Season 13 of The Masked Singer wrapped up on Wednesday night (May 7), and it was a country music icon who walked away with the top prize!
For just the second time in the show’s history, a country artist has claimed the title. Following Season 4’s LeAnn Rimes, this season’s champion boasts an impressive career in country music.
Four masked celebrities remained in the competition heading into the grand finale after surviving weeks of intense battles.
In case you’re new to the show, The Masked Singer invites celebrities from all areas of entertainment to perform in elaborate costumes while a panel of judges tries to uncover their identities through a mix of vocals and clues.
Each week, judges and the audience vote for their favorite performer. The star with the fewest votes is unmasked, and this process continues until the last singer standing is revealed as the winner.
So, who made it to the final showdown?
The final four were Coral, Mad Scientist Monster, Pearl, and Boogie Woogie. As the season went on, many country music fans suspected that two of the finalists were country stars in disguise. Theories included Pearl being “Redneck Woman” singer Gretchen Wilson, and Mad Scientist Monster as Florida Georgia Line’s Brian Kelley. Were they right?
During the finale, each finalist had one last chance to impress the judges and audience with a performance.
Coral kicked things off with a touching version of “Moon River” by Audrey Hepburn from Breakfast at Tiffany’s. The panel had previously guessed her to be Ashley Tisdale, Selena Gomez, Dove Cameron, or Anna Kendrick.
Pearl followed up with an energetic performance of “Black Horse and a Cherry Tree” by KT Tunstall. Her identity had been a topic of debate all season, with guesses ranging from Shania Twain to Madonna, Faith Hill, Natalie Maines, and Trisha Yearwood.
Next up was Boogie Woogie, who belted out George Michael’s “Freedom.” The judges had been going back and forth all season on who he could be, but their final consensus leaned toward Andy Grammer.
Finally, Mad Scientist Monster took the stage with a powerful rendition of Sugarland’s “Stay.” Judges made their last-minute guesses, including Kane Brown, Brian Kelley, Sam Hunt, and Trace Adkins.
After the initial round of performances, the votes were tallied—and Mad Scientist Monster was eliminated.
The reveal? It was indeed Brian Kelley of Florida Georgia Line!
After a break, third place was announced—and it went to Coral, who was revealed to be Zombies actress Meg Donnelly.
That left Pearl and Boogie Woogie to battle it out one last time. Boogie Woogie chose Lewis Capaldi’s “Love The Hell Out Of You,” while Pearl delivered a moving performance of “I’ll Stand By You” by The Pretenders, earning a standing ovation.
And the winner of Season 13 is… PEARL!
But before her identity was revealed, Boogie Woogie had to take off his mask—confirming that he was indeed the multi-platinum artist Andy Grammer.
Then came the moment of truth: behind the Pearl mask was none other than country star Gretchen Wilson!
“The Masked Singer is such an incredible show. I’ve had a tough few years—I was injured, in a wheelchair at one point. There was a time I wasn’t sure I’d make it back,” Wilson shared emotionally after her unmasking. “This show reminded me that I’m capable of anything.”
She also gave credit to her daughter, saying she likely wouldn’t have taken the leap without her encouragement. “This is one for the books. I’m overwhelmed,” she said.
After the episode aired, Gretchen shared a photo of her trophy and costume gloves on social media with the caption, “What an amazing night.”
What does the Masked Singer winner actually receive?
While there’s no cash prize or charity donation, the winner gets a trophy and some serious bragging rights. The judge who correctly identifies the most masked celebrities takes home the Golden Ear trophy.
Newsweek reports that while contestants don’t win money, they are paid to participate, including a signing fee and weekly appearance payments.
Huge congratulations to Gretchen Wilson for her unforgettable win on The Masked Singer!
Catch her winning moment in the video below.