Sisqó Reveals the Song He Didn't Know on 'The Masked Singer'

An unmasked Sisqó with host Nick Cannon on 'The Masked Singer' season 11

It seems like Sisqó has appeared for years on The Masked Singer. That's because the judges of the Emmy-winning reality series would constantly guess the Grammy-nominated singer was underneath the costumed performers in front of them. So, considering all the skins he occupied as a guess in the previous seasons, when he actually did get the chance to appear on the show, it only makes sense he don the scales of the Lizard. After an eventful three-week run of two Smackdown performances and multiple guesses of New Edition members, he was finally eliminated, and celebrated his time on the show with a live performance of "The Thong Song."

The day after his reveal, Sisqó spoke to Parade.com about his family's obsession with the show, his reaction to the right and wrong guesses, and how he didn't prepare for his first Smackdown song.

Related: Everything to Know About The Masked Singer Season 11

How did you get involved with The Masked Singer?
I was extremely flattered that they asked me to be a part of The Masked Singer. However, if they didn't ask, I have a feeling I was going to have to maybe go up to the studio and knock on the door and say, "Hey, man, let me on here, because my family won't stop talking about it." Because I promise you, it seemed like every other season, somebody was like, "That's gotta be Sisqó." My family loves the show. Every time I come home from work or something, they're watching the show. Ken Jeong, somebody will say, "This is Sisqó." And then my kids will turn around and be like, "Daddy, is that true?" I'm like, "I'm literally standing right right here!" But as soon as I got on the show, I didn't tell any of my family. They knew immediately, right before I even said anything. They were like, "That's you right there."

Well I was gonna say, The Masked Singer is not a live show. So you could still stand behind your kids while you're performing and be like, "How can I be there if I'm right here?"
Well, first of all, when they said that, I still disagree with them and don't say yes. But when I call back home. I'm in London right now because my boy band, Dru Hill, is at a show at the Wembley Arena. And so every time I'm talking to my kids, and every time my episode comes on, they'd be like, "We know it's you. You didn't sing yet, but we know it's you."

Speaking of boy bands, we have to talk about the constant guesses the judges had that you were a member of New Edition. You got basically every member guessed, except for Bobby Brown (who's already competed). What was your reaction to that?
First of all, man, I don't know what Ken Jeong is on. He was not on my page. And the fact that he mentioned Michael Bivins. That's the only member of New Edition that really don't be singing! He's the rapper. I can't rap to save my life. He was way, way off. But Robin and Rita, they knew who I was immediately. Even Nick knew who I was immediately.

Did that inform the way you performed? You don't really need to think about masking your identity. Now you can just treat everyone to a Sisqó concert.
[Laughs.] I didn't really understand the rules of the game. So, I came in there with my typical artist's arrogance. I had no idea I was going to the Smackdown. I had no idea I was gonna be suffocating in the mask. No idea that I wasn't gonna be able to see through the mask to read the words. Because when it came to the "Movin' Out" song on the first Smackdown, I was so confident that I wasn't going to be in the Smackdown that I didn't study at all. And when the song comes on, it sounds kinda like "Beat It" to me. So every time it came on, I kept thinking, "Beat It." So I was so happy that the that the chef went on before me. Because I was able to hustle a little bit and hear how the melody went a little bit. I kept pushing my mask up. I couldn't see the lyrics. So I just started just riffing all over.

I was gonna ask you about that. It seems like you definitely made that Smackdown performance your own. So it was because you didn't know the song?
Exactly.

So you were put in the Smackdown twice in a row. How did it feel to be put in the line of fire so often?
At some point, I just put that on, like I put the mask on. After the first Smackdown, I realized that I needed to be a little bit more prepared, just in case it happens again. And so I was fortunate enough to win the two Smackdowns that I was in, and that was awesome. I was able to at least tell my artist's ego that some W's were in there with the L.

You speak about Rita knowing your identity. And she went so far as to say that your presence alone made her trip from the U.K. What was your reaction to such lofty praise?
It was awesome to see my fellow musicians just give it up from the singer side of The Masked Singer. I think Jenny and Ken are just there for the masks. [Laughs.] But these guys are there for the singers. Rita, Robin, I love you guys. Plus, I've been to Robin's house before. So I figured he probably knew who I was anyway.

Next, check out our interview with Billy Bush, who was eliminated in The Masked Singer Season 11 Episode 4.