'The Masked Singer' Season 14 reveals show's first-ever contestant amid bold new format twist
With its extravagant costumes and unique premise, 'The Masked Singer' is all set to make a comeback with season 14. The highly anticipated season will feature host Nick Cannon, along with judges Robin Thicke, Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg, Ken Jeong, and Rita Ora. Adding to the growing hype, the makers recently revealed the first contestant of the show, and it comes with a fun little twist.
A recent Instagram post revealed that 'The Masked Singer' season 14 'Insider' is Kylie Cantrall, known for playing Red in 'Descendants: The Rise of Red.' She continued the role in the stop-motion short 'Wickedly Sweet' and 'Shuffle of Love' and will return in the 2026 film 'Descendants: Wicked Wonderland,' as per Screen Rant. The casting is surprising because Ora played Cantrall's on-screen mother (the Queen of Hearts) in 'Descendants: The Rise of Red.'
Their familiarity, especially Ora knowing Cantrall's voice, adds an interesting twist that may help unveil her identity on the show. In a 'The Masked Singer' Instagram post, Cantrall announced that she'll take fans behind the scenes as the show's first-ever Insider. She explained, "I'll be working for you and sharing my strategy to throw off Nick, Robin, Jenny, Ken, and my on-screen mom, Rita. They have no idea this is happening. It's the biggest secret ever!" For the uninitiated, this season's introduction of 'America's Insider' allows audiences to discover the identity of one of the singers.
Cantrall shared her excitement about joining the show in this new role, saying, "The Masked Singer has always been one of my favorite shows, and I'm so excited to be a part of it, especially as America's Insider. It's never been done before, and I can't believe I'm doing it." Earlier, Fox had released a teaser for 'The Masked Singer' Season 14, showing a mysterious figure in the signature "Don't talk to me" hoodie and face shield worn by contestants offstage, as per The Sun.
The clip announced the show's new twist. "For the first time in The Masked Singer history, you'll know who is under one of the masks. And you'll be able to follow their journey, as no one on the cast or crew knows," the text in the post read. The teaser also announced that more information will be revealed on Wednesday, December 10. Notably, 'The Masked Singer' traditionally works by having disguised celebrities perform while judges, the studio audience, and viewers at home remain unaware of their identities.
A contestant's identity is only revealed when they're eliminated and remove their mask onstage, and beforehand, only a small group of crew members know who they are. However, this long-standing format seems to be changing in the upcoming season after the show’s surprising new announcement.
