Who is Pangolin on 'The Masked Singer'? Season 14 wild card clues point to a chart-topping singer
'The Masked Singer' Season 14, Episode 5 saved one of its surprises for later in the hour, introducing its final Wild Card competitor. The moment Pangolin appeared, the questions started stacking up fast. First, the obvious one: who is inside the suit? And second, equally urgent for many viewers: what exactly is a Pangolin? Turns out it's a real animal, native to parts of Africa and Asia. It's sometimes nicknamed a scaly anteater, which explains the pink tongue built into the design. Educational television. Kind of. Also, Pangolin's outfit did most of the talking before a single lyric was sung.
The costume had textured plating, complete with tall boots, and a flowing cape. For her debut, Pangolin performed Alanis Morissette's 'Ironic'. The panel quickly went into guessing mode. Robin Thicke, Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg, Ken Jeong, and Rita Ora all threw out possibilities with varying degrees of confidence. They circled possibilities like Sara Bareilles, Christina Perri, and Katy Perry. No one sounded fully locked in yet, but it looked like they were close. Even outside the studio, rumors began to fly, with Gold Derby hinting that the judges might actually be sniffing around the right answer this time.
One theory quickly picked up steam: Christina Perri. The evidence appeared to fall into place for her. Perri's package included her American roots, which led to a city "rich" in history, and many thought immediately of Philadelphia. This is important. Perri is from Philadelphia, and the city's passionate sports culture has always been a part of her background, with her family being avid about teams like the Eagles and Phillies. Sports references kept appearing. Again and again. There was also a thread about being the odd one out, being the artistic one in a family of athletes.
That matches Perri's own words over the years, where she has described herself as a theater kid trying to make a name for herself. One clue hinted at being laughed at by a boyfriend, which easily maps onto the early skepticism she faced before her career took off. Then there's the music history. Perri's breakout moment came suddenly in 2010 when 'Jar of Hearts' became popular after being featured on 'So You Think You Can Dance'. One day, she was waiting tables. The next morning, everything had changed. Overnight fame. A true American success story. That kind of rapid rise could explain the "winner" envelope clue.
Moreover, the "kissing booth" clue nudged some viewers toward Perri's reputation as the unofficial "Queen of Love Songs." 'A Thousand Years' has become a go-to choice for weddings, first dances, and romantic moments. However, not all share the same opinion. Parade suggested an entirely new theory, tending towards the "halftime queen" clue. This led the outlet to Gloria Estefan, who has performed at the Super Bowl halftime show on multiple occasions, tying with Justin Timberlake for the most performances. But there is a slight issue. The sports-heavy family clues don't quite click with Estefan's background, making that guess feel slightly off-center.
