‘The whole thing is just ridiculous': [Spoiler] on finishing second in ‘The Masked Singer'

Yahoo

08-05-2025

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Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways
At the Masked Singer Season 13 finale on Wednesday, Boogie Woogie watched as Pearl was crowned champion and whisked away with the Golden Mask trophy. It was a bittersweet ending for the orange disco daddy, who had amazed panelists Robin Thicke, Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg, Ken Jeong, and Rita Ora throughout the season.
After the confetti settled, Boogie Woogie turned on the charm as he removed his mask to reveal multiplatinum recording artist Andy Grammer.
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"I'm very competitive, so I can't say I didn't care," Grammer tells Gold Derby (watch the video interview above). "But there is something about being in a huge mascot monster costume that just brings the vibe to a chill place. You're very aware that while the music is telling me this is the most important thing in the world — this is so fun and ridiculous. Whatever it is, it's so fun to be here."
Pearl's reveal as Grammy-winning country icon Gretchen Wilson capped off the finale, while third and fourth place finishers Coral and Mad Scientist Monster were unveiled as actress Meg Donnelly and former Florida Georgia Line singer Brian Kelley, respectively.
SEE 'How dare you!': 'The Masked Singer's' Ken Jeong on 13 seasons of wacky fun, his favorite reveal of all time, and Emmys
Here's our full Q&A with the artist formerly known as Boogie Woogie:
Gold Derby: Were you in it to win it from the beginning or did the fire start burning a little more the closer you got to the finale?
Andy Grammer: I think that the biggest fear was if you don't go all out, then you're really in danger. If you're not having a blast in a Boogie Woogie costume, that's awkward. If you're halfway trying and not really — you have to go full tilt all the way, slide on your knees, go crazy, and then whatever happens, happens, and then it's fun.
Did you have any idea that you were standing next to Gretchen Wilson?
No. I couldn't even really hear. Side stage is not a great place to watch — and you're back behind the stage. So through muffled tones you hear the crowd screaming or you can tell what song they're singing, but you can't hear much more than that.
None of the panelists was able to guess you. They said Ryan Tedder, Daniel Powter, Ed Sheeran and Daniel Criss. What were you thinking in that moment?
It's really funny because — you know it's all ridiculous — but in the mask it would be funny to see. They go like, "Oh, he looks pretty tall. He looks like he's an athlete." And I'm in there like, "Honestly, I do feel like I'm an athlete. I'm sure my wife is laughing so hard." Or they say you look like someone who's got an incredible voice. You're like, "Yeah, yeah, man. That does feel pretty good." It's so silly. The whole thing is just ridiculous. It was really fun.
Who were your biggest musical influences growing up?
Ryan Tedder was a huge one. I've got to write a couple of songs with him, and that's been amazing. But he was someone that — when I started as a street performer — I would just study all of One Republic's songs and whatever he was writing for everybody else. Songwriting wise — studying pre-courses, choruses, bridges — why is he doing melodies like this? He's one of my bigger inspirations for sure.
What was it like going from a street performer to a successful artist? When did you think you had finally made it?
In art it's always a little bit of insanity. Having started as a street performer, when you go on your first tour and people show up in cities that you haven't been to before, you go like, "Oh, something's happening here that's really special." And I'm just so grateful.
You just released The Friends & Family Sessions EP featuring tracks from your Monster album from last fall, as well as some of your multi-platinum hits. What can you share about that?
Really fun to strip it back. I produced that. To bring in musicians and go for a super minimalist approach with these songs that I love, just let's let them breathe a little bit and air it out. I'm all about the lyric. I usually start mostly on lyric, and so when you strip things down that even shines more. So it was a really fun artistic thing to do.
And you're touring this summer on your own, but also doing a few dates with Shania Twain.
Yeah, go to andygrammer.com. I think there's 2025 dates all across the U.S. The summer tour — a lot of the shows are outside — and it's just the best vibe ever. It's so fun.
What does that mean to you to be called "The happy pop artist"?
It's actually really sweet that when people feel sad sometimes they'll go and put on my music and it will affect their day. That is unbelievable, honestly. That's the best thing that could ever be. I wear it proudly.
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