Eight-time NBA All-Star is first to be unmasked during 'Masked Singer' premiere

The Masked Singer returned Wednesday night with part one of its Season 6 premiere, and while we met the first five mystery celebrities – the Skunk, Mother Nature, the Bull, the Puffer Fish, and the Octopus – sadly, it was the latter who was octopi-ing the first elimination spot.

While the audience thought he didn't quite rock-topus, viewers at home thought his performance of "Tutti Frutti" was amazing, and were kind of upset that he was sent home. However, they were even more excited when the Octopus unmasked himself and was revealed to be Los Angeles Laker and eight-time NBA All-Star Dwight Howard.

The 35-year-old basketball player seemed happy, when he explained how hot the suit was, as he shared, "The mask weighs about 55 pounds. I was sweating, smiling and singing. The three S's!" Howard also shared that he decided to go on The Masked Singer because it's his mom's favorite show.

"This morning, when we got here to the set, my mom was like, 'Dwight, what are we doing here?' And she saw The Masked Singer, she was like, 'You're on the Masked! Oh, my God!'" Unfortunately, Howard's mom didn't get to see him on the show for that long, but at least he was able to give an encore performance, before host Nick Cannon revealed the next celebrity to be unmasked during this week's double-elimination, Mother Nature, who will reveal her identity Thursday night during part two of the season premiere.

Video Transcript

OCTOPUS: (SINGING) He knows how to love me, Yes, indeed. Boy, you don't know what to do with me. Tutti frutti. Oh, frutti.

- The Masked Singer returned Wednesday night with part one of its season six premiere, and while we met the first five mystery celebrities, like the Skunk, Mother Nature, the Bull, the Pufferfish, and the Octopus, sadly it was the latter who was "octopi-ing" the first elimination. While the audience thought he didn't quite "rock-topus", viewers at home thought his performance of "Tutti Frutti" was amazing, and we're kind of upset that he was sent home. But let's get to the reveal. Who was the Octopus?

KEN JEONG: The great reveal.

[CROWD CHANTING]

NICOLE SCHERZINGER: Oh.

ROBIN THICKE: Who was he?

NICK CANNON: NBA champion, the one and only, Dwight Howard.

- The Los Angeles Laker and eight time NBA All-Star said he wanted to do "The Masked Singer" because it's his mom's favorite show.

DWIGHT HOWARD: When we got here to the set, my mom was like, uh, Dwight what-- what-- what-- are we doing here? And she saw the Masked Singer, she was like, you in a mask? Oh my god. [? Oh, ?] oh, I didn't know he had a mask on.

- It's too bad Dwight's mom didn't get to see him on the show for that long, but at least he was able to give an encore performance.

DWIGHT HOWARD: (SINGING)

[SCATTING]

I got a girl named Sue. She knows just what to do.

- Before, we found out who is getting unmasked on Thursday, so stay tuned.

NICK CANNON: Oh, Mother Nature.

[CROWD GASPING]

JENNY MCCARTHY: Oh, no.

ROBIN THICKE: This is so [? anti-environment. ?]

NICK CANNON: That means the Bull, Pufferfish, and Skunk, you guys are advancing to tomorrow night's episode.