Kate Flannery Responds to Being Called the Most Beloved 'Masked Singer' Contestant
Kate Flannery is unmasked alongside Nick Cannon on 'The Masked Singer'
Kate Flannery is most well-known for her work inside an ensemble, namely the iconic cast of The Office. But the past few years, she's been able to step out from beyond Meredith and showcase her immense amount of talent, notably on Dancing with the Stars in 2019. And five years later, she's got the vocals to match with her performance on The Masked Singer season 11. Her high-energy style as Starfish immediately endeared to the judges. And though she ultimately was eliminated before the finals, she was declared one of the most beloved characters in the show's history.
The day after his reveal, Kate spoke to Parade.com about how DWTS matches up to Masked Singer, what went into her energetic Starfish persona, and her musical history (including an upcoming Alzheimer's Association benefit alongside Jane Lynch.
Related: Everything to Know About The Masked Singer Season 11
How did you get involved with The Masked Singer?
It was the first time I was asked. I actually was a clue giver last season, season 10, and I had a great time. And then they asked me. It's funny because, when I was on The Office, they always said, "If Meredith sings, she doesn't sing." Because it's a documentary, so not everybody could sing. I'm excited to get to sing on TV, because I do sing. I used to only sing with a wig on because I had a dying lounge act for 20 years, "Couple of Lampshades." We did mashups of 70s and 80s songs. We did a lot of comedy clubs and stuff. But I also sing with Jane Lynch. She does not make me wear a mask when we sing together. We did a Christmas album together.
So it's it's a strange evolution. But when I got asked to do it, I was so nervous initially with Dancing with the Stars. I thought I had no business doing that. So I thought I was I felt very taken care of. And I've had the similar experience with Masked Singer. So yeah, I'm always kind of up for something new. And I feel like, as an artist, when you do something a little out of your comfort zone where you get to stretch, you should do it.
How does The Masked Singer compare with Dancing with the Stars? I know the latter was so rigorous physically.
I always say I was so out of shape when I joined Dancing with the Stars. Because I'm too cheap to join a gym, and it works. But yeah, Masked Singer, I feel like there were physical challenges because my costume was really, really hard to walk in. I can only take really short steps. So I have new respect for the mascots of teams of professional teams and college teams, high school teams. I mean, I should have worked at Disneyland. I mean, I actually had fun in this costume. It was really fun.
I want to ask about that. Because you were called one of the most beloved characters in Masked Singer history. And part of it is because how animated you were as Starfish. What was your approach to moving around in the costume?
I just felt like an animated character. And I thought, "Oh my gosh, if I get stuck being a starfish for the rest of my life, I want to make it count." But I just feel like it's communicating without talking when you're moving around. This is such a sweet character. I just thought that the artists who created this, they did such an amazing job. And I just thought she had this kind of inner light. So I just kept trying to move, and I kept forgetting, "Oh, yeah, now I gotta sing."
What was your reaction to the compliments being thrown your way? As I mentioned before, you were called one of the most beloved characters in the show's history. And Ken said, if he had it his way, you'd make the finals!
I actually think they might like Starfish better than Kate Flannery. And I'm fine with that. I'm fine. I can live with that. But it is sort of like a strange commedia dell'arte, for all you theatre students in college. Where you wear a mask, and you have to communicate solely through body movements and gestures. And there's so much energy in that audience in that room. So I just wanted to keep it up. So that's why I literally felt like a mascot. Like, "Come on, everybody!" Because it's a party. That show is a party, and if you invite me to a party, I am going to show up.
You were one of the performers this season that had the judges stumped nearly the entire season. Did it bring you pride that everyone except Ken couldn't figure out it was you?
I mean, it's so funny. Because I feel like they went through a roster of really wonderful SNL female actors. I mean, those are good compliments. Good to be confused with Amy Poehler and Tina Fey and Maya Rudolph and Kate McKinnon. It's crazy. Oh my God, I love it.
That being said, Ken did clock who you were based on your pre-existing relationships. And he said he was your biggest fan professionally and personally, and the most grounded celebrity he knows. What was your reaction to that?
Well, I've known Ken Jeong for years because we were both on "Must-See TV" Thursday nights back when there was no streaming, no binging. So Community was on sometimes after The Office, sometimes before. And so we definitely shared some press moments and we were definitely in each other's worlds. So Ken is so gracious. And I was so blown away by his support, I have to say. He's awesome. And he doesn't give it away for free. You always have to earn it with him. He's awesome. And I was really pleasantly surprised by the level of support he was giving me.
You ended up being the last person eliminated from Group A before the finals. Were you surprised to be eliminated over Goldfish?
I mean, it's just weird. Because I realized that it was Queen night, and I actually did a duet by myself. I did "Under Pressure," which is David Bowie and Queen singing. So that was a huge challenge. I mean, the thing about Goldfish is that she's very pretty, and I'm like this cartoon character. I'm sort of like a little child singing "Another One Bites the Dust." And then who knew, another one did bite the dust. It was me.
Finally, I know you and the aforementioned Jane Lynch are co-hosting this year’s Alzheimer’s Association Southern California "Magic of Music Gala." Tell me more about it.
So the thing about Alzheimer's in my family. My Aunt Rosemary, who was my godmother, and my aunt, she was one of the smartest people I knew. She was a lawyer. She was a mother. She was a writer. She was a sports writer in the 50s when no women did that. Just a really bright woman. And to watch her suffer and change so quickly from this awful disease. I mean, Alzheimer's affects so many people in our lives, and we're just glacially getting answers and some solutions, but it's taking forever. And in the meantime, it just can't happen fast enough.
So, the Alzheimer's Association, we're doing this event on May 9 at Sony Pictures. You can donate. You don't you don't have to come. But if you want to come, Jane Lynch and I are hosting, there will be a lot of music. Tony Guerrero will be our music director. He's amazing. We do live shows with him. Tony Bennett's daughter Antonia is performing as well. She does jazz. And yeah, I mean, it's gonna be a great day. There's a lot of entertainment that night. But I don't necessarily want to just make people come to an event. I feel like just if you're aware, a little bit of money goes a long way So any chance you get to just donate to help and also raise awareness and help us get to the solution is so, so much appreciated.
