15 years after ‘American Idol,’ David Archuleta takes 2nd on ‘The Masked Singer.’ Here’s who won

Lottie Elizabeth Johnson
·5 min read
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Macaw performs in the season finale of “The Masked Singer.”
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“The Masked Singer” has crowned its Season 9 winner.

During the finale Wednesday night, the two remaining contestants — the Macaw and Medusa — battled it out for the victory.

Here’s a look at the mystery singers behind the costumes — and who ultimately emerged victorious.

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Who was Macaw on ‘The Masked Singer’ 2023?

The Macaw made his “Masked Singer” debut during the country music-themed episode, performing Tim McGraw’s “Live Like You Were Dying.”

According to Screenrant.com, Macaw shared some of his backstory during the episode, providing clues about his identity in the following voiceover package:

I’m so excited to become the Macaw because he’s everything I’m not — flashy, competent and he sings country songs. Even though I’ve been performing since a young age, it definitely didn’t start out as a passion. My dad would bribe me with quesadillas to perform at our local Mexican restaurant. And, eventually, I spread my wings on bigger stages.

Macaw also shared that “the pressure to always be the good son has brought me so much anxiety,” per Screenrant. ”But somewhere on the journey of melted cheese and panic attacks, I learned to take breaks and reset. And what started as a way to make my parents happy turned into what actually fills me with glee.”

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The Macaw concluded his package by stating that this past year he “decided to be brave, not only on stage, but in my own life. So this feels like the perfect opportunity to put my newfound courage on display.”

A silver medal was offered as another clue during Macaw’s appearance, according to Screenrant.

Guesses from “The Masked Singer” panelists included:

  • Elijah Wood.

  • Zayn Malik.

  • Doug Robb.

But fans widely believed the parrot was David Archuleta.

“Even when wearing a giant parrot head, his voice is unmistakable,” Parade reported. “The short height of Macaw also matches up. And his first onstage clue was a silver medal, a reference to him finishing second in ‘American Idol’ back in 2008.”

The Macaw’s reference to being brave in his personal life potentially referenced when Archuleta opened up to his fans about his sexuality and faith and called for compassion for the LGBTQ community in a 2021 social media post, the Deseret News reported.

“Becoming the Macaw is exciting because it’s like I’m becoming a new person,” he said during the finale. “Even though people can’t see me in this, in a way, it lets me show a lot more of myself. I can show the colors I was too afraid to show, and I’m able to tap deeper emotionally in my performances.”

In the Season 9 finale, the Macaw — who performed Eric Carmen’s “All By Myself” and James Bay’s “Hold Back the River” — said he “had a lot of anxiety before coming onto the show because I was afraid to show myself,” per Billboard. “It’s been a difficult last couple of years and I’m truly humbled, so thank you.”

So who was the Macaw? It was indeed Archuleta. But like his “American Idol” run in 2008, Archuleta once again finished the competition as the runner-up, with Medusa claiming the win.

“SQUAWK!! It was me behind the #MacawMask!” Archuleta shared on Twitter Wednesday night. “I had an absolute blast on @MaskedSingerFOX. Thank you for an incredible experience.”

Who was Medusa on ‘The Masked Singer’ 2023?

Medusa was on “The Masked Singer” since the very start of the season.

During the season premiere, Medusa shared her backstory, providing clues about her identity in a voiceover package:

I grew up far from the spotlight, a dancer in the dark, and I never quite fit in. I mean, look at me! But fitting in was never something I really worried about because I knew early on I was born to stand out, Medusa said in the package that revealed several clues, including a chess board and a set of scales with Buckingham Palace on one side, according to Distractify. So, I did my own thing and ignored anyone who wanted me to conform. Embracing my oddities, snakes and all, has taken me far. From the Super Bowl to this very stage. That’s right! Technically, I’ve been here before. But this time, I’m here to compete, and ‘The Masked Singer’ feels like the perfect stage for me because honestly? Look around. It doesn’t get much weirder than this.

According to Distractify, the following additional clues were revealed during the second episode:

  • A portrait of Coldplay’s Chris Martin.

  • A first-class ticket with Flight 1996 to Tokyo.

  • A picture of four palm trees.

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Guesses from “The Masked Singer” panelists included:

  • Lorde.

  • Apple Martin.

  • Dakota Johnson.

  • Ellie Goulding.

But fans, meanwhile, formed a consensus that Medusa was British singer-songwriter Bishop Briggs.

The entertainment sites GoldDerby and Parade also supported this theory. GoldDerby noted that Season 6 winner Jewel sang Briggs’ hit song “River” during her run on the show — marking a potential connection to the show that was alluded to in Medusa’s clue package. GoldDerby also indicated that Briggs’ song “Wild Horses” was used in a 2016 Super Bowl ad. Additionally, the chess board in the clue package could have potentially been a reference to Briggs’ first name.

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So who was Medusa? The fans were right.

Briggs’ performances on the finale included My Chemical Romance’s “Welcome to the Black Parade” and Sia’s “Electric Heart.”

Who else has won ‘The Masked Singer’?

As the Deseret News reported, Briggs joins the following list of “Masked Singer” winners:

  • T-Pain.

  • Wayne Brady.

  • Kandi Burruss.

  • LeAnn Rimes.

  • Nick Lachey.

  • Jewel.

  • Teyana Taylor.

  • Amber Riley.