John Oates Calls “Masked Singer” the ‘Weirdest Thing’ He’s Done, Almost Fainted During His Elimination: ‘Never So Happy to Lose’

John Oates Reflects on His Unusual Experience on The Masked Singer

John Oates, the renowned musician known for his work with Hall & Oates, has opened up about his unusual experience on the Fox reality show, The Masked Singer. As the character Anteater in the show’s tenth season, which aired in the autumn of 2023, Oates said he found the entire experience to be a combination of both thrilling and bizarre. Speaking on the Rock & Roll High School podcast, he noted that it was the “weirdest thing” he had ever done in his long career.

At the age of 77, Oates placed sixth on the show. He described his appearance as a “leap of faith,” admitting he had little knowledge of the series prior to his participation. Nevertheless, at this stage in his career, he expressed a desire to try new things, saying, “I just want to do stuff.” However, he encountered significant challenges while performing in the cumbersome Anteater costume, which hindered his singing, mobility, and vision.

Oates kept his participation under wraps, explaining he fabricated a story about filming a television pilot to justify his frequent flights to Los Angeles. On the day of his elimination from The Masked Singer, he had just arrived in L.A. at 2:30 AM after performing at the Newport Folk Festival and was required to be on set by 8:30 AM. He recollected the stark transition from folk music to wearing a costume that made him feel dizzy and uncomfortable.

“I was on stage thinking, ‘I’m going to fall over. I know I’m going to fall over,’” Oates recalled. After his performance, he faced a sing-off for a chance to remain in the competition. During this high-pressure moment, he felt unwell and was drenched in sweat. “Luckily, I lost,” he recounted, expressing relief at finally removing the cumbersome headpiece. “I was never so happy to lose,” he said.

Oates’ season included notable competitors such as tennis legend Billie Jean King, and singers Macy Gray and Keyshia Cole, with the character Cow, revealed to be Ne-Yo, ultimately winning the competition. Throughout the series, Oates performed a variety of songs, including “Walking in Memphis” by Marc Cohn and “I Want It That Way” by the Backstreet Boys, along with Chuck Berry’s classic “Johnny B. Goode.”

Upon his unmasking, Oates appeared visibly relieved and amused when the judging panel failed to guess his true identity. With a touch of irony, he commented, “I’ve done a lot of crazy stuff in my career. This is one of the best things I’ve ever done,” emphasising the enjoyment he found in singing anonymously.

Despite the challenges he faced, Oates found joy in the experience, saying it felt liberating to perform without the pressure of expectations. “It’s been a blast… It’s crazy,” he added, highlighting the thrill of anonymity in performance.

He has continued to focus on his music career, having released a solo album in August 2024. The album, self-titled John Oates, follows his previous effort, Reunion, and marks a significant return to his individual creativity. Oates reflected on the early 2000s, when he felt constrained by a rigid schedule that limited his artistic expression. “It was debilitating… it was just about celebrating our past,” he shared, revealing that with his recent works, he has finally found the freedom to explore his artistry fully.

In a career spanning several decades, John Oates has solidified his legacy in the music industry. His willingness to embrace the oddities of reality television and his ongoing passion for music exemplify a continuous evolution as an artist, making him a fascinating figure in contemporary culture.