Halloween has been over for weeks, but the costumes are still coming off on Fox’s The Masked Singer.
The show will unmask its Season 12 winner Wednesday at 7 p.m. CT on FOX. Wasp and Buffalo – a trio of Buffalos – remain in contention. And while theories abound about the identities of both acts, nothing will be confirmed until the masks come off Wednesday night.
In the meantime, here’s a look at some country singers who have toned their twang on the popular reality singing competition – starting with this season’s Jana Kramer.
Kramer spent a week-and-a-half filming the show over the summer just before she flew to Scotland to get married and was the ninth eliminated.
“I pretty much knew I wasn’t going to make it to the quarterfinals,” Kramer told Gold Derby. “I know I’m not the best singer. I was surprised how well I did. When I was hearing the other contestants singing, I was like, ‘I’m definitely not gonna make it all the way.’ I’m very competitive so I was like, ‘Maybe I need to rearrange my songs.’ But then I was just like, ‘Go out there and have fun. That’s exactly what I did.”
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5 Unmasked Country Singers:
Hunter Hayes
The “Wanted” singer appeared as Astronaut in Season 3 of The Masked Singer and finished in sixth place.
“It was a great chance for me to step out of my comfort zone and try new things in a safe place — even though it airs on national TV,” Hayes told Variety then. “I think being behind a mask gave me confidence and gave me the chance to really push myself.”
Clues to Hayes’ identity on The Masked Singer: 1. The Orion constellation in Astronaut’s package is a clue to Hunter’s name. Orion is a hunter. 2. The bridge in his package is a clue to Hayes’ hometown of Breaux Bridge, Louisiana. 3. When Astronaut said he got help from the mob, it was a clue to “Godfather” star Robert Duvall, who gave Hayes his first guitar.
LeAnn Rimes
The record-breaking multi-platinum-selling singer and actress portrayed the Sun on Season 4 and won the show with her undeniable vocal prowess.
“I was afraid of doing the show at first because I was thinking for sure people are going to know my voice,” Rimes told Entertainment Weekly. “There’s no way of disguising that. People play the game very differently. I know Aloe really disguised his voice, and I was thinking it’s so hard for me to disguise my voice, and if I did, I probably wouldn’t do it justice.”
Clues to Rimes’ identity on The Masked Singer: 1. The blue clues in Sun’s package, such as blueberries and the blue butterfly, were hints at Rimes’ breakthrough hit, “Blue.” 2. The Jaguar was a nod at Rimes’ children’s book called “JAG.” 3. A fire-breathing super clue was indicative of her album, “Spitfire.”
Clint Black and Lisa Hartman Black
The country couple dressed as Snow Owls competed together and came in 10th on season 4.
“We had never done anything like this, so we really leaned on each other,” Hartman Black told People. “I was holding his hand. He was holding my hand a lot. We had little signals where we’d touch each other. We knew it meant like, ‘Turn and look at me.’ The compatibility certainly where this was concerned was really, really good.”
Clues to the couple’s identity on The Masked Singer: 1. The hobby horse in Snow Owls’ package pointed at “Flicka: Country Pride” in which they starred. 2. The long branch in Snow Owls’ package leans into Black’s hometown, Long Branch, NJ. 3. The pearl references their daughter’s name, Lily Pearl.
Sara Evans
The “Suds in the Bucket Missouri native finished in 20th place on Season 9 as Mustang.
“I would have never done a country song just because I think it would have been so, so recognizable,” Evans told Entertainment Weekly. She was eliminated after covering Whitesnake. “I love to show people that I’m not just a country singer. I can literally sing any genre of music.
Clues to Evans’ identity on The Masked Singer: 1. She said that she died more times than she could count, referring to getting hit by a car when she was 8 years old. 2. The magazine nodded at her inclusion in People’s “50 Most Beautiful People.” 3. The bucket of soap was a reference to her song “Suds in the Bucket.”
John Schneider
The Dukes of Hazzard actor finished 2nd as Donut on Season 10 soon after the death of his wife.
“What an amazing opportunity to be able to honor Alicia, to honor people who are grieving, maybe educate people who are grieving a little bit, in front of millions of people,” Schneider told PEOPLE. “I’m a pretty strong guy, but I’m also a very emotional guy. Being out there on that stage dressed like a donut, singing some of the greatest songs ever written, and having people respond to the songs and the performance with no notion that it was me, really, really helped John Schneider.”
Clues to Schneider’s identity on The Masker Singer: 1. The bow was a clue to his Bo Duke character in The Dukes of Hazzard. 2. “Get out of Dodge” referred to the orange 1969 Dodge Charger named The General Lee that he drove on The Dukes of Hazzard. 3. He said he called the deceased love of his life his Smile, which is what Schneider called his wife.
(Photo by FOX via Getty Images)
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