Since premiering on Fox in 2019, the musical guessing game series The Masked Singer has absolutely taken the world by storm. One of the highest-rated shows on television week after week, the competition series finds celebrities from all walks of life donning fantastical costumes and trying to conceal their identities as they perform song and dance numbers for a panel of judges. In the series' second season, the mask who won it all was a clear frontrunner from the start: The Fox mask.
In the finale, the Fox was revealed to be none other than multi-hyphenate talent Wayne Brady. Whether you know him for Whose Line Is It Anyway?, How I Met Your Mother, Black Lightning, his stand up performances, or guest appearances in works of countless other genres, Brady's tenure on The Masked Singer made it clear that he's a true Renaissance man when it comes to talent, and that the best might just be yet to come for his career. Here, we take a look back at his performances on the series and see how they compare.
"Hey Look Ma, I Made It" by Panic! at the Disco
The Fox mask's second performance on the series, a take on Panic! at the Disco's recent hit "Hey Look Ma, I Made It," is one of the busier performances on the series in terms of its choreography and ambitions. Fox mask begins the performance backstage in his dressing area, reflecting on the friends that have come and gone, and pairs a softer, subtler intro with this introspection.
But as soon as he arrives on stage, flanked by dancers wearing fox ears, the song quickly escalates in intensity, as does Brady's commanding performance. Featuring an impeccably choreographed dance break for Fox and his foxy dancers, the performance might not be one of Fox's best, but Brady's natural talents in both singing and dancing are perfectly on display in this appearance.
"This Christmas" by Donny Hathaway
In his Christmas-themed sixth performance, the Fox mask took on a cute high concept performance, featuring an interactive set complete with a ballerina in a larger-than-life snowglobe. His take on the classic Christmas love song "This Christmas" by Donny Hathaway pairs perfectly with the intimate setup of the stage, and his adorable seasonal costume tweaks sell it all, too.
Brady's velvety voice pairs perfectly with the beloved Christmas classic and his ability to get the crowd worked up and engaged with even a non-traditional concert song shows his true command of the stage from start to finish. The adorable concluding choreography between the Fox and the ballerina also adds a particularly sweet closing note to the performance.
"Every Little Step" by Bobby Brown
By the time Fox reached his third performance, it was clear that Brady was truly playing into the persona afforded him by the suave, debonair Fox costume. In his rendition of Bobby Brown's "Every Little Step," Brady exudes charm and charisma, all while turning in some of his smoothest vocals. Brady's vocal runs and passion are perfectly suited to the steadily moving 1980s R&B classic.
That, of course, is all before we mention the absolutely perfect choreography, which features some of the most period-specific and artfully mastered dance moves not just from the background dancers, but from any contestant in The Masked Singer's brief history. Brady is a consummate professional as always in this performance, and he's also just clearly having so much fun. We love every part of it.
"Tennessee Whiskey" by Chris Stapleton
After routinely turning in high-intensity performances, the Fox mask threw audiences for a loop with his fourth performance, a velvety smooth and soul-infused take on Chris Stapleton's country hit "Tennesse Whiskey." On a sparsely decorated stage, featuring a single graceful female dancer, Brady turns in one of his most moving performances of his tenure on the series.
Brady's voice is perfectly suited for this song, which allows him to show the true range of his long-held notes, high vocals, and crooning capabilities. The lush, indulgent, romantic song pairs perfectly with the Fox's atmospheric performance, turning this performance into one of the series' most deeply romantic, seductive solos.
"This Love" by Maroon 5
In his first performance on the series, Fox came out of the gate strong with a unique take on the early 2000s hit "This Love" by Maroon 5. Accompanied by a similarly steampunk styled dancer, Fox put a far more soulful spin on the love song while also tapping into his funky side.
Right off the bat, judge Robin Thicke noted that Fox clearly had a performer's stage presence. Given the way Fox pranced and danced around the stage in a commanding manner, we'd have to agree with him. Brady let his exceptional vocal range carry the weight of this introductory performance, which featured less choreography than some of his later ones. That said, Brady's stage presence and vocals more than make up for it.
"Blame It" by Jamie Foxx & T-Pain
Proving that he has more than a little bit of a sense of humor, the Fox in his fifth performance took on a song by not only the judges' most common guess at his identity (Jamie Foxx) but also the episode's current guest judge (past champion T-Pain). And yet, Brady took the hit "Blame It" by Jamie Foxx and T-Pain and turned the sexy club classic into something entirely new.
With an introduction infused with blues and jazz tones, Brady quickly elevated the song to an entirely new level, showing his originality and creativity as an artist in just the first few notes of the song. The performance never once lags in intensity, even with the experimental changes made to its arrangement, and it also features some of Brady's best dancing and freestyling.
"Try A Little Tenderness" by Otis Redding
Speaking of freestyling, the Fox's final performance on The Masked Singer is the true encapsulation of the breadth and immensity of Brady's star power. In his take on the 1960s soul classic "Try a Little Tenderness" by Otis Redding, Brady shows that he has what it takes to rank among the greats of soul, R&B, Motown, and more. But he switches gears midway through the performance, elevating this stunning solo to an unseen level.
Halfway through the song, the Fox suddenly begins freestyle rapping, allowing Brady to tap into his background in improvisation, both musically and comedically. Tongue in cheek references to the history of the season and the judges' guesses at his identity, paired with some high energy choreography, show that Brady is entirely in his element as a performer.
"Y'all been sleeping on the Fox for too long," he sings. "Now I'm in the finals, and I'm about to blow. And if you don't know, now you know." He was born to be on stage. And, following Brady's reveal after this performance, the whole world knows it.