The last group of Masked Singer contestants came out swinging last night. The popular show introduced Group C heavy hitters: Night Angel, Bear, Astronaut, T-Rex, and Swan, but there was a one-horned hopeful who stood head-and-shoulders above the rest.
The Rhino boogied to the stage wearing a vintage-inspired pilot uniform. Standing next to the already tall in stature Nick Cannon, who is 6-feet-tall, the Rhino looked colossal.
During his clue package, he gave deep-throated narration, but his performance proved he was more of a gentle giant. His sweet singing voice lent itself well to the song choice of Have a Little Faith in Me, which echoed some of his hints.
Clue package details:
- Rhino appeared on many magazine covers and was the “toast of the town every week.”
- Became addicted to being on top, before he “crashed and burned.”
- He pushed the people close to him away.
- He has a connection to Nashville and the famed Grand Ole Opry.
- Rhino possibility rides a motorcycle (which is inexplicably adorned with butterflies).
The judges panel weighed in, naming Jason Aldean, Tim McGraw, and Tim Tebow as possibilities for the Rhino.
However, fans thought otherwise and quickly took to their favorite blog posts and social media platforms to theorize who the large ungulate could be.
John Travolta
At an impressive height of 6-foot-2, at-home guessers believe the Rhino could be John Travolta.
He has already proved himself to be a triple threat – actor, dancer, and singer – and showcased all these skills in the 1978 movie musical, Grease. The soundtrack for the hit film is one of the best-selling of all time, with more than six million copies sold.
Fans made this connection being that The Masked Singer Group C has 36 gold records between them.
Besides his entertainment work, Travolta has also been a licensed pilot for more than 40 years and even owns a runway. He and his wife also named their late son “Jett.”
Sam Hunt
The statuesque Sam Hunt stands at 6-foot-3, which could explain the Rhino’s hovering height.
As a country superstar, he has performed at the Grand Ole Opry. He also rides a motorcycle in the music video for his song Downtown’s Dead.
Hunt also has somewhat of a troubled past, as he was arrested for a DUI last year in Nashville.
Barry Zito
Former Major League Baseball (MLB) player Barry Zito stands tall at 6-foot-2.
He played for 15 seasons as a pitcher for the Oakland Athletics and the San Francisco Giants, which could allude to the Rhino’s “gentle giant” hint. Standing atop the pitcher’s mound, he could also be considered “center stage,” as the clue package pointed out.
In late 2006, he signed a seven-year $126 million contract with the Giants, the largest ever given to a pitcher at that time. He was at the top of his game before his career began to decline. He hit rock bottom, ultimately being benched while his team won the 2010 World Series, similar to the Rhino’s “crash and burn.”
In addition to his athletic prowess, Zito is also a professional musician in his own right. He sings with a country style and resides in Nashville. He co-wrote the song Butterflies (as seen in the clue package) for the Eddie Murphy film A Thousand Words.
The Masked Singer airs Wednesdays at 8/7c on Fox.