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‘The Masked Singer’ Reveals Identities of Royal Knight and Sherlock Hound: Here Are the Celebrities Under the Costumes

Published

1 year ago

November 29, 2024

‘The Masked Singer’ Reveals Identities of Royal Knight and Sherlock Hound: Here Are the Celebrities Under the Costumes

SPOILER ALERT: Details follow for Season 12, Episode 9 of “The Masked Singer,” “Peanuts Night,” which aired Thursday, November 28 on Fox.

It was a dual elimination on a special Thursday edition of “The Masked Singer,” as the show celebrated both Thanksgiving and the Peanuts characters by eliminating both the Royal Knight and Sherlock Hound. Royal Knight was revealed to be the singer and actress Jana Kramer (“One Tree Hill”) while Sherlock Hound was unmasked as former baseball player Bronson Arroyo.

The Royal Knight was the first to be unmasked. Among the show’s panelists, Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg got it right with Jana Kramer. Rita Ora said Anna Faris. Ken Jeong thought it was Kelly Ripa. Robin Thicke named Busy Philipps.

Then, Strawberry Shortcake and Sherlock Hound competed in a battle royale, performing “Shivers,” by Ed Sheeran. Strawberry Shortcake won and moved on to the quarterfinals, while Sherlock Holmes was unmasked.

For Sherlock Holmes, Robin Thicke and Ken Jeong both got it right with Bronson Arroyo. Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg went with Scott Stapp of the group Creed. Rita Ora said it was Hozier.

In their final regular performances, Kramer sang “Holiday,” by Madonna, while Arroyo performed “Ho Hey,” by The Lumineers.

Peanuts night, “The Masked Singer” (Michael Becker/Fox)

It was “Peanuts Night” on the show — celebrating “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving,” and also next year’s 75^th anniversary of the “Peanuts” comic strip, which launched in 1950. The show opened with the “Masked Singer” panelists and costumed Peanuts characters around the Thanksgiving dinner table, followed by Rita Ora and Robin Thicke performing “You Make My Dreams Come True” by Daryl Hall and John Oates.

Jana Kramer as Royal Knight and Bronson Arroyo as Sherlock Hound join Drake Bell as Ice King, Bethany Hamilton as Macaron, Natalie Imbruglia as Bluebell, Laverne Cox as Chess Piece, Andy Richter as Dusty Bunny, Paula Cole as Ship, Marsai Martin as Woodpecker, Yvette Nicole Brown as Showbird and John Elway as Leaf Sheep as the celebrities unmasked on “The Masked Singer” Season 12.

Back for Season 12 are host Nick Cannon, alongside panelists Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg, Ken Jeong and Robin Thicke, while Ora also returned to the desk for the second consecutive season to fill in for Nicole Scherzinger.

“The Masked Singer” Season 12 themed episodes include tributes to Mattel’s Barbie as it hits its 65th anniversary, and the film “Footloose” as it marks its 40th anniversary. Miley Cyrus will also be honored with an episode devoted to her music catalog, while also new is a “Who Are You Fest,” featuring music from “memorable festival lineups,” as well as a “Sports Night” and a “60’s Night.” Tentpole themes that are back include “Soundtrack of My Life” and “Thanksgiving Night.”

New this season, clues will be “strategically embedded in costumes, in song choices and on-stage moments.” And the fifteen celebrity contestants will be endorsed by a “celebrity Masked Ambassador,” made up of previous participants including Dick Van Dyke (Season 9’s Gnome), Jewel (Season 6 winner as the Queen of Hearts), Ne-yo (Season 10 winner as the Cow) and DeMarcus Ware (Season 11’s Koala). And the “Ding Dong Keep It On” bell is also back this morning, but only one singer across the three group finals can be saved.

Season 12 features 15 contestants performing in new costumes including “Ship,” “Leaf Sheep,” “Woodpecker,” “Chess Piece,” “Bluebell,” “Buffalo,” “Showbird,” “Dust Bunny,” “Goo,” “Strawberry Shortcake,” “Sherlock Hound,” “Royal Knight,” “Ice King,” “Macaron” and more.

Here were the final round of Group C performances on Thursday’s Episode 9, “Thanksgiving Night”:

Strawberry Shortcake

Song: “I Hope You Dance,” by Lee Ann Womack

Panel guesses: Kelsea Ballerini, Hailee Steinfeld, Selena Gomez

Thanksgiving giving clue: Mouse ears. “Mouse ears were instrumental in how I got my start.”

Strawberry Shortcake voiceover: “Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. And I have some pretty sweet memories. Like even being in the big parade! But my fondest? Just being at home in the kitchen with my mom. Growing up, we sang together constantly. Like, at the top of our lungs. We’d harmonize and she had the most beautiful voice. She gave me the guts to go for my dreams. Even when I was scared. And I’m so thankful that she did. But, over the years I saw her lose her own confidence to sing. Her stage fright took over. It was heartbreaking to see. And to this day, I miss hearing her voice. I would give anything to hear her sing again. Now, the tables have turned, and this song is for her. And if seeing me dressed as a delectable dessert on Thanksgiving gives her the one day to do the same, that would be the icing on the cake.”

Previous songs: “Slow Burn,” by Kacey Musgraves; “Wrecking Ball,” by Miley Cyrus

Previous panel guesses: Renee Rapp, Lana del Rey, Rachel Ziegler, Chloe Fineman, Hilary Duff, Ashley Tisdale

Royal Knight

Song: “Holiday,” by Madonna

Panel guesses: Anna Faris, Busy Philipps, Jana Kramer

Thanksgiving giving clue: “Best-selling author.” “I act, I sing, I live my life to the fullest. And I even wrote a best-selling book all about it.”

Royal Knight voiceover: “I have more to be thankful for than ever before, because finally I’m living my happily ever after. Tonight my knight’s table will truly be a feast to behold. First, there’s my eldest, who helps cut the turkey so loving and kind. Then, my middle child who sets the table, my sensitive sweet little soul mate. And this year, I’ll celebrate with our miracle baby I never thought was possible. Who will get to eat pumpkin pie for the very first time. It’s days like this that I realize how far I’ve become from that shell of a girl I once was. I’ve been through a lot in life, judged and ridiculed and it’s taken me a long time to stand here bravely. And now I try to teach all my children to love themselves from the start. So this performance is for them. And thank you for making me the luckiest mom in the world. Because this holiday, everything I need is right here on my table.”

Previous songs: “You and I,” by Lady Gaga; “When I Look At You,” by Miley Cyrus

Previous panel guesses: Ashley Tisdale, Lily James, Hayden Panettiere, Amanda Seyfried, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Kate Hudson, Aubrey Plaza

Sherlock Hound

Song: “Ho Hey,” by The Lumineers

Panel guesses: Bronson Arroyo, Anthony Kiedis, Scott Stapp

Sherlock Hound voiceover: “Making it to the Group C finals and being a part of tonight’s holiday celebration has me feeling super grateful for new beginnings. I’ve been known to have a few, and I’m thankful to have them all. Exhibit A, my career. My stardom had an expiration date. Things were always destined to dry up. But instead of rolling over and playing dead, I learned new tricks. Exhibit B, my personal life. I always stay on the move, see, not looking for a forever home, but found one. Unexpectedly, with a rare breed. And now home is wherever she is. So yeah, in conclusion, I’m thankful for my life’s many chapters and especially for my new gal, my sweetheart. Making it to the next chapter of this competition, that would be a treat.”

Previous songs: “Under the Bridge,” by Red Hot Chili Peppers; “Used to Be Young,” by Miley Cyrus

Previous panel guesses: Eddie Vedder, Gavin Rossdale, Chad Kroeger, Brandon Boyd, Adam Levine, Johnny Rzeznik (of Goo Goo Dolls), Scott Stapp (of Creed), Hozier, Nate Ruess (of Fun)

Last season’s performers included Vanessa Hudgens, who won the Season 11 crown as Goldfish, beating out Scott Porter, who had performed as Gumball. Other performers included Thelma Houston (Clock), Chrissy Metz (Poodle Moth), Corey Feldman (Seal) and Clay Aiken/Ruben Studdard (Beets), Jenifer Lewis (Miss Cleocatra), Kate Flannery (Starfish), Charlie Wilson (Ugly Sweater), DeMarcus Ware (Koala), Colton Underwood (Love Bird), Sisqó (Lizard), Billy Bush (Sir Lion), Joe Bastianich (Spaghetti & Meatballs), Savannah Chrisley (Afghan Hound) and Kevin Hart (Book).

“The Masked Singer” comes from Fox Alternative Entertainment. Rosie Seitchik, Craig Plestis and Cannon are executive producers, while Seitchik serves as showrunner. The series is based on the South Korean format created by Mun Hwa Broadcasting Corp.

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World

How Sheila the three-wheeler dodged danger on a record 14,000-mile journey to tip of South Africa

Published

8 hours ago

April 21, 2026

Press Room

How Sheila the three-wheeler dodged danger on a record 14,000-mile journey to tip of South Africa

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — Englishman Ollie Jenks remembers when his friend first pitched the idea to him.

“It was so ridiculous I couldn’t say no,” Jenks said.

The proposal by Canadian buddy Seth Scott, a fellow lover of cars and crazy adventures, was for them to drive a decades-old British-made Reliant Robin car from London to the southern tip of Africa — a 14,000-mile (22,500-kilometer) journey through 22 countries — to set a record for the longest trip in a three-wheeled vehicle.

Reliant Robins have cultlike status in the U.K. as humble three-wheelers that, in Jenks’ words, were designed to go to the shops and back in 1970s Britain. They went out of production in the early 2000s but remain loved in British culture, especially after a Reliant appeared as the Trotter brothers’ trusty but battered yellow van in the hugely popular sitcom “Only Fools and Horses.”

Yet you couldn’t find a less suitable vehicle to take thousands of miles through tropical jungles, mountain ranges and deserts down the west side of Africa. And that’s precisely why Jenks went for the absurd plan.

Sheila the three-wheeler

Sheila, the silver three-wheeler — one of the last Reliant Robins to be built — was acquired specifically for the adventure. Jenks and Scott set off in October with a can of fuel and a few essential supplies strapped to Sheila’s small roof, and a large amount of blind hope that they would somehow make it to Cape Town, South Africa, near the bottom of the world.

“No power steering, no air con, and it doesn’t do well up hills or down them. It is the most unsuitable car for probably any journey,” Jenks said in an unkind assessment of Sheila’s abilities. “We made friends with the designer of this car, and he’s scared to take it any more than 20 miles.”

Jenks and Scott ignored all the advice and took Sheila on the epic journey over four-and-a-half months that cost in the region of $40,000 to $50,000, Jenks said. They had help from sponsors and crowd funding, and documented the journey on an Instagram page that pulled in nearly 100,000 followers under the title: “14,000 miles, 3 wheels, 0 common sense.”

Attempted coups and airstrikes

They arrived in Benin during an attempted coup. They skirted through northern Nigeria as the U.S. launched airstrikes on Islamic State targets. They were given a military escort for about 300 miles (480 kilometers) through a region of separatist violence in Cameroon.

“Imagine this car in a military convoy,” Jenks said.

And there were many brushes with traffic-related danger, including when an overtaking bus almost flattened Sheila against a cliff face in Congo.

True to form that Reliants are sometimes not so reliable, there were also countless breakdowns on the punishing roads.

Sheila needed her wheel springs replaced in the first two weeks. The gearbox broke in Ghana, leaving them with only fourth gear. In Cameroon, there were clutch and distributor problems and then the big one: the engine blew up.

Through all the technical problems, the kindness of strangers and the intrepidness of Jenks and Scott kept them going. One man got a new gearbox shipped to Ghana. Reliant enthusiasts in the U.K. helped find a new engine to send to Cameroon.

After one breakdown, people helped load Sheila onto a cattle truck so she could be taken to a garage. Mechanics across the continent screwed, hammered and welded Sheila to keep her together, sometimes shaking their heads at the madness of it all.

Where no Reliant Robin has gone before

But there were also majestic moments, the kind that Jenks and Scott had envisioned to make it all worth it.

Sheila cruised through stunning mountain ranges and vast deserts — where surely no Reliant Robin has gone before. She went on safari, driving alongside galloping giraffes, spotting endangered rhinos, and posing for a picture next to a giant elephant.

More than 120 days after setting off, she rattled into Cape Town last month on an engine that began badly overheating in the Namibian desert and had been touch and go for about 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers).

“This is a great underdog story,” said Graeme Hurst, a South African car lover who followed them on Instagram and came to see Sheila. “I see the farcical kind of comical nature of it … but also the sheer admiration. I mean, they have utter tenacity.”

In South Africa, Sheila was put on temporary display in a showroom for high-end cars and was the center of attention ahead of the glittering Porsches and Mercedes, showing off her broken side window, her petrol-stained windshield, her bent tire rims, and her countless dents and scratches.

She will rest now and be given the thorough service she deserves, Jenks said. Eventually, she’ll be driven to Kenya, put on a ship to Turkey, then make one last trip back to the U.K. to find a home at the London Transport Museum.

Jenks said he felt triumphant after reaching Cape Town, but relieved to have survived and finally be out of the tiny two-seater.

“It was like driving a motorized coffin,” he said.

___

AP Africa news: https://apnews.com/hub/africa

World

Pope Leo urges Africans to stay and ‘serve your country’ instead of migrating as displacement climbs

Published

9 hours ago

April 21, 2026

Press Room

Pope Leo urges Africans to stay and ‘serve your country’ instead of migrating as displacement climbs

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Pope Leo XIV last Friday urged African youth to work toward improving their own countries rather than migrating elsewhere in search of better opportunities.

The leader of the Roman Catholic Church directed his remarks to university students at the Catholic University of Central Africa in Yaoundé, the capital of Cameroon, during an 11-day apostolic journey in Africa.

“In the face of the understandable tendency to migrate — which may lead one to believe that elsewhere a better future may be more easily found — I invite you, first and foremost, to respond with an ardent desire to serve your country and to apply the knowledge you are acquiring here to the benefit of your fellow citizens,” Leo said.

While displacement in Africa has steadily increased in recent years amid economic and political challenges, Leo said each country’s rising generations should be “committed to society,” reflect their nations’ needs and confront systemic issues at home.

BISHOP ROBERT BARRON: WHAT LEO’S CHOICE OF NAME TELLS US ABOUT THE NEW POPE

Pope Leo XIV speaks as he meets with the community of Bamenda at Saint Joseph’s Cathedral in Bamenda on the fourth day of an 11-day apostolic journey to Africa April 16, 2026. (Alberto Pizzoli/AFP via Getty Images)

“Africa, indeed, must be freed from the scourge of corruption. For young people, this awareness must take root from their years of formation,” he said.

“These are the witnesses of wisdom and justice, of which the African continent needs.”

He added that through education and spiritual formation, “you learn to become builders of the future of your respective countries and of a world that is more just and humane.”

POPE LEO SAYS HE’S UNAFRAID OF THE TRUMP ADMIN AFTER PRESIDENT CALLS HIM ‘TERRIBLE’ ON FOREIGN POLICY

Pope Leo XIV delivers a speech during his visit to Central African Catholic University as part of his Africa tour April 17, 2026, in Yaoundé, Cameroon. (Ahmet Emin Donmez/Anadolu)

According to the World Migration Report, most of Africa’s displacement occurs internally within the continent, with 21 million Africans recorded as living in another African country in 2020.

Overseas African migration has also steadily increased, with figures more than doubling between 1990 and 2020.

In 2020, roughly 11 million Africans reportedly migrated to Europe, 5 million to Asia and 3 million to Northern America.

MORNING GLORY: LEO’S LAUNCH

Pope Leo XIV visits Central African Catholic University as part of his Africa tour April 17, 2026, in Yaoundé, Cameroon. (Ahmet Emin Donmez/Anadolu)

The causes of displacement are largely attributed to political conflict, corruption, violence and economic hardship, including widespread poverty.

These factors are particularly pronounced in countries such as Somalia, one of Africa’s largest sources of refugees; Nigeria, which is riddled with natural disasters and economic pressures; and Sudan’s surrounding areas, where civil war, political instability and food insecurity have driven large-scale displacement.

The Pope’s remarks come just days after President Donald Trump criticized Leo on Truth Social, calling him “weak on crime, and terrible for foreign policy.”

The backlash followed the pontiff’s criticism of the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran and his appeal for a return to peace.

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Tensions between the two boiled over several days before the Pope said last Saturday that it was “not in my interest at all” to debate the president.

Leo has insisted that his position is focused on bridging divides among nations and promoting peace and reconciliation.

Bonny Chu is a Digital Production Assistant at Fox News Digital.