On April 2, The Masked Singer Season 13, Episode 8 captivated viewers with a thrilling showcase of Group C. The episode was themed around Boy Band Night, featuring memorable performances from contestants Nessy, Stud Muffin, Yorkie, and Mad Scientist Monster. Notably, the contestants joined forces for a lively rendition of “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)”by the Backstreet Boys, marking a nostalgic highlight of the night.
Nessy took the stage with an emotional interpretation of “Tearin’ Up My Heart,”a classic from the iconic pop boy band NSYNC, founded by Chris Kirkpatrick in 1995. Following this heartfelt performance, fans were treated to an unexpected appearance by Chris Kirkpatrick himself, who launched new merchandise—a heart-shaped t-shirt echoing the spirit of Nessy’s song.
During the performance, Nessy hinted at his own history with love songs, reminiscent of the boy band era. His enchanting vocals drew enthusiastic cheers and applause from the audience. Ultimately, Nessy was declared safe and moved on to the next round, while Stud Muffin, later identified as rapper Method Man, was eliminated. Fans took to social media, particularly X, to share their excitement over Nessy’s captivating performance in this episode.
“Nessy is killing this classic,”a fan said.
“Nessy is really giving us a run for our money,”said another.
“Nessy has me stomped but I love the raspy singing,”added a third.
“Wow!!! Nessy can sing… Great opening to the show!!! Love the song choice…,”wrote one.
The adoration for Nessy was evident as fans expressed their thoughts and speculated about the identity behind the mask.
“That’s what we’re talking about Nessy!”an X user wrote.
“Nessy is tearing up MY heart,”another user wrote.
“I think Nessy is Justin Timberlake,”commented one.
“Doesn’t the fact that Nessy was basically competing with NSYNC kinda take Daryl Hall off the table?”wrote one.
Nessy’s Performance Insights and Panelist Speculations
In Episode 8 of The Masked Singer, Nessy dropped clues about his past, sharing that he had once been part of a boy band and never imagined he would be performing one of their songs. He expressed his enthusiasm for themed nights, stating, “the tables have turned, and I love it.”
“I was fighting these guys for TRL spots, charts, and CD sales — but there was one boy band that kept getting in my way: NSYNC,”he revealed.
Nessy conveyed that the competition with NSYNC often felt very close, frequently teasing that they edged him out. He recalled a memorable encounter with an NSYNC member at a golf tournament, where instead of rivalry, they enjoyed a friendly toast together. This experience underscored the importance of camaraderie in the industry. He dedicated his performance to NSYNC, reminiscing fondly about the competitive yet friendly nature of their music journey.
Following his performance, panelists took their guesses on Nessy’s identity. Rita Ora suggested he might be Dave Matthews, while Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg leaned towards Darius Rucker, and Ken Jeong thought he could be Pat Monahan from Train.
Don’t miss out! New episodes of The Masked Singer Season 13 air every Wednesday at 8 PM ET on Fox.