The Masked Singer 9: Who is California Roll? Very Likely a Fan Favorite Singing Show Champ
The Masked Singer season 9 closed out its first round with a battle between reigning champ Medusa and new contender California Roll. The latter prevailed, while the judges chose the former to compete later for a wildcard.
Medusa had a strong run, but she was up against the first ever Masked Singer five member costume–the most ever in the history of the show. While the identity of Medusa has stumped the judges so far, California Roll is just TOO EASY to figure out. The group performed two unique arrangements of Lady Gaga’s Paparazzi and Billy Joel’s Uptown Girl. The group’s distinct harmonies cannot be denied…
California Roll is without a doubt Sing-Off winners Pentatonix
….California Roll is absolutely the winners of The Sing-Off season 3, Grammy Award winners Pentatonix!
Check out their rendition of Lady Gaga’s Paparazzi, and notice that afterward, judges Robin Thicke and Jenny McCarthy guess California Roll’s identity right away!
The first elimination sent Polar Bear aka Grandmaster Flash home leaving Medusa and California Roll to battle it out for a spot in the next round. The two both sang their own rendition of “Uptown Girl” by Billy Joel. It’s a song that lends itself better to pop than to Medusa’s style–alternative rock. (Fans have Medusa’s identity figured out as well. Read our Recap for a recap and predictions.)
The judges–Robin, Jenny, Ken Jeong and Nicole Scherzinger–chose California Roll as the winner. The group will compete in the quarterfinals later on in the season. But meanwhile, the judges didn’t want to let Medusa go, saving her for a special Wildcard round.
California Roll tried hard to disguise their identity by exaggerating and distorting their voices. But it’s clearly Pentatonix. The clues give them away too.
The clues give Pentatonix away
Clues explained:
- Pentatonix are currently based in Los Angeles
- Kirstin Maldonado starred in Kinky Boots on Broadway
- Pentatonix “Group Project” was put together expressly to audition for acapella competition The Sing-Off in 2011
- During the pandemic, when the group couldn’t tour, Mitch Grassi began DJing
- The tiger clue: Pentatonix’s Sing-Off “victory song” was “Eye of the Tiger.”
- Pentatonix sang “Jolene” with Dolly Parton on The Voice, and did Tik Toks with Snoop
- Traveling to Los Angeles on “the 10.” The ten runs from Texas to California. Kirstin, Mitch and Scott Hoying, were high school chums in Arlington TX.
- Ken Olusola got married to Leigh Weissman in 2019.
- Their onstage clue mentions “billions…but who counting” a nod to the massive streams their Youtubes and other socials have amassed over the years.
What do you think? Is California Roll Pentatonix?
