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.

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.

Nine children to be returned to their families in Russia and Ukraine in the latest humanitarian exchange.

Nine Russian and Ukrainian children will be returned to their families this week in the latest humanitarian exchange between Kyiv and Moscow mediated by Qatar.

Russian Commissioner for Children, Maria Lvova-Belova, told reporters on Thursday that seven children, aged six to 16, will be sent from Russia to live with close relatives in Ukraine.

Lvova-Belova said the children had been living in Russia under varying circumstances. Most were living with a grandparent, she said, although one 16-year-old boy was living in a Russian orphanage.

Two boys, aged seven and nine, will also be returned to Russia after living in Ukraine for several years with a parent, she said.

Qatar said in a statement that its role as a mediator in the return of the children was “an extension of its approach to mediation and conflict resolution through peaceful means, in accordance with the principles of international law”.

Earlier this year, Qatar also helped to negotiate the return of 22 additional children to their families in Ukraine.

قطر تعلن عن نجاح وساطتها في لم شمل دفعة جديدة من الأطفال مع عائلاتهم في روسيا وأوكرانيا#الخارجية_القطرية pic.twitter.com/wqfZFBumwp

— الخارجية القطرية (@MofaQatar_AR) November 28, 2024

Translation: Qatar announces the success of its mediation in reuniting a new batch of children with their families in Russia and Ukraine.

The latest exchange of children follows claims by Ukraine that more than 20,000 children have been taken to Russia or Russian-occupied territory without the consent of a parent or guardian since the war began.

The removal of the children from Ukraine forms the basis of a 2023 arrest warrant issued for Lvova-Belova and Russian leader Vladimir Putin by the International Criminal Court.

The court said it had found “reasonable grounds” to believe the pair were responsible for the war crime of unlawful deportation and unlawful transportation of children in occupied Ukraine to Russia.

Moscow has denied the charges and said it has moved children out of combat zones for their safety.

Russia and Ukraine have been at war since February 2022 following Putin’s all-out invasion of the country.

More than one million Russians and Ukrainians have been either killed or wounded since the war began, according to a recent report by US media outlet The Wall Street Journal, citing unnamed intelligence sources.

The US is reportedly pressuring Ukraine to lower the age of conscription from 25 to 18 – something Kyiv has been reluctant to do so far.

Ukraine’s military capability is also under threat following the election earlier this month of Donald Trump as the next US president. The US has supplied Ukraine with more than $64.1bn in military aid since 2022, but Trump has indicated he wants to end the war, which many see as requiring a settlement that will be to Kyiv’s disadvantage.

In advance of his departure from the White House in January, President Joe Biden recently announced an additional $725m in military aid to Ukraine.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Super Bowl pregame will have some Louisiana flavor: Multi-talented performer Jon Batiste will hit the stage to sing the national anthem, while Trombone Shorty and Lauren Daigle are slated to perform “America the Beautiful.”

The performances will take place Feb. 9 at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans before the NFL’s championship matchup and halftime show featuring rap megastar Kendrick Lamar, the league announced Thursday.

“We’re honored to work with this year’s pregame lineup to celebrate the rich musical legacy of New Orleans and the entire state,” said Seth Dudowsky, the head of music at the NFL.

Ledisi will perform “ Lift Every Voice and Sing ” as part of the pregame performances that will air on Fox. The pregame performers are all Louisiana natives.

The national anthem and “America the Beautiful” will be performed by actor Stephanie Nogueras in American sign language.

Otis Jones IV will sign “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” and the halftime show will be signed by Matt Maxey.

Jay-Z’s Roc Nation company and Emmy-winning producer Jesse Collins will serve as co-executive producers of the halftime show.

Batiste is a Grammy and Oscar winner who is the former bandleader for the “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.” His documentary “American Symphony” is nominated for best music film, and his “It Never Went Away” from the documentary is up for best song written for visual media at the upcoming Grammys. He composed the score for Jason Reitman’s film “Saturday Night” and this month released “ Beethoven Blues (Batiste Piano Series, Vol. 1),” which reimagined the iconic German pianist’s work.

Trombone Shorty, a Grammy winner known for blending funk, soul, R&B and rock, has toured with major acts such as Lenny Kravitz, Red Hot Chili Peppers and the Foo Fighters. Daigle made her way as a contemporary Christian singer, winning two Grammys for her 2018 song “You Say” from her third studio album, “Look Up Child.”

Ledisi won a Grammy for her 2020 single “Anything for You.” She also appeared in the films “Leatherheads,” “Spinning Gold” and the Oscar-nominated “Selma.”