who are the judges on the masked singer

The main judges on the U.S. version of The Masked Singer in the most recent seasons have been Ken Jeong, Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg, Robin Thicke, and Rita Ora, with Nick Cannon as host.

Current judging panel

In the latest cycle leading into 2026 (season 14 on FOX), the show has kept the same four-person panel it’s used in recent seasons rather than returning fully to the original lineup. Three panelists are from the original American cast, with one “seat” now effectively taken over by Rita Ora, who originally judged on the U.K. version.

• Ken Jeong – comedian and actor, known for very animated reactions and playful, off-the-wall guesses.

• Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg – TV personality, often focusing on performance details and fan theories.

• Robin Thicke – singer-songwriter, usually the panel’s “music technician,” commenting on tone and range.

• Rita Ora – pop star and original U.K. Masked Singer judge, brought in when Nicole Scherzinger left to do Sunset Boulevard in the West End and then on Broadway.

What changed from the original judges?

Earlier seasons had Nicole Scherzinger as a core judge alongside Ken, Jenny, and Robin, forming the original American panel. When Nicole took on major stage roles, the show brought in Rita Ora to fill that spot, and she has stayed on for subsequent seasons instead of the series reverting to the exact original four.

Extra context and “latest news”

Season 14, premiering January 7, 2026, follows a brief schedule break for the franchise and is promoted as keeping the now-familiar panel intact. Coverage ahead of the premiere emphasizes that the panel is “the same from the past few seasons,” while still noting that one of the original four (Nicole Scherzinger) has not yet returned to her chair.

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