Why is Rita Ora Replacing Nicole Scherzinger On 'The Masked Singer'?

"The Masked Singer" enlists a new panelist who would be replacing Nicole Scherzinger on the bench.

Rita Ora is replacing Nicole Scherzinger in the upcoming Season 11 of "The Masked Singer."

'The Masked Singer' Season 11 With Rita Ora

According to a press release that Today got a hold of, it was revealed that Rita Ora will be replacing Nicole Scherzinger as a panelist on "The Masked Singer."

The former Pussycat Dolls member has been on the bench since season 1 of the show. She stood alongside Ken Jeong, Robin Thicke, and Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg in guessing whose celebrities hide behind the famous masks each week.

Rita Ora has experience guessing people behind the masks as she was on four seasons of the same show in the United Kingdom which ended last February 2023. She was also a judge at "X-Factor UK," a coach on "The Voice Australia," and a host on "America's Next Top Model."

However, Rita Ora won't be a panelist until Season 11. Currently, the show is opening its tenth season with a preview episode before the actual season premiere. Demi Lovato was revealed recently to be Anonymouse.

Why is Nicole Scherzinger Leaving 'The Masked Singer'?

The huge move of recruiting Rita Ora on "The Masked Singer" came after Nicole Scherzinger was tapped to be on the West End in London.

Scherzinger was cast as a lead on a new Andrew Lloyd Webber musical - "Sunset Boulevard."

"After our reappraisal of Evita at the Open Air Theatre, Regent's Park, I'm very excited to rediscover another iconic Lloyd Webber musical-and Sunset Boulevard is one of his most thrilling, complex, and atmospheric scores. We are so fortunate to have the opportunity to create a new production of this fascinating piece with the extraordinary Nicole Scherzinger," "Sunset Boulevard" director Jamie Lloyd said in a statement to Playbill.

This was not the first time that Scherzinger was cast in a Lloyd-Webber musical. Notably, she performed as Grizabella in the 2014 revival production of "Cats" on the West End.

Meanwhile, fans can expect to see Nicole Scherzinger until the end of Season 10 on "The Masked Singer." Season 11 of the show will start airing in 2024, barring any complications and delays from the network. Season 11 of "The Masked Singer" is currently filming.

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Nicole scherzinger, Rita Ora, The masked singer