Laura Smith
In 2020, fans of the Fox singing competition show The Masked Singer were introduced to a new crop of contestants, including the mysterious Mushroom. The Mushroom's identity was the subject of much speculation, with guesses including Jaden Smith, Todrick Hall, Anthony Ramos, and Taye Diggs. Diggs was a popular guess due to the many Broadway clues Mushroom gave, including references to the musical Hamilton and a possible nod to the city of Chicago. However, the Mushroom was eventually revealed to be singer Aloe Blacc.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the show | The Masked Singer |
| Season | 4 |
| Contestant | Mushroom |
| Description of the contestant | Mysterious and oddly adorable |
| Costume | One of the most detailed costumes in Masked Singer history |
| Clues | References to the musical Hamilton, "young scrappy and fungi", "say yes to this", "the shroom where it happens", turning a hobby into a career, images of a reality singing competition, "who is under my hats", a street hot dog stand, a violin case, a brown detective top hat, and gardening supplies |
| Guesses | Jaden Smith, Todrick Hall, Taye Diggs, Anthony Ramos, Billy Porter, Aloe Blacc |
| Actual identity | Aloe Blacc |
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What You'll Learn
Taye Diggs' Broadway career
Taye Diggs is an actor known for his roles in Broadway musicals and other on-screen productions. He has been featured in cast recordings for Broadway productions such as Carousel (1994), Rent (1996), and The Wild Party. He also appeared in the film adaptation of the Broadway revival of Chicago as The Bandleader and filled in as Billy Flynn on Broadway.
In 1996, Diggs originated the role of landlord Benny in Jonathan Larson's Tony Award- and Pulitzer Prize-winning Rent. The production also starred his future wife, Idina Menzel. After Rent, he appeared in Andrew Lippa's off-Broadway production of The Wild Party at the Manhattan Theatre Club, playing Mr. Black opposite Menzel's Kate. Diggs also filled in as the love interest Fiyero of Menzel's Elphaba character in Wicked.
Diggs' other Broadway credits include Hedwig and the Angry Inch, in which he played Hedwig as a replacement from July to September 2015, and Moulin Rouge! The Musical, in which he played The Duke of Monroth from July 2019 to September 2025.
In addition to his Broadway career, Diggs has appeared in television shows and films. He made his film debut in 1998 with How Stella Got Her Groove Back, which brought him much acclaim and exposure. He has also appeared in television shows such as Cougar Town, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, and American Dad!.
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Clues about hats
Mushroom, a contestant on season 4 of The Masked Singer, had fans guessing whether the celebrity behind the mask was Taye Diggs. Mushroom's first clue package included a street hot dog stand, a violin case, a brown detective top hat, and gardening supplies. The clue that fans focused on the most was "who is under my hats".
Mushroom's clues included many references to the musical Hamilton, such as "young scrappy and fungi", "say yes to this", and "the shroom where it happens". Mushroom also said that they had turned a "hobby into a career", with images of a reality singing competition flashing on the screen. This could be a reference to Jordan, who turned his video game hobby into a career on Twitch.
Other popular guesses included Todrick Hall, who was inspired to create his second album, Straight Outta Oz, after seeing Hamilton. Both Mushroom and Todrick have "changed their names" — Todrick used to go by Toddy Rockstar.
However, it was eventually revealed that the singer Aloe Blacc was the celebrity behind the Mushroom mask.
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Hamilton references
Fans of the show The Masked Singer speculated that Taye Diggs was the celebrity behind the Mushroom costume in season 4. The Mushroom character gave several clues, including references to the popular musical Hamilton.
Mushroom's clues with Hamilton references included "young, scrappy, and fungi" (a play on the lyrics "young, scrappy, and hungry" from the song "My Shot"), "say yes to this" (referencing the song "Satisfied"), and "the shroom where it happens" (a play on "The Room Where It Happens"). Mushroom also said that they had turned a "hobby into a career", which could be a nod to the musical's creator, Lin-Manuel Miranda, who turned his hobby of writing and performing into a successful career.
Other clues included a street hot dog stand, a violin case, a brown detective top hat, and gardening supplies. Mushroom also mentioned that to figure out their identity, one would need to find out "who is under my hats," possibly a play on the word "mushroom" and its association with the word "toadstool," which is a type of fungus that grows in hats or caps.
While some fans speculated that the celebrity behind the Mushroom costume was Taye Diggs due to his Broadway career and connections to the city of Chicago (referenced by a bull in the clue package), the judges on the show, including Nicole Scherzinger, eventually revealed that the singer Aloe Blacc was the one behind the Mushroom mask.
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Robin Thicke's guess
Robin Thicke, alongside Nicole Scherzinger, guessed that the Mushroom on The Masked Singer was singer Aloe Blacc. While Taye Diggs was a popular fan guess, Robin Thicke did not guess that it was him.
Mushroom's clues included references to the musical Hamilton, such as "young scrappy and fungi," "say yes to this," and "the shroom where it happens." There were also clues pointing to a reality singing competition, a violin case, a brown detective top hat, and gardening supplies.
Many of these clues did, indeed, point to Taye Diggs. The Broadway clues made sense, given that Diggs has starred in Rent and Hedwig and the Angry Inch. The bull in Mushroom's clue package was also thought to be a reference to the city of Chicago, and Diggs appeared in the film Chicago. Additionally, both Diggs and Thicke appeared on the Fox series I Can See Your Voice, so it would make sense for Diggs to be on The Masked Singer to promote another Fox show.
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Nicole Scherzinger's guess
Nicole Scherzinger is convinced that she has figured out the identity of Mushroom on The Masked Singer. She is positive that the person behind the mask is none other than Taye Diggs. Scherzinger's confidence in her guess is shared by many fans and some media outlets.
Scherzinger's reasoning is based on the clues presented by Mushroom, many of which she believes point to Diggs. For instance, Mushroom's clue package included a bull, which Scherzinger interprets as a reference to the city of Chicago. This connection makes sense as Taye Diggs starred in the movie Chicago. Additionally, Scherzinger considers the Broadway clues to be indicative of Diggs, who has appeared in Broadway productions like Rent and Hedwig and the Angry Inch.
Furthermore, Scherzinger's interview with Entertainment Weekly added weight to her guess. In the interview, she revealed that she eventually figures out Mushroom's identity and is the only judge to do so. This statement suggests that her guesses are particularly significant. Scherzinger's guess gains further traction when considering that both Diggs and Robin Thicke, another judge on The Masked Singer, appear on the Fox series I Can See Your Voice. It would be a strategic move by the network to have Diggs appear on The Masked Singer to promote their new show.
While Scherzinger and many fans are convinced by the clues pointing to Diggs, there are also other popular guesses. Some viewers speculate that Mushroom could be Todrick Hall, a performer and YouTuber. This theory is supported by the reality singing competition clue, as Hall was a semifinalist on American Idol. Additionally, Hall has expressed that he drew inspiration for his second album, Straight Outta Oz, from the musical Hamilton, which aligns with Mushroom's Hamilton-themed clues. Other names that have been floated include Jaden Smith, Anthony Ramos, and Aloe Blacc, the latter of whom was revealed to be the Mushroom in the final episode.
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Frequently asked questions
The Mushroom on season 4 of 'The Masked Singer' was singer Aloe Blacc.
Fans guessed Mushroom was Jaden Smith, Todrick Hall, Taye Diggs, Anthony Ramos, and more.
Clues included references to cheddar, doll hair, bucks, and an egg, which pointed to his birth name Egbert Nathaniel Dawkins III. A kangaroo was also a reference to his wife, Australian rapper Maya Jupiter.
