With The Masked Singer semi-finals nearing on Fox, fans may have just figured out the voice behind that glittery pink Crocodile costume. Last night, the vocalist belted a rendition of Leona Lewis’s “Bleeding Love.” In weeks prior, the Crocodile has covered hits by Britney Spears and Bon Jovi — but in times before The Masked Singer, fans are speculating that this contestant was part of a famed boy band.
Spoilers ahead for those who haven’t caught up with the recent episodes of Masked Singer. Drawing on the clues and overall stage persona of the Crocodile, viewers guess that he might be Nick Carter of the Backstreet Boys.
The first set of clues from the singer explained that, similar to the Crocodile persona, they’re “the happiest in water” — Carter spent most of his early life in Florida. To add, the contestant said most of his early life was also spent in Hollywood, “surrounded by heartache and instability.” This sounds like something a boy band star might say about his youth.
The Crocodile’s second clue also suggests the performer could be Carter, adding more about his boyish love for performing. “When I was young, I was just a poor nobody with a dream,” the Crocodile hints. “I remember standing in my backyard performing to each weed and rose petal.” A few years later, the singer says, his dreams of becoming a performer became reality, and he made it big. That could certainly be referencing Carter’s role in the Backstreet Boys.
In the most recent episode, Croc’s clue package dropped a huge hint: the vocalist starred in “a huge cult classic movie.” Carter does have a number of credits listed on his IMDb resume, but most of them are just soundtrack credits for his songs with Backstreet Boys. Look a little earlier in Carter’s career, though, and you might notice he did star in one major cult classic: Edward Scissorhands. As a child, Carter had a role as a “Neighborhood Extra” in Tim Burton’s 1990 fantasy hit Edward Scissorhands.
With all the hints, performances, and online guesses, it looks like there’s a pretty high probability that Nick Carter is singing inside that glamorous Crocodile costume. You can catch the contestant’s next performance in the semi-finals, which will begin on Dec. 2.
See who’s unmasked next week on The Masked Singer, which premieres every Wednesday at 8/7c on Fox.
