Sarah Brown
On the fourth season of the US Masked Singer, a celebrity donning a mushroom costume wowed audiences with their performances. The celebrity was later revealed to be Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Aloe Blacc. In an interview, Blacc revealed that he chose the mushroom costume to embody the spirit of his daughter. He also shared that he wanted to throw people off the trail by choosing a costume that was quite different from what people would typically associate with him.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Aloe Blacc |
| Occupation | Singer-songwriter |
| Known for | "I Need a Dollar" |
| Other occupations | None identified |
| Connection to the Mushroom costume | Wanted to embody his daughter's spirit |
| Reason for choosing the Mushroom costume | Wanted to throw people off the trail |
| Other possible costumes | Broccoli |
| Competition performance | Switched up his vocal style with each performance |
| Competition result | First runner-up |
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What You'll Learn
Aloe Blacc was the runner-up on The Masked Singer Season 4
Aloe Blacc was indeed the runner-up on Season 4 of *The Masked Singer*, hiding behind the Mushroom mask. Blacc, a Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter, managed to fool the panelists and the audience with his portrayal of the Mushroom character, who was described as everyone's "favourite spore".
The Mushroom costume, with its stem and skirt, inspired Blacc to embody the spirit of his daughter, who loves to dress up in princess dresses, and be extra flamboyant. Blacc's decision to play this character was influenced by his desire to throw people off the trail, as the costume was quite different from what people would typically associate with him.
Throughout the season, Mushroom kept the panel guessing with his versatile vocal style and varied song choices. He performed "A Song for You" by Donny Hathaway, who has been cited as one of Blacc's early inspirations. Other song choices included "Valerie" by Amy Winehouse, and "I Wish" by Stevie Wonder.
The hints in Mushroom's clue packages throughout the season eventually led panelists Nicole Scherzinger and Robin Thicke to correctly guess Blacc's identity. Some of the clues included references to Blacc's hit song "I Need a Dollar", a briefcase and a rat race job, a baby doll, and a clock set to 3:00.
Blacc's unmasked interview with host Nick Cannon revealed his motivation for participating in the show, stating that music is the language that connects us all. He also shared that his daughter was a significant inspiration for his portrayal of the Mushroom character.
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Blacc chose the Mushroom costume to embody his daughter
In an interview, Aloe Blacc, the singer-songwriter, revealed that he chose the Mushroom costume on The Masked Singer to embody his daughter's spirit. The costume, with its stem and skirt-like structure, reminded him of how his daughter dresses up in her princess dresses and moves around flamboyantly. He wanted to portray a feminine role and the Mushroom costume, with its unique design, helped inspire that kind of feminine movement.
Blacc also shared that he wanted to throw everyone off the trail and choosing a costume that was quite different from what people would typically associate with him was a strategic decision. The Mushroom costume, with its light brown stem adorned with mushrooms, moss, grasses, and a squirrel, was a creative choice that added to the mystery of his performance.
The Grammy-nominated artist, known for his hit song "I Need a Dollar," was the runner-up in Season 4 of the show, losing to the Sun. His diverse song choices, including "I Wish" by Stevie Wonder, and his ability to switch up his vocal style kept the panel guessing until the very end.
Blacc's decision to choose the Mushroom costume showcases his creative approach to the competition and his desire to connect with his daughter through music and performance. The skirt-like structure of the costume became a symbolic way for him to embody his daughter's spirit and create a special memory for both of them.
Additionally, Blacc felt that mushrooms, with their underground network, communicate and connect all plant life, mirroring his belief that music is the language that connects us all. This deeper meaning behind the Mushroom character added another layer to Blacc's performance and his connection with his daughter.
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The clues in Mushroom's packages helped panelists guess Aloe Blacc
In Season 4 of the US Masked Singer, the celebrity behind the Mushroom mask was Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Aloe Blacc. Blacc was the runner-up in the competition, losing to the Sun.
Mushroom's costume was inspired by woodland creatures and featured a light brown stem decorated with mushrooms, moss, grasses, and a squirrel, along with brown leather gloves. The mask was designed as a mushroom with big eyes and a small mouth, wearing a red hat with flowers.
The clues in Mushroom's packages throughout the season helped panelists Nicole Scherzinger and Robin Thicke guess that it was Aloe Blacc behind the mask. Ken Jeong thought it was Pharrell Williams, and Jenny McCarthy guessed Ne-Yo. The buck, the cheddar, the doll chair, and "Washington" were all recurring clues that referenced Aloe Blacc's hit song, "I Need a Dollar." The kangaroo in one of Mushroom's packages was a clue to his wife, Australian rapper Maya Jupiter, and the egg was a clue to his birth name, Egbert.
Blacc himself revealed that his daughter was an inspiration for his performance as Mushroom. He wanted to embody his daughter's spirit and play a feminine role, which was part of his strategy to throw people off the trail and prevent them from guessing his identity based on the costume.
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Mushroom's costume was inspired by woodland creatures
Mushroom, a masked celebrity on the fourth US season of The Masked Singer, was revealed to be Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Aloe Blacc. Blacc chose the Mushroom costume to embody the spirit of his daughter, Mandela, who was the inspiration behind his decision to be a contestant on the show. The costume, which featured a stem and a skirt instead of pant legs, helped inspire a more feminine movement, throwing everyone off the trail.
Mushroom's outfit was inspired by woodland creatures. It included a light brown stem, decorated with mushrooms, moss, grasses, and a squirrel at the bottom, along with brown leather gloves. The mask resembled a mushroom with big eyes and a small mouth, wearing a red hat adorned with flowers, giving it the look of a mushroom top.
The mask was first revealed in a season 4 costume teaser on August 26, 2020, and officially unveiled on September 10, 2020. Mushroom was the first contestant to compete in a smackdown and reach the finale. They were also the second finalist to have been at risk of elimination earlier and the first food-related mask to make it to the finale.
In an interview, Blacc shared that he chose the Mushroom character because mushrooms underneath the ground connect all plant life and play a significant role in communicating through the root system. He also mentioned that his song choices were varied to keep the panel guessing, and he was pleased to have fooled the panelists, including Nicole Scherzinger and Robin Thicke.
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Mushroom's final song was I Wish by Stevie Wonder
Mushroom is a masked celebrity on the fourth US season of The Masked Singer. The celebrity behind the mask has not been revealed yet, but there are some guesses. One source mentions that Jenny guessed Mushroom to be Ne-Yo, who was the Badger in the second UK season and the Cow in the tenth season later on.
Mushroom's final song was supposed to be "I Wish" by Stevie Wonder, but he sang "This Woman's Work" instead. "I Wish" was released in late 1976 as the lead single from Stevie Wonder's eighteenth album, Songs in the Key of Life. The song was written and produced by Wonder himself and focuses on his childhood from the 1950s into the early 1960s and his wish to relive it. The single peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and soul singles chart. At the 19th Grammy Awards, Stevie Wonder won the Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male for "I Wish".
Wonder recalled that he wrote the song on a Saturday during a Motown picnic in the summer of 1976. He had a toothache but still enjoyed the picnic and went to the Crystal Recording Studio afterward, where he created the song. The original lyrics were more serious, but Wonder couldn't make them fit with the fun vibe of the track. The song includes a voice reprimanding the "young" Stevie, which was his sister, Renee Hardaway.
"I Wish" has been covered by various artists over the years, including Canadian superstar Celine Dion and British bandleader Jools Holland. It was also featured in the soundtrack of the 2006 animated comedy Happy Feet, performed by Patti LaBelle, Yolanda Adams, and Fantasia Barrino.
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Frequently asked questions
Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter, Aloe Blacc.
Blacc chose the Mushroom costume because it reminded him of his daughter and allowed him to embody her spirit and play a feminine role.
Blacc performed "I Wish" by Stevie Wonder and "This Woman's Work". He also revealed that he chose a Stevie Wonder song because he and his daughter love dancing to his songs.
The buck, the cheddar, the doll chair, and "Washington" were all recurring clues to Aloe Blacc's hit song, "I Need a Dollar". The kangaroo in Mushroom's package was a clue to his wife, Australian rapper Maya Jupiter, and the egg was a clue to his birth name, Egbert.
