On the evening of February 11, 2026, viewers of Fox’s ever-surprising reality competition The Masked Singer were treated to a dramatic unmasking that left both the audience and the show’s judges in utter disbelief. The Owl, a mysterious and soulful contestant who’d captivated fans with his heartfelt performances and cryptic clues, was revealed to be none other than country music icon Billy Ray Cyrus. Not a single judge correctly guessed his identity, marking one of the rare occasions in the show’s storied history that such a high-profile celebrity managed to stump the entire panel.
The episode, aptly titled “Twilight Night,” doubled as a whimsical tribute to the blockbuster Twilight Saga films and a celebration of Valentine’s Day. The stage was transformed with scenes reminiscent of the vampire romance franchise, and Christina Perri herself opened the show with her signature ballad “A Thousand Years,” setting a dreamy tone for the evening. But it was the Owl’s journey—and his eventual reveal as Billy Ray Cyrus—that stole the spotlight.
Throughout Season 14, the Owl had dropped a series of tantalizing clues about his identity. In his very first appearance, he referenced his meteoric rise to fame in 1992: “When I took flight, you couldn’t go anywhere without hearing my name. Folks even started following my look. Imagine that. But then there were also the comments. My biggest fear became people laughing at me, and not with me. Terrifying, right? But I didn’t listen. Instead, I focused on me. On family. Eventually, life gave me the chance to do something so big, those haters were all eating their words. So, if folks are poking fun behind your back, just give them the bird and do your thing,” he shared, as reported by Variety.
Another clue package saw the Owl reflecting on a fork in the road during his younger years. “I love America’s favorite pastime as much as anyone. But I’m no pro. Back in the day, I was a scrappy, right-handed slugger. Then one day, my heart was telling me something. This was not my path. So I turned in my glove. I knew there were other fields for me to play in. And guess what? I soared to success. Now that’s a lesson I try to teach my kids. Follow your heart and no matter the field, you’ll always hit a grand slam.” According to Talent Recap, these clues pointed unmistakably to Cyrus’s early ambitions in baseball before he found his calling in music.
On this special Valentine’s Day-themed episode, the Owl’s heart was on full display. He recounted a deeply personal story of finding love at his lowest point: “I was at my lowest point, getting dragged through the mud publicly. Suddenly, I get a text from a number I don’t recognize. It says, ‘The vultures are circling. And I’m in your corner.’ The thing is, I didn’t know who sent it. It turned out to be from someone I least expected. This girl was just as beautiful as her words. We went out for a date, and the chemistry was real. We’ve been together ever since. Ironically, we love bird watching together. Well tonight, baby, you get to watch your bird and know that I only have eyes for you,” as detailed by E! News.
As the competition heated up, the Owl found himself in the bottom two alongside Stingray. Both delivered impassioned renditions of Pat Benatar’s “Love Is a Battlefield,” but it was Stingray who was saved by the judges, leaving the Owl to face his unmasking. The panelists—Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg, Ken Jeong, Rita Ora, and Robin Thicke—scrambled to make their final guesses. Names like Ted Danson, Dennis Quaid, Kurt Russell, Matthew McConaughey, Woody Harrelson, and Walton Goggins were thrown around, but none hit the mark.
The moment of truth arrived, and as the Owl’s mask came off, the studio erupted in shock and applause. Billy Ray Cyrus, whose 1992 smash hit “Achy Breaky Heart” had defined an era and whose later collaboration with Lil Nas X on “Old Town Road” made him a cross-generational star, stood smiling on stage. Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg exclaimed, “Oh my god! How did I not get that?” Robin Thicke marveled at the panel’s collective miss, saying, “It’s very rare that none of us get it right, especially for such a big name and a big star and somebody we’ve guessed so many times. So to be able to fool all of us, that’s quite an accomplishment.”
During his time on the show, Cyrus’s performances were as eclectic as his career. On this episode, he delivered a rousing version of Billy Idol’s “White Wedding,” complete with a tambourine dancer dressed in red. His partner, actress Elizabeth Hurley, made a touching offscreen appearance as “Lady Owl,” calling in to wish him good luck and a Happy Valentine’s Day—a moment that left Cyrus visibly emotional. The couple, who went public with their romance in April 2025 after co-starring in the 2022 film Christmas in Paradise, have become a beloved fixture in the public eye. Cyrus called Hurley an “angel” who came into his life at just the right time.
The Owl’s journey is just one thread in the vibrant tapestry of The Masked Singer Season 14. This year’s competition features 18 masked celebrities, whose collective achievements are staggering: 94 million records sold, 47 Teen Choice Award nominations, 12 Emmy nominations, two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a Tony Award win, and an Academy Award nomination. Other contestants still in the running include High Voltage, Pangolin, Eggplant, Galaxy Girl, Cat Witch, Pugcasso, Snow Cone, and Crane. Already unmasked this season are Teddi Mellencamp (Calla Lily), Claudia Oshry (Queen Corgi), Taraji P. Henson (Scarab), Tone Loc (Handyman), Tiffany Haddish (Le Who Who), Todd and Julie Chrisley (Croissants), and David “Big Papi” Ortiz (Googly Eyes).
This season also introduced a new twist: “America’s Insider,” with singer and social media star Kylie Cantrall (in costume as Cat Witch) providing behind-the-scenes hints to viewers, while keeping her identity a secret from the panelists. Themed episodes have honored everything from Star Trek and Clueless to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Ozzfest, with a special tribute to the late Ozzy Osbourne by his daughter Kelly Osbourne, herself a former Masked Singer contestant.
Billy Ray Cyrus’s participation in The Masked Singer adds another chapter to a career that has spanned genres and generations. From his early days as a country superstar to his resurgence with “Old Town Road” and his role alongside daughter Miley Cyrus in Hannah Montana, Cyrus has always found new ways to connect with audiences. As he put it after his unmasking, “It’s an honor to be with you all. It’s been a lot of fun being here with all of you all. Music changes, everything. The music changes lives.”
With the Owl’s departure, the competition grows fiercer, but this unforgettable reveal will no doubt go down as one of the most memorable moments in The Masked Singer history. For Billy Ray Cyrus, it was another chance to remind the world that following your heart—and having a little fun along the way—can lead to the sweetest victories.