This post contains spoilers from the season 8 finale ofThe Masked Singer.
The Masked Singermanaged to crown a season 8 victor on Wednesday, despite it being “the toughest finale ever,” according toKen Jeong.
His fellow judgesJenny McCarthy,Nicole ScherzingerandRobin Thickehelped make the winning call between finalists Harp and Lambs. Each act took the stage twice, with their second performances reimagining a classic pop song.
Harp kicked off finale night. “Being under the mask has allowed me to separate myself from former jobs, my name, what people expect from me and prove myself with just my voice,” she said in her clue package.
Harp beltedLady Gaga’s “The Edge of Glory.”
The panel suggested Harp might beFantasia Barrino,Yvette Nicole Brown,Jennifer Hudson,Amber Riley,Jill ScottorJordin Sparks.
Lambs — who revealed in their clue package that they call themselves Rose, Lilac and Blueberry because of their dress colors — followed up withChaka Khan’s “I’m Every Woman.”
Michael Becker / FOX
“That was a brilliant song choice for you Lambs because you three are the true embodiment of women supporting women,” said Scherzinger, 44.
The Chicks, theKardashian sistersandWilson Phillipsall came up as possibilities for the trio’s identity.
“This is basically a dead heat,” Jeong, 53, said of the close competition.
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Before returning to perform their reimagined classic, Lambs said in their pre-taped intro, “We spent 14 years apart and we went our own ways. We became mothers and carved out our own lives and careers.”
“You want to know what love is? You’re going to see it when you guys winThe Masked Singer,” McCarthy told Lambs.
HostNick Cannonasked Lambs what winning would mean to them. “We have little lambs at home, and we wanted to make them really proud of us,” Lilac said.
“That is hands down one of the best things we’ve ever heard on this stage. Ever,” said Thicke, 45.
Scherzinger agreed. “You’re truly one of the best that has every graced our stage,” she said to Harp.
Harp appreciated the praise. “It just means a lot of be validated,” she said. “I’ve been through a lot in this industry and sometimes you forget who you are and sometimes you need people to remind you.”
Once the judges and studio audience voted for their favorite performer of the night, Cannon announced that Harp received the most votes and would be crowned theMasked Singerseason 8 champ.
“It feels so amazing,” she said. “I’m so excited.”
Before Harp revealed her identity, Lambs unmasked. Thicke’s guess of Wilson Phillips turned out to be correct, as Chynna Phillips andCarnieand Wendy Wilson popped out from under the oversized bonnets.
Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty, Michael Becker / FOX
“Do you know how great it is to have the mask of and talk right now?” asked Carnie, 54. “It was so wonderful. What an honor. This thing was a trip!”
Finally, it came time for winner Harp to unmask. Scherzinger had it right with her suggestion ofGleealum Amber Riley.
“This has been such an amazing experience just to be able to come out here and be completely covered and let my talent speak for itself,” the actress, 36, said after taking off her mask. “And the love that I have for people and wanting people to heal and feel what it is that I’m saying. So I hope everybody felt my soul because I bared it right here on this stage.”
Unique Nicole/Getty, Michael Becker / FOX
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When Cannon, 42, asked Riley for her words of advice, she shared a message of persistence.
“Whatever it is that you want in this life, go after it,” she said. “It may be hard, it may be a rocky journey, but at the end of that journey it will totally and completely be worth it, so keep going.”
source: people.com
