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‘Masked Singer’ Reveals Ship as Paula Cole in Season 12: All of the Clues and Guesses Before the Reveal
Ship set sail on The Masked Singer with showstopping performances in season 12 of the celebrity singing competition show. Ship was revealed to be Paula Cole in episode 3 after a series of dynamite performances.
Clues for Ship on ‘The Masked Singer’
In her very first clue package, Ship said that she had massive hits that made history but ultimately lost control. She became lost at sea and felt forgotten. The camera panned to a wanted poster, which left judge Jenny McCarthy scratching her head.
Ship said it has taken her years to find her way back to the shore. The mysterious masked figure also said that she is in “uncharted waters,” which was one of many nautical puns in her clue package. Could this be someone who was on a show based on a cruise ship or beach?
She performed “Pompeii” by Bastille for her debut performance on the show, blowing the judges away with her impressive vocals.
Judge Robin Thicke said, “I know that voice,” once he heard Ship sing for the first time.
In episode 2, Ship said that in high school, she was the star cheerleader, class president and prom queen. She injured her foot and had to sit on the sidelines for a year. Her frustration led her to playing the piano. Music became her therapy and her “paradise.” It has been a “healing source” for her. She mentioned that she wears leather boots.
In episode 3, Ship said, “I’ve always twisted my heading, even when it was risky.” She said that there was a time she felt herself shipwrecked and broke, living off of a $2 burrito a day. “Half for lunch, half for dinner,” she said.
Ship said she jumped at the chance to sing backup on an international tour when she was younger. There was a picture of a rowboat in the clue package. She realized she had her own story to tell and wanted to sing her own truth. There was a picture of John Wayne. She said that taking a risk started the tidal wave of her career. She said being on The Masked Singer was so unlike her, but its been so rewarding.
There was a time capsule clue, which was a note congratulating her for her Best New Artist win in 1998. It was signed by LeAnn Rimes.
Who Is Ship’s ‘Masked Singer’ Ambassador?
This season, each of the contestants will be introduced by a Masked Singer Ambassador, someone who has competed on the show who knows them. Ship’s Masked Singer Ambassador is season 6 winner Jewel, who won the show as Queen of Hearts.
This implied that Ship was a staple in the music industry and was probably a singer-songwriter. The judges assumed that Ship and Jewel must have been close friends or collaborators. Her ambassador’s gift was a cowboy hat.
Inside the Judges’ Guesses for Ship on ‘The Masked Singer’
Judge Rita Ora guessed that it could be Cyndi Lauper behind the mask in episode 1. Jenny McCarthy thought it could be someone like Joan Osborne because she believed Ship’s tone sounded like Joan’s voice in “One of Us.”
Robin guessed that it could be singer-songwriter Enya or singer Sarah McLachlan. All of the judges were kind of all on the same page in thinking Ship was a singer.
In episode 2, Ship performed “Almost Paradise” by Mike Reno and Ann Wilson. After the performance, there was an additional clue for Ship. It was a locker with photos of Whoopi Goldberg, Kevin Bacon and Melisssa Ethridge. Ship said she’s three degrees away from Kevin, she is connected to Melissa, who is connected to Whoopi, who starred in Destination Anywhere with Kevin.
Rita guessed Kate Bush and Sarah McLachlan. Robin said Amy Grant but thought the piano meant it was Sarah because that’s what she’s known for. Ken guessed Sheryl Crow, which fans in the audience disagreed with.
In episode three, Jenny correctly guessed Paula Cole after her performance of Because the Night by Patti Smith
Fan Guesses for Ship on ‘The Masked Singer’
On YouTube, a couple of Masked Singer fans boldly guessed in comments that Ship was Cher. However, there were some who were the right track in guessing Tracy Chapman. But the most popular fan guess by far was Annie Lennox.
They thought the costume was a huge clue that pointed to Ship being Annie. She has a song called “Into the West” from The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.
“#ShipMask’s performance gave me the first set of chills of the season! I believe that she is the legendary Annie Lennox! #TheMaskedSinger,” one person wrote on X.
Another said, “THAT’S ANNIE LENNOX!!! #maskedsinger #themaskedsinger.”
Another post on X said, “I’m feeling Paula Cole for the Ship #TheMaskedSinger”
But, it was Paula all along, and her identity was revealed in episode 3!
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