The Masked Singer's 13th season ended with a win that got everyone talking. Gretchen Wilson, a country music star, took home the prize. She had been singing in the Pearl outfit all season long. Her victory shows she's back in the game after dealing with tough times in her life and career. Pearl kept viewers hooked with a mix of heartfelt slow songs and lively shows.
"Every time I've put on this Pearl costume I think it's so strange that I pulled off being this bejeweled princess," she said. "It's so unlike me. I'd say the hoodie and sweatpants is more in line with who I am. What can I say? I'm gritty, raw, unapologetic. I've always been that way. And a lot of times, especially when I was first starting out, it stood in the way of my success."
In the finale, which aired on May 7, 2025, Pearl faced off against three other top contestants: Boogie Woogie, Coral, and Mad Scientist Monster. Each brought their own flair to the stage, turning the final competition into a tight and lively battle. Pearl ended up shining with a heartfelt rendition of KT Tunstall's "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree," winning the prized Golden Mask trophy.
When it was time to unveil the mystery performer, judge Robin Thicke nailed the guess about the star behind the sparkly mask. The crowd gasped as country singer Gretchen Wilson came forward showing both shock and thanks. Famous for songs like "Redneck Woman," Wilson's appearance on the show revealed a new side of her art—one that showed her range and openness.
Looking back on her time on the show, Wilson said that singing without anyone knowing who she was let her try out new kinds of music. She talked about tough times in her career, including moments when she felt unsure or misunderstood. "This opportunity has really proven to me that there’s nothing I can’t do," she added.
In the final moments of the show, Pearl took off her mask and revealed herself as country singer Gretchen Wilson. Robin Thicke, one of the four celebrity judges on the show, was the only one of his colleagues to guess Pearl's identity. "Good on you," Wilson applauded Thicke after he explained that her “individual, sounds like nobody else tone” led him to suspect she was Pearl.
Wilson had all the judges, minus Robin Thicke, puzzled about her true identity. "I was absolutely positive that Boogie won," Pearl told PEOPLE of season 13 runner-up Boogie Woogie, Andy Grammer. "I thought he was just the most amazing singer. In my head, he had won it weeks before. I was so stunned because I had myself ready to hear that I was second place. I was so ready for it, I had already decided that that’s what it should be in my head."
For Boogie Woogie, judges guessed Ryan Tedder, Daniel Powter, Ed Sheeran, and Darren Criss. For Coral, Rita Ora correctly guessed Meg Donnelly, while other judges guessed Hailee Steinfeld, Brittany Snow, and Peyton List. For Mad Scientist Monster, Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg correctly guessed Brian Kelley, while other judges guessed Sam Hunt, Trace Adkins, and Kane Brown.
As the season finale unfolded, the episode opened with Rita Ora singing "Pink Pony Club" by Chappell Roan, along with the four finalists. Mad Scientist Monster was the third runner-up, and Coral was the second runner-up. Boogie Woogie performed "Love The Hell Out of You" by Lewis Capaldi, and Pearl sang "I’ll Stand By You" by The Pretenders.
Season 13 included appearances by Taika Waititi as Lucky Duck, Edwin McCain as Nessy, Matthew Lawrence as Paparazzo, Erika Jayne as Yorkie, Method Man as Stud Muffin, Candace Cameron Bure as Cherry Blossom, James Van Der Beek as Griffin, Flavor Flav as Space Ranger, Sheana Shay as Bat, Aubrey O’Day as Ant, Oscar de la Hoya as Fuzzy Peas, and Cedric the Entertainer as Honey Pot.
In her reflections, Wilson noted the challenges she faced during the competition. "This opportunity has really proven to me that there’s nothing I can’t do. That was probably the scariest part for me, was, ‘Can I put on these boots? Can I get up and down those stairs with the extra weight? Can I do these little dance moves?"
She continued, "It’s not much, but for me, it was pretty challenging. At the end of each day, I was just like, ‘Man, I made it through another day. I can keep doing this.’ And so after a few days of being on set, I was like, ‘I’m going all the way!’”
Looking ahead, Wilson is set to join Blake Shelton and Keith Urban as a “road manager” on CBS' upcoming singing competition show “The Road,” coming out this fall. "Stepping into the role of ‘tour manager’ for 'The Road' has allowed me to take everything I’ve learned over all my years of touring and pour it right back into these emerging musicians," she said.
Wilson is also working on an updated rendition of her first-ever album, “Here for the Party,” which will feature a guest artist on each track. "Mine’s gonna be different in that I’m gonna have a guest artist on each track, someone different on each track with me," she shared.
The end of Season 13 shows that The Masked Singer can still catch people off guard and motivate them. By winning, Gretchen Wilson reminded people how much strength comes from not giving up and how music can change things. As the confetti fell and the mask came off, a new chapter began for the seasoned artist—one marked by renewal and recognition.
