we were unprepared for the overwhelming performance delivered by Nessy. She may not have clinched Best in Show, but she certainly deserves recognition for her vibrant personality throughout the season!

Before the results were announced, Detective Lucky Duck revealed that they had collectively only guessed half of the eight stars unmasked this season correctly. As motivation, he reintroduced the Golden Ear trophy, which was last seen in Season 6, to reward the panelist with the most accurate guesses. As of now, Robin is leading.

This week’s final vote likely wasn’t close, given the significant disparity in performances. Yorkie should take pride in making it to the Group C Finals, which is an impressive feat in itself, even though she was outmatched in this round.

Her Crack the Case Clue Case featured a pair of thigh-high black boots. “These lucky boots are custom-made for me,” Yorkie explained. “My current boots are made for walking, and they’ve helped me get through a lot, no matter where I go, even on the biggest strips.”

• Robin Thicke: Lori Loughlin
• Jenny McCarthy: Erika Jayne
• Ken Jeong: Kyle Richards
• Rita Ora: Paris Hilton

With the Golden Ear trophy at stake, it was revealed that these boots were made to help RHOBH icon Erika Jayne exit the competition.

This means that the clue was informative—and our resident Real Housewives expert, Jenny McCarthy, was correct, tying her with Robin for the lead with three accurate guesses… out of nine unmasked celebrities. Are these our experts?

The Masked Singer continues next Wednesday with “Decades Night” for the Group C Finals at 8 p.m. ET on Fox.