Who is Crane on 'The Masked Singer'? Wild Card clues from season 14 point to a '90s icon
Well, hello there, Wild Card energy. Just when everyone thought they had the rhythm of season 14 figured out, 'The Masked Singer' decided to toss in a new face with wings. The January 21 episode, which was all about the 'Clueless Night', introduced Crane as the Wild Card competitor. And she didn't tiptoe into the competition. She dove full force. Crane took on Whitney Houston's 'It's Not Right But It's Okay', which was quite a daring choice for anyone, anywhere. Still, she handled it like someone who has lived inside big moments before. From the first note, this wasn't any beginner testing the waters.
The vocals were controlled but confident, and smooth but sharp where that was required. The judges noticed immediately. So did the audience. Her clue package suggests a career shaped by the 1990s, hinting at someone who came up during that era and didn't just pass through it quietly. There were mentions of music, movies, and prime-time television, all sitting comfortably on the same resume. In audio clues, it was revealed that, "Whether it's primetime, film, or billions of streams—I've brushed wings with Janet [Jackson], Michelle [Obama], and even Angelina [Jolie] is a fan." Not millions. Billions.
Robin Thicke, Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg, Ken Jeong, and Rita Ora began tossing out names as the clues stacked up. As per Just Jared, Misty Copeland came up. So did Ashanti. Mýa was also mentioned, and that guess landed with a little more weight than the rest. Crane also spoke about having to "work 10 times harder just to be seen," and about moments where confidence "shattered." She told how she eventually stepped back and decided to take full control of her own career. Interestingly, Crane appeared with pink ballet slippers on stage. She also commented about never being the "one to shy away from center stage."
That hints straight to someone known not only for singing, but for dancing at a level that sets her apart from many of her peers. Add in origami birds scattered throughout the package, along with repeated references to flying solo and trusting her "own wings." Then there was a diamond, a sugar bowl, and a Christmas nutcracker. It seemed like Crane was telling without spelling anything out too cleanly. Vocally, the performance sealed it for many viewers. The songs of Houston do not allow for any weakness, and Crane passed with such ease as if such songs had always been a rightful place within her register.
That tone and that control all point toward someone who has done this for decades. Which is why the Mýa theory is the most believable, according to Gold Derby. Her career checks every box hinted at during Crane's debut: from a breakout run in the late 90s to crossover success in film and television, to later choosing independence and building a career on her own rules. It lines up. For now, Crane remains masked. Whether the judges lock in the right name soon or keep chasing red herrings, it remains to be seen.