“There’s a million reasons I love my daughter…” That’s how Edwin McCain, cloaked in the steamy, serpentine costume of Nessy, sealed one of the most emotionally resonant and nostalgically charged performances in The Masked Singer history. The singer-songwriter best known for his ’90s anthem “I’ll Be” wasn’t just hiding under a mythic monster suit — he was reclaiming the spotlight in a show-stopping (and heartwarming) run that gave fans a second look at a love ballad legend through a brand-new lens.
The final five Soundtrack of My Life night brought out emotional layers in every mask
Wednesday’s Season 13 Episode 11, titled “Soundtrack of My Life Night,” didn’t just push the remaining five contestants to perform songs that defined them — it peeled back layers of their personal stories, relationships, and emotional cores. Opening with a group rendition of Boston’s “More Than a Feeling,” the top five — Coral, Pearl, Boogie Woogie, Mad Scientist Monster, and Nessy — delivered one last hurrah before the audience voted one of them off in what host Nick Cannon called “the closest margin in Masked Singer history.”
And that eliminated contestant? Nessy. But as the curtain dropped and the crowd gasped, the reveal only added weight to the moment: it was Edwin McCain.
Edwin McCain embraced the challenge — and the heat — to create a new chapter in his career
McCain’s decision to don the Nessy costume wasn’t just about anonymity — it was about experience. As he told Variety, this wasn’t his first wild ride: “We’ve landed on an aircraft carrier off the coast of Korea… We’ve been to Djibouti, Africa and Bahrain… If life be an adventure, this certainly falls in that category.” Masked Singer gave him a new kind of stage, one where he could perform without preconceived notions and simply connect.
“It was about 10,000 degrees in there,” he joked about the costume, “but they gave me a vest that had ice packs all over it… It was way more comfortable than playing a festival gig in Alabama in August.” Behind the scenes heat aside, McCain brought cool composure to every performance, even when singing songs that weren’t in his usual repertoire — like *NSYNC’s “Tearin’ Up My Heart” and Lady Gaga’s “Million Reasons.”
“I might sing that Lady Gaga song,” he admitted. “That’s a really great song.”
Nessy’s final performance was fueled by love, cringe, and a daughter’s heartfelt message
“I’m so glad I was wearing this mask, so you didn’t see me crying under here,” McCain said before his final performance. And he had a reason. Masked Singer isn’t just about guessing — it’s about storytelling through sound. For Nessy, that story was deeply personal.
His daughter, appearing in a masked message of her own, called him out on the cringe — social media posts, embarrassing music videos — but also lifted him up with a million reasons why she loves him. She even thanked him for teaching her to drive a tractor. It was a moment that perfectly encapsulated the show’s 13th season theme: Soundtrack of My Life.
Nessy’s final song choice, “Million Reasons,” wasn’t just a ballad; it was a love letter to the one who keeps him grounded. A song that’s likely to echo in McCain’s future setlists, now that he’s touring with Train this summer.
Panel misfires and one perfect guess — Robin Thicke seals the Golden Ear race
As always, the panelists took their best swings at Nessy’s identity. Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg guessed Johnny Rzeznik. Rita Ora was stuck on Dave Matthews. Ken Jeong floated John Popper. But Robin Thicke — the born detective of the group — nailed it. And that’s not just a random win for Thicke. It’s a testament to his musical intuition and the sharp edge he brings to the panel.
Thicke’s correct guess ties him with Jenny in the race for the Golden Ear Trophy, giving us one more subplot to follow as the show barrels toward the finale. And with a new Detective Lucky Duck character stirring the pot, the panel’s game just got a lot more interesting.
Nessy’s Celtic knot clue symbolizes the eternal love that drove his entire journey
One of the most poignant moments came not on the stage, but in the “Crack the Case” segment — the new clue reveal for eliminated contestants. For Nessy, it was a Celtic knot. A symbol of eternal love, unbroken loops, and timeless connection. “It symbolizes internal love, which is something that heavily influenced my career,” McCain explained.
It’s the kind of subtle storytelling that The Masked Singer has become masterful at — using imagery, metaphor, and music to tell deeper truths. And for Edwin McCain, it was the perfect symbol for a career built on love songs, emotional honesty, and staying true to yourself.
Edwin McCain’s Masked Singer run may not have won the trophy, but it won our hearts
Getting eliminated by less than one percent is almost a badge of honor. It means the audience was split, the competition was fierce, and Nessy’s (McCain’s) journey was as legendary as it was close. This wasn’t just an elimination — it was a missive from the fandom that says, we see you, and we love what you’re doing.
McCain’s recent album “Lucky” may be his 11th solo release, but with The Masked Singer, he’s given himself — and us — a chance to rethink what “lucky” really means. It’s not about being in the spotlight. It’s about having moments that matter, and singing them with all your heart, even if you’re wearing a mythical monster suit.
So here’s to Nessy — a.k.a. Edwin McCain — a love soldier who still has plenty of “I’ll Be” in his soul, and a whole lot of million reasons to keep singing.