"The Masked Singer" premiered its ninth season on Fox last Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023.
The show, which features celebrity guest performers hiding behind elaborate costumes, has been one of the biggest shows on television in the past few months.
Last season, "Glee" alum Amber Riley, the Harp, won the season after successfully winning each round she was in.
Like the preceding seasons, "The Masked Singer" has invited and surprised its viewers with iconic guest stars and performers hidden behind the mask.
In "The Masked Singer" Season nine premiere, an entertainment icon hidden behind "The Gnome" was part of the chopping block in the first episode.
Judges Nicole Scherzinger, Ken Jeong, Robert Thicke, and Jenny McCarthy had differing guesses from Tony Bennett, Robert DeNiro, and even Dustin Hoffman, but they were shocked and moved to tears when "The Masked Singer" gnome was revealed.
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Who Is 'The Masked Singer' Gnome?
When "The Masked Singer" host Nick Cannon unmasked the Gnome, the whole studio was in shock to see legendary TV icon Dick Van Dyke standing behind it.
The Emmy, Grammy, and Tony-winning entertainer, despite being 97 years old, managed to sing "When You're Smiling" by Frank Sinatra beautifully.
Immediately, the icon received a standing ovation from the crowd, including all four judges.
Asked how it has been inside the costume, Dyke had this to say:
"You can't see anything. I just love that they thought I was Robert De Niro. I didn't know Robert De Niro could sing, to tell you the truth."
Scherzinger was visibly moved seeing Dyke, who she considers her childhood icon.
"I love you so much. The whole world loves you so much. It's an honor to have you on our show. I can't believe you're here. I'm trying to play it cool. You look so gorgeous, you look so handsome!" Scherzinger said. "I love Dick Van Dyke!"
Jeong, on the other hand, confessed to Dyke that he was the reason he got into comedy in the first place, describing him as the GOAT - "Greatest of All Time."
In a People Magazine interview, Dyke revealed how thrilled he was showing up on a show that he had not even watched before.
"I had never even seen the show when they asked me. So I checked it out and it looked like a lot of fun," he shared. "I was positive they wouldn't be able to guess who I was. And I was right!" he admitted.
READ ALSO: 'The Masked Singer' Amber Riley The Harp Wins Season 8: Is She Performing On Christmas Special?
