‘The Masked Singer’ Season 5: What to Know About the Judges

First premiering on FOX in 2019, The Masked Singer has become a phenomenon in the reality TV realm. While celebrities sing their hearts out while dressed incognito, the panel of judges is packed with four very famous — and now beloved — faces.

While viewers will be getting acquainted with new interim host Niecy Nash, who is taking Nick Cannon‘s place for an undisclosed amount of time after tested positive for coronavirus for its fifth season, they can still rely on the joy and hilarity that the original panel brings. Including the likes of Robin Thicke, Ken Jeong, Nicole Scherzinger, and Jenny McCarthy — each of whom has an impressive career spanning multiple years in the entertainment industry, here’s everything you need to know about the four stars.

Ken Jeong

Transitioning from medical school to becoming an actor that would be known for his roles in The Hangover, Knocked Up, and Crazy Rich Asians, Ken Jeong’s rise in Hollywood was quickly successful. In his latest role as a panelist on The Masked Singer, Jeong easily became known as the show’s comedic factor –– and going up against comedian Niecy Nash is no easy feat. 

Nicole Scherzinger

Before Nicole Scherzinger started guessing performers on the hit competition show, she was the lead singer in the pop girls group Eden’s Crush. The group was incredibly popular in the early 2000’s –– their debut single “Get Over Yourself” peaked at no. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100. However, the girls eventually disbanded due to the fall of their label London-Sire Records. Scherzinger then went on to join the Pussycat Dolls, again as a lead singer, where she stayed until she released her solo debut Killer Love in 2011. 

Following the release of her debut and a solo tour, she then made the transition to acting. Her largest appearance was a turn in Men in Black 3 and from there, she would go on to star as a judge on another competition show: X-Factor U.K. 

Robin Thicke

Robin Thicke, a Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter, has been working in the music industry since he was a teenager. He signed to Interscope records at 16 years old and his career would go on to reach R&B high heights, earning 15 Platinum records. He’s worked with Mary J. Blige, Lil Wayne, Michael Jackson, Marc Anthony, Pink, Usher, and others. He was married to Paula Patton for almost nine years (they’d been together for a total of 21 years). The couple divorced and he’s currently engaged to April Love Geary, with whom he shares three children: Mia Love Thicke, Lola Alain Thicke, and Luca Patrick Thicke.

Jenny McCarthy

Jenny McCarthy got her start in the industry working with Playboy Magazine. She earned the title of Miss October 1993 and eventually went on to become Playmate of the Year in 1994. After relocating to Los Angeles from Illinois, she began her acting career, which would later get her starring roles in Scream 3, Scary Movie 3, The Drew Carey Show, and more.