Owl on The Masked Singer has become a fun who-is-it mystery on both the UK and US versions, and the identity depends on which show and year people are talking about.

Owl Masked Singer – Quick Scoop 🦉

Who (probably) is “Owl” right now?

On the current US The Masked Singer season (season 14, 2026), Owl is still unmasked as of mid‑January 2026 , so everything is based on clues and fan theories, not confirmed fact.

A leading fan and media theory is that Owl could be Billy Bob Thornton , based on the deep, gravelly voice, Southern drawl, woodsy imagery, and “cabin in the woods” style clue package.

On the UK version, however, Owl has already been revealed in the 2024 series, and the person under the mask was TV presenter Lorraine Kelly.

So:

  • US 2026 Fox season 14 → identity not yet officially revealed, strong theory: Billy Bob Thornton.
  • UK 2024 ITV series → confirmed identity: Lorraine Kelly.

Key clues and performances (US Owl, 2026)

From early episodes of the US 2026 season:

  • Costume: Dark, atmospheric owl look with huge eyes, feathers, and a moody, woodland vibe, very storybook and mysterious.
  • Premiere song: “Wild Thing” by The Troggs, performed with a gritty, swaggering delivery and clear Southern twang.
  • Second performance: A stripped‑back version of “Ain’t No Sunshine” that leans on a raspy, emotional vocal rather than big theatrics.
  • Clue style: References to cabins, reindeer imagery, and a somewhat moody, introspective backstory that fits someone who went from early fame and backlash to later critical respect.

Panel reactions and guesses covered several Southern‑associated actors; one on‑air guess linked the spyglass imagery and dark drama vibes to Matthew McConaughey , partly citing his True Detective work, while another honed in on the general Southern tone.

Fan/press analysis tends to converge more on Billy Bob Thornton , saying the vocal timbre and career clues line up more neatly with him.

What happened with UK Owl?

On the UK Masked Singer (ITV) in 2024:

  • Owl appeared in series 5, performing upbeat numbers like “Happy Talk”.
  • The character was described as joyful and surprising, with panel chatter about the performer not being a traditional pro singer.
  • After elimination, Owl was unmasked as Lorraine Kelly , a well‑known morning TV host, who later talked in interviews about how strange it was to sing in front of an audience for the first time and how secretive the experience had to be.

This is why forum conversations about “Owl masked singer” can get confusing: UK fans are talking about Lorraine, while US fans are trading theories about a still‑masked Owl.

Fan debate and forum vibes

Online discussions around Owl right now tend to split into two camps:

  • Voice‑match detectives
    Fans compare phrasing, breathiness, and accent to actors and musicians from the Southern US, posting side‑by‑side clips with Billy Bob Thornton and others.
  • Clue‑board theorists
    People dissect every bit of the clue packages – reindeer, cabins, references to “backlash,” “iconic roles,” or going from “lazy” to “active” ways of working – and tie them to careers involving cult‑classic films, prestige TV, and late‑career awards.

Because the US Owl hasn’t been unmasked yet, any specific name is still speculation, even when sites say they’re “pretty sure.”

Simple Q&A

  • Is Owl’s identity officially confirmed in the US?
    No, not yet; as of the latest January 2026 episode, Owl is still in the competition, so all names are educated guesses.
  • Who has definitely been Owl before?
    On the UK show, Owl was confirmed to be Lorraine Kelly in 2024.
  • Why do people keep saying Billy Bob Thornton?
    Because of the deep, rough voice, Southern tone, and clue package that mirrors his career arc from edgy early fame to more respected later roles.

TL;DR:

  • UK Owl (2024 ITV) = Lorraine Kelly (confirmed).
  • US Owl (2026 Fox season 14) = not yet revealed; top theory: Billy Bob Thornton, but still unconfirmed.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.