Few TV guessing games keep audiences hooked like The Masked Singer, and season 13 delivered one of the most satisfying reveals yet. Gretchen Wilson took the trophy as Pearl on May 7, 2025, but the bigger story may be the judge shake‑up that followed Rita Ora’s exit.

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Premiere date: February 12, 2025 ·
Finale date: May 7, 2025 ·
Number of episodes: 13 ·
Winner: Pearl (Gretchen Wilson) ·
New judge added: Janet Caperna (confirmed for season 14)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact season 14 premiere date (expected late 2025 – early 2026)
  • Full season 14 contestant lineup
  • Whether Robin Thicke, Jenny McCarthy‑Wahlberg, and Ken Jeong will all return for season 14
3Timeline signal
4What’s next
  • Season 14 likely late 2025 or early 2026
  • New judge Janet Caperna (Bravo personality) takes Rita Ora’s seat
  • More celebrity reveals; keep an eye on Fox announcements

Sixteen masked contestants entered season 13. Here are the key season stats at a glance:

Category Detail
Premiere February 12, 2025
Finale May 7, 2025
Winner Gretchen Wilson (Pearl)
Network Fox
Number of contestants 16 masks

The implication: The show’s 13th season maintained the high-stakes guessing format that keeps viewers tuning in week after week.

Who was revealed on Masked Singer season 13?

Each week brought a new unmasking. The season built to a stacked finale with four finalists: Pearl, Boogie Woogie, Mad Scientist Monster, and Coral (LiveNOW from FOX local news affiliate).

Which celebrities were unmasked each week?

  • Pearl – Gretchen Wilson (winner)
  • Boogie Woogie – Andy Grammer (2nd place) (LiveNOW from FOX)
  • Mad Scientist Monster – Brian Kelley (4th place) (LiveNOW from FOX)
  • Coral – Meg Donnelly (3rd place) (LiveNOW from FOX)
  • Ant – Cedric the Entertainer (eliminated mid‑season) (Wikipedia)

The pattern: Season 13 stacked the finale with musical talent rather than pure comedians, a shift from earlier seasons that gave a clear edge to a country star with decades of vocal chops.

Who won season 13 of Masked Singer?

Gretchen Wilson, known for the 2004 smash “Redneck Woman”, took the Golden Mask trophy as Pearl. She performed eight times across the season (MusicRow country music industry), covering a wide range of material.

What was the final top three?

Pearl, Boogie Woogie (Andy Grammer), and Coral (Meg Donnelly) were the top three. Pearl’s final performances included Lesley Gore’s “You Don’t Own Me” in the top four, KT Tunstall’s “Black Horse and a Cherry Tree” in the top three, and The Pretenders’ “I’ll Stand By You” as her winning number (MusicRow).

Why this matters

Wilson’s victory proves that a seasoned country vocalist can out‑sing pop and Broadway contenders in a costume‑gimmick format – a pattern that could influence future casting decisions.

TL;DR: Gretchen Wilson’s win as Pearl signals that vocal experience trumps novelty acts in the Masked Singer format, a lesson Fox may apply to future seasons.

Why did Rita Ora quit Masked Singer?

Rita Ora left the U.S. version of The Masked Singer after season 13. According to Us Weekly celebrity news, her departure was attributed to scheduling conflicts, though some reports linked it to the backlash from her 2022 Halloween performance in Los Angeles.

What was the reason for her departure?

Ora’s team cited “conflicting commitments” for her exit. Fox did not issue an official statement beyond confirming she would not return for season 14 (Us Weekly).

What to watch

If scheduling was the real reason, Ora’s music tour dates and TV filming windows may simply have collided. But the controversy around her 2022 incident means her future reality‑TV judging roles remain uncertain.

The catch: Without an official Fox statement, the full story behind Ora’s exit remains ambiguous, leaving room for speculation about whether creative differences or external pressure played a role.

Who is replacing Rita Ora on Masked Singer?

Janet Caperna, a Bravo personality from The Valley and Vanderpump Rules, has been announced as the new season 14 panelist (Entertainment Tonight entertainment news).

Has a replacement been announced?

Yes. Fox confirmed Caperna’s addition in May 2025. She joins Robin Thicke, Jenny McCarthy‑Wahlberg, and Ken Jeong. No further casting changes have been announced (Entertainment Tonight).

The trade‑off: Caperna brings a reality‑TV fandom audience, but lacks the music‑industry perspective Ora provided. Whether that shifts the panel’s guessing accuracy remains to be seen.

Will there be a season 14 for Masked Singer?

Fox officially renewed The Masked Singer for a 14th season in May 2025, shortly after the season 13 finale (Entertainment Tonight).

When does season 14 start?

A premiere date has not been announced. Based on the show’s typical cycle, season 14 is expected to debut in late 2025 or early 2026. Fox has not disclosed the contestant lineup for season 14.

The pattern: Renewals are standard for the series, but the judge swap and a post‑season 13 cast reshuffle suggest Fox is testing a new format energy to keep ratings steady.

Who is Boogie Woogie on Masked Singer?

Andy Grammer, the pop singer known for “Honey, I’m Good,” competed as Boogie Woogie throughout season 13 and finished as runner‑up (LiveNOW from FOX).

Which contestant was Boogie Woogie?

Grammer was revealed in the finale after Pearl was crowned. Robin Thicke correctly guessed Pearl’s identity, but no judge successfully identified Boogie Woogie before the reveal (BroadwayWorld).

The implication: Boogie Woogie’s strong run shows the show still attracts established pop names, not just legacy acts. Grammer’s second‑place finish may boost future singer‑songwriter interest in the series.

Timeline: Season 13 at a glance

  • February 12, 2025 – Season 13 premiere (Wikipedia)
  • March 2025 – Rita Ora announces she will not return for season 14 (Us Weekly)
  • May 7, 2025 – Finale; Gretchen Wilson wins as Pearl (MusicRow)
  • May 2025 – Fox renews for season 14; Janet Caperna joins panel (Entertainment Tonight)

What this means: The timeline shows a rapid succession of events after the finale, indicating Fox’s confidence in the franchise despite the panel shakeup.

Clarity check: What we know vs. what’s still fuzzy

Confirmed facts

  • Season 13 aired Feb 12 – May 7, 2025 (Wikipedia)
  • Winner is Gretchen Wilson (Pearl) (BroadwayWorld)
  • Rita Ora left after season 13 (Us Weekly)
  • Season 14 is confirmed (Entertainment Tonight)

What’s unclear

  • Who will replace Rita Ora (answered: Janet Caperna – now confirmed, but originally unclear)
  • Exact premiere date of season 14
  • Full contestant list for season 14
  • Will all four remaining judges (Thicke, McCarthy‑Wahlberg, Jeong, Caperna) return for season 14?

What the contestants and producers said

“Gretchen Wilson was revealed as Pearl and won The Masked Singer Season 13.”

— BroadwayWorld theater news

“Rita Ora will not return to the U.S. version of The Masked Singer amid drama and scheduling conflicts.”

— Us Weekly celebrity news

“Janet Caperna has been announced as the new Season 14 judge on The Masked Singer.”

— Entertainment Tonight entertainment news

What season 13 means for the show’s future

Gretchen Wilson’s win adds a country‑music feather to the show’s cap, and the judge shake‑up with Janet Caperna signals a pivot toward reality‑TV cross‑promotion. For fans who love the guessing game, the biggest question is whether the new panel can keep the chemistry that made season 13 one of the strongest in recent years. For Fox, the decision to replace a pop star with a Bravo personality is a bet that audiences care more about banter than musical expertise. If season 14 ratings hold, the strategy works. If they slip, expect another panel reshuffle.

Additional sources

musicrow.com

For a detailed recap of every unmasked celebrity and the surprising elimination order, check out our full coverage of the finale.

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Frequently asked questions

When did The Masked Singer season 13 start?

Season 13 premiered on Fox on February 12, 2025 (Wikipedia).

How can I watch The Masked Singer season 13 online?

Episodes are available on Fox.com, Hulu, and on‑demand platforms with a cable or streaming subscription.

Who are the judges on season 13?

The panel consisted of Robin Thicke, Jenny McCarthy‑Wahlberg, Ken Jeong, and Rita Ora, with Nick Cannon as host (BroadwayWorld).

How many episodes are in season 13?

Season 13 had 13 episodes, airing weekly from February 12 to May 7, 2025.

What was the prize for winning season 13?

The winner receives the Golden Mask trophy but no cash prize – the show is primarily about the reveal and the bragging rights.

Did Rita Ora perform on season 13 before leaving?

Yes, Ora appeared as a judge for the entire season 13; her departure was announced after the finale.

Will the same judges return for season 14?

Robin Thicke, Jenny McCarthy‑Wahlberg, and Ken Jeong are expected to return. Janet Caperna replaces Rita Ora (Entertainment Tonight).

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