The Masked Singer: Cow Identity & Clues

Summary

• Cow won The Masked Singer season 10.
• Cow was revealed to be R&B singer, songwriter, actor, and dancer, Ne-Yo.
• As Cow, Ne-Yo delivered powerful performances, showcasing a wide vocal range and engaging stage presence.

The Masked Singer season 10’s Cow won the competition, and was unmasked and revealed to be R&B singer, songwriter, actor, and dancer, Ne-Yo. This season, the reality competition series welcomed back host Nick Cannon, along with panelists Robin Thicke, Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg, Ken Jeong, and Nicole Scherzinger. In one of the biggest unmaskings in the show’s history, Demi Lovato was revealed to be Anonymouse during The Masked Singer season 10 premiere. Throughout the season, the show unmasked some truly legendary stars. They include Group A’s Anthony Anderson (Rubber Ducky), Tom Sandoval (Diver), Michael Rapaport (Pickle), and Ashley Parker Angel (S’More).

In addition, The Masked Singer season 10 Group B’s Billie Jean King (Royal Hen), Tyler Posey (Hawk), Ginuwine (Husky), and Sebastian Bach (Tiki) were unmasked, along with Group C’s Luann de Lesseps (Hibiscus), Metta World Peace (Cuddle Monster), John Oates (Anteater), and Keyshia Cole (Candelabra). During the season finale, Sea Queen came in fourth and was revealed to be Macy Gray, while Gazelle placed third and was actually Janel Parrish. Finally, runner-up Donut was revealed to be John Schneider, while Cow took home the Golden Mask Trophy, along with his alter ego, Ne-Yo. Here are the clues that proved that Cow was Ne-Yo.

Cow’s First Performance & Clues

“Bones” By Imagine Dragons

Although Cow looked like a woman, dressed like a 1950s diner waitress, complete with an apron and red glasses, his voice indicated that he was actually a man. Cow sang a powerful version of “Bones” by Imagine Dragons, and commanded the stage through his entire performance. His voice had incredible range, as it soared on the high notes. Cow danced during his performance, getting the crowd going.

Cow’s clue package began in black and white in a kitchen. He said, “Cows like me don’t often make it out of their pen. When I was younger, I felt destined to stay home and live out a simple life in black and white.” The camera then zoomed in on a package that read, “All New! Two-Step Coffee. Step 1: Add coffee. Step 2: Add sugar.” Cow continued, “But I always knew I wanted to stand out. I had big dreams of being a big star, but I used to have a little trouble handling my emotions, until I discovered I could write, and leave whatever I was feeling on the page.”

The camera then panned across a shelf that had some books, and a calendar turned to July 4. Cow pulled out a book with the title, “Classic Culinary Cuisine for Cows,” and turned to a page with a recipe for “Classic Cow Cake.” The ingredients were “flour, sugar, milk, eggs, butter, vanilla, baking powder, and heavy cream.” The scene then turned to color as The Masked Singer season 10 contestant announced, “After that, everything changed. The gift eventually led me to number one.”

Cow began to dance around the kitchen gathering ingredients for a cake. The retro pink refrigerator had a magnet that said, “Welcome to fantastic Las Vegas.” Cow continued, “I won Grammys, traveled the world. I made hit after hit after hit. I guess you could say, I was kinda my own cash cow. Anyway, I was always meant to live my life in color, and I’m bringing that same energy to the stage because you’re about to see there’s no one like me.” Cow then pulled a strawberry cake out of the oven, with a pilot’s wings as a decoration on the top.

After Cow’s performance, another clue was revealed about him. The clue was a container of popcorn with a movie ticket that read, “Blockbuster Movie.” Cow explained, “One of the better things known about me all started with a moooo-vie.”

Cow’s NFL Night Performance & Clues

“Treasure” By Bruno Mars

For NFL Night, Cow sang a rousing rendition of Bruno Mars’ “Treasure,” singing and dancing. Cow’s clue package began with him saying, “Last week was utterly fantastic, and I’m excited to make it this far with the cream of the crop.” Cow revealed some information about his family, saying, “Tonight I’m honored to be part of NFL Night, even though I don’t have many memories of watching the big game with my dad. He wasn’t really around, and I didn’t have a lot of positive male role models growing up.” The camera then panned to a pair of red boxing gloves with a gold down arrow on one of them.

Cow continued, “I was raised in a house of all women, who made me the sensitive Cow that I am.” Cow then looked at a picture of himself as a child, posing with a grown-up Cow wearing a hat that resembled Mickey Mouse’s Sorcerer’s Apprentice hat. Cow also revealed that he’s a father. He said, “Now, as a parent, I know the value of being present for my children. I’ve always achieved a lot of success in my life, but my greatest accomplishment has always been my kids.”

Cow was shown with three young cows. There was a piece of paper with a red heart drawn in crayon, along with crayons scattered on the paper. He shared, “It’s so easy to get overwhelmed by the smoke and mirrors of fame, but I told myself early on that I am a family cow first. So when I get on that stage, I’ll be thinking of them and treasuring every single moment.”

After Cow’s performance, The Masked Singer season 8 contestant Le’Veon Bell (Milkshake), brought out another clue. It was a pair of black tap shoes, carried out in a giant purple bowl with a gold star on it. Cow explained, “Much like a Super Bowl Half Time show, I am known for my killer moooo-ves.” He then showed off some of his dance moves.

Cow’s 2000s Night Performance & Clues

“Cry Me A River” By Justin Timberlake

On The Masked Singer season 10 2000s Night, Cow sang a very impressive version of Justin Timberlake’s “Cry Me a River.” He began his clue package by saying, “I am so over-the-moon after last week’s performance, and I feel absolutely psyched to be here for the 2000s Night because that’s the decade it all started for me.” Cow explained, “My friends and I decided to pack up a van and head to the Capitol Records building in Hollywood, determined to get a record deal.” A newspaper titled, “Daily Moos,” with the headlines “Dairy Today” and “International Ewes” was then shown.

As Cow looked back at photographs in an album of himself and an olive green and cream van, he continued, “We pulled into the parking lot and started performing on top of the van, convinced we’d get signed. Instead, security kicked us off the property.” A judge’s gavel was then shown. Cow went on to say, “But we kept coming back, every single day. While we didn’t make it then, today my picture hangs in the Capitol Records hall, and the bigwigs see me all the time.” Cow then looked at a photo of the Capitol Records building.

Cow concluded his clue package by saying, “Now with the group finals in sight, I am bringing that same determination because one thing’s for sure: this Cow isn’t coming home any time soon. Moo!” During this statement, a cake that said, “Happy Birthday,” with one lit candle was shown. Cow then blew out the candle.

After Cow’s performance, The Office star Kate Flannery brought out one last clue. It was a banner with a cow-print background with the word, “Moooosical,” printed in light blue letters. Cow explained, “Well, the 2000s were really, really good to me, so much in fact that I got to star in a moooo-sical.” Cow then jokingly added, “‘Cause I’m a Cow. Moo? Moo-sical?”

Cow’s Disco Night (Group A Finals) Performances & Clues

“Ring My Bell” By Anita Ward, “I Will Survive” By Gloria Gaynor

During The Masked Singer Group A finals, which took place on Disco Night, Cow performed “Ring My Bell” by Anita Ward. He began his clue package by saying, “Getting everyone up and moving on 2000s Night was such a blast. I’m so thrilled to be in the Group A finals.” The setting for the clue package was an ice cream parlor. Cow was sitting at a table with two ice cream sundaes and toppings, with a sign that read, “Cow Ice Cream,” above it. Another table with many other ice cream cones and toppings was also in the scene.

There was also a photograph of Cow and his mom. Cow was asked, “Who has been your biggest supporter on this journey?” He replied, “My mom is the strongest person I’ve, like, ever met. She’s been my foundation forever, and she still is. Growing up, I recall my mom having, like, seven jobs at one time. Like literally coming home from one long enough to eat a sandwich, and then on to the next one.” At that point, the camera panned to a traffic light with the red light lit up.

Cow continued, “Watching her struggle was hard, so it was always my dream to find a way to take care of her in the way she took care of me. And the day I was able to support her with my music was the day I felt like I really made it.” As Cow said this, he caught a silver and black football, which was tossed to him. He continued, “If I learned nothing from her, it’s that you can fall a million times, but if you get up a million and one, you’re still in the race. That advice has been the secret to my success, and I’m channeling it tonight to make it into the finale.”

After Cow’s performance, another clue was revealed, which was the Masked Singer panelist that Cow was connected with. The clue was a sign that said, “Husband.” Cow spoke to Jenny and said, “Not my husband. Your husband, Jenny. Listen, this Cow is absolutely a lady. However, I have spent some time with your hubby.” Jenny’s husband is New Kids on the Block singer and actor Donnie Wahlberg.

After S’More was unmasked and revealed to be actor and singer Ashley Parker Angel, Cow went head-to-head with Gazelle in the Battle Royale. They both sang “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor. Although they were both very impressive, Cow won the Battle Royale and moved directly into the season finale. However, Ken rang the Ding Dong Keep It On Bell at the last minute before Gazelle’s unmasking and saved her from elimination. Therefore, they both moved on to the season finale.

Cow’s Holiday Sing-A-Long Performance & Clues

“What Christmas Means To Me” By Stevie Wonder

During The Masked Singer Holiday Sing-A-Long, Cow sang a joyous rendition of “What Christmas Means to Me” by Stevie Wonder. Cow took viewers through a recap of his journey to the season finale, which culminated in the show revealing another clue about him. The clue was a shark tooth. Cow explained, “Oh yes, a shark tooth! A clue that you can sink your teeth into. I like to stay away from sharks, but for the holidays, I’ll make an exception.” In the “Mask on the Street” segment, a fan asked if he’d ever done a voiceover in an animated movie. He replied, “I never have. No.”

Cow’s The Masked Singer Season 10 Finale Performances & Clues

“Rhythm Nation” By Janet Jackson, “Take A Bow” By Rihanna

During The Masked Singer season 10 finale, the final four contestants opened the show by singing together for the first time. They sang an exciting version of “What I Like About You” by The Romantics. Cow then sang an extraordinary version of “Rhythm Nation” by Janet Jackson, during which he sang his heart out and performed an impressive dance routine.

In his Masked Singer season 10 finale package, Cow looked back on his Masked Singer journey, saying, “I originally chose to become the Cow because I thought it’d be a super fun way to get my friends in the panel off my scent. But, even though I’m used to wearing different hats, being here has challenged me in a whole new way. I’ve had to relearn how to express myself entirely, from the way I move to the way I dance.”

Cow went on to say, “When you get to my level of success and fame, there are certain expectations and pressures to perform the same old way. So it’s been a blast getting to take on this whole new persona.” Cow concluded by again speaking about his beloved mother. He said, “The Cow, in a way, has also become a tribute to my mother, who showed me it’s okay to be strong and sensitive. So, tonight, I’m channeling that same fierceness into this finale, so I can win this thing for her, and all the strong women who made me who I am today.”

After Sea Queen and Gazelle were unmasked and revealed to be Macy Gray and Janel Parrish, respectively, Cow and Donut competed against each other for the Golden Mask Trophy. Cow’s second finale night package again looked back at his experience on the show. He revealed, “I’ve been very blessed to have a lot of success in my career, and, trust me, I’m grateful. But even though I’ve won Grammys, I’ve never had the moment televised. Never gotten to give my acceptance speech. And, most importantly, never gotten to give the credit to the person that made it all possible – my mother.”

Cow continued, “I’ve helped so many other artists achieve their dreams, and make their big moments possible. But, sometimes, I feel like I haven’t truly had my moment to be recognized not only as an artist, but as a creator. But here, I’ve certainly felt that shine.” He added, “I hope you’ve fallen in love with this Cow the same as I have. Because, at the end of the day, connecting with all of you is the most important thing to me.”

Cow then gave an important clue. He said, “Tonight, I’m singing a song that I helped bring to life, and is near and dear to my heart. I’m hoping that when I win the Golden Mask Trophy, I can finally read that acceptance speech after all these years.” For Cow’s final performance, he then sang an emotional and impressive version of “Take a Bow” by Rihanna. After Cow’s performance, Nick asked him what winning The Masked Singer would mean to him. He replied, “Well, this has been an absolute dream-come-true because I’ve always been a fan of the show. To win the trophy would just be the icing on top of a very beautiful cake.”

Cow’s Identity Prediction From The Masked Singer Panelists

Nicole Scherzinger & Robin Thicke Guessed Cow Correctly

After Cow’s first performance, Jenny guessed Shawn Stockman from Boyz II Men because he has a biopic coming out, and the group has had a Las Vegas residency and won a lot of Grammys. However, Nicole didn’t agree. Jenny was also thinking of Usher. Nicole put the clues together to guess Leslie Odom Jr. because of the July 4 clue that might be a Hamilton reference. Robin said that whoever Cow was, they were definitely a pro, and had been on stage their whole life.

On NFL Night, the panelists guessed many different R&B singers for Cow’s identity. Nicole mentioned Usher, while Robin guessed Trey Songz, and Ne-Yo. Jenny wondered if Cow could be Mario, but he doesn’t have kids. She then guessed Nelly, but Nicole didn’t know if Nelly could sing like that. She then said that Cow could be Jason Derulo, who can sing, dance, and has a child. Nick mentioned that clearly Cow knew him because he kept picking on him.

On 2000s Night, Nicole declared that Cow was “somebody big.” Robin guessed that Cow might be Mario, Ne-Yo, and Jason Derulo, all of whom appeared in musicals. Mario was in Rent: Live, Ne-Yo was in The Wiz Live!, and Jason starred in the Cats feature film. Robin thought that Cow’s vocals sounded like Ne-Yo to him. Nicole said that she was thinking the same thing, but when she thought of musicals, she thought of Taye Diggs, who was not only in musicals, but starred in the early 2000s show Kevin Hill, about a lawyer, which would explain the judge’s gavel.

On Disco Night, the Masked Singer panelists had even more guesses for Cow. Jenny noted that Donnie toured with Nelly, but asked Robin for help. Robin guessed Ne-Yo because New Kids on the Block had a song called “Single” with Ne-Yo. Nicole agreed that Ne-Yo has a beautiful tone that was similar to Cow’s. Nick didn’t think that Cow was giving him Ne-Yo vibes, and said that he wasn’t him. Ken then stood up and said that he knew exactly who Cow was – Usher. Nicole didn’t think it was a bad guess.

During the Masked Singer season 10 finale, the panelists made their final guesses for Cow’s identity. They included Ne-Yo (Robin and Nicole), Usher (Ken), and Billy Porter (Jenny). Only Robin and Nicole guessed Cow’s true identity of Ne-Yo correctly.

Cow’s Identity Is Revealed

Cow Is Ne-Yo

After Cow won The Masked Singer season 10, he was revealed to be Ne-Yo. He’s a Grammy-winning singer, who is also known for his dancing. He won three Grammy Awards and has had number one singles. Ne-Yo was raised by his mother after his parents separated. The silver and black football referred to the Las Vegas Raiders. Ne-Yo moved there with his family after his parents’ separation. There was also a Las Vegas magnet. Ne-Yo has shared that he and his friends did exactly what Cow did, singing at Capitol Records to try to catch someone’s attention. Ne-Yo has seven children, who were referred to in his clues.

Ne-Yo’s given name is Shaffer Smith. His stage name, Ne-Yo, comes from the “blockbuster” movie, The Matrix, in which the main character’s name is Neo. Ne-Yo starred in the movie Red Tails, about the Tuskegee Airmen, which explained the aviation wings. He also starred as the Tin Man in The Wiz Live! which explained the musical clue. In addition, Ne-Yo appeared in Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No!, which explained the shark tooth clue. Ne-Yo also enjoys boxing.

Ne-Yo’s connection to Donnie Wahlberg was his collaboration with the New Kids on the Block on the song, “Single.” The July 4 clue was a reference to Ne-Yo’s hit song, “Miss Independent,” because July 4 is also known as Independence Day. Ne-Yo co-wrote the song he sang in his final Masked Singer performance, “Take a Bow,” which was made famous by Rihanna.

As The Masked Singer season 10’s Cow, Ne-Yo was electrifying. He raised the bar for Masked Singer performances with his dancing and charisma. Although he was masked, his personality came through in every song. As a Masked Singer preview stated, Cow was “legen-dairy.” Ne-Yo is one of the greatest winners in the history of The Masked Singer.