Billy Ray Cyrus Unmasked as The Masked Singer’s Owl After Panel Misses Every Clue
Billy Ray Cyrus took off the Owl mask on The Masked Singer on Feb. 11 (ET), capping a clue trail that baffled the entire panel. The country star’s reveal followed an emotional, Valentine’s-themed episode and a spirited performance of White Wedding that wasn’t enough to keep him in the competition.
A Reveal That Left the Panel Stunned
The Owl’s identity had eluded the judges throughout the season, and when the mask finally came off, the studio erupted as Cyrus stepped forward. The panel’s final guesses ranged from screen legends to sitcom icons, but none landed on the multi-platinum singer behind Achy Breaky Heart. The moment doubled as a nostalgic surprise and a reminder of how effectively the show’s clue packages can hide even a household name.
Clue Trail: Fame, Reinvention, and a Mile Marker
The Owl’s story arc painted a picture of an artist who soared to massive fame, only to weather the whiplash that can follow a cultural phenomenon. One standout clue referenced a period when his name was inescapable and even his look was widely emulated. The package also teased a detour into baseball before a return to music, linked to a mantra he shares with his children: follow your heart and you’ll always find your way. Viewers also zeroed in on a sign reading “Mile 1992,” a wink that many tied to a landmark year in Cyrus’ career when his breakout single exploded and reshaped country-pop crossover radio.
Valentine’s Week Chemistry and an Emotional Call
Romance took center stage during the Valentine’s week episode as the Owl recounted finding an unexpected ally at a low point in life. A supportive text from an unknown number—later revealed to be from his now-partner—sparked a relationship he described as rooted in real chemistry at a time he was being dragged through the mud publicly. The clues extended to an offscreen phone call from “Lady Owl,” whose distinctly accented message prompted the panel to speculate about her background. The personal nature of the moment left the Owl visibly moved, underscoring how closely the storyline mirrored Cyrus’ own chapters of reinvention and resilience.
Rock Anthem, Close Matchup, and the Judges’ Misfires
Onstage, the Owl leaned into an arena-rock classic, delivering Billy Idol’s White Wedding with swagger and a hint of Southern gravel in his tone, while a dancer in red added theatrical flair. Yet after a tight showdown, he fell to Stingray and faced the final round of guesses. The panel threw out a wide spectrum of names—Dennis Quaid, Ted Danson, and Kurt Russell among them—citing the Owl’s husky register, clue callouts to medical or heart motifs, and a distinctly Americana vibe. When the helmet lifted to reveal Cyrus, the panel’s collective gasp said it all, followed by a burst of laughter at how a “Southern, groggy” voice they had clocked never led them to the Nashville star himself.
Where the Competition Goes From Here
With the Owl’s exit, Stingray moves on and the stage remains packed with outlandish alter egos. Costumed contenders such as Snow Cone, Karot Carrot, Galaxy Girl, Eggplant, Crane, High Voltage, Pugcasso, and Pangolin keep the guessing game alive as the show’s themed nights roll on. The season’s blend of personal storytelling, cleverly coded clues, and nostalgia-fueled song choices continues to blur lines between genres and generations—something Cyrus, in or out of a mask, has been doing for decades.
Why No One Guessed Billy Ray Cyrus
The misdirects worked. The Owl’s baseball detour, a coy nod to a milestone year, and a romantic clue voiced with a British lilt sent the panel chasing actors and screen idols rather than a singer whose heyday is etched into pop culture. The rock-song choice also helped disguise his signature twang just enough to muddle identity markers. In the end, the surprise perfectly fit the show’s sweet spot: a superstar hiding in plain sight, rediscovered by a new generation while reminding longtime fans how indelible that voice—and that era—still is.
