<\/p>\n
\n\tSpoiler alert:<\/strong>\u00a0This story contains the identity of the contestant eliminated on Wednesday night\u2019s (April 17) episode of<\/em>\u00a0The Masked Singer<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n \n\tThe 11th season of The Masked Singer<\/em> has so far featured a very eclectic group of eliminated crooners, including comedian\/actor Kevin Hart (Book); restauranteur Joe Bastianich (Spaghetti & Meatballs); TV personalities Savannah Chrisley (Afghan Hound), Billy Bush (Sir Lion) and Colton Underwood (Lovebird); as well as NFL hall of famer DeMarcus Ware (Koala) \u2014 and actual singer Sisq\u00f3 (Lizard) too.<\/p>\n \n\tOn Wednesday night (April 17), Ugly Sweater crushed it with some incomparable high notes on \u201cQueen Night,\u201d during a celebration of the iconic British rock group in the Group A finals. After wowing the judges in an earlier episode with a funk-forward cover of The Commodores\u2019 \u201cBrick House<\/a>,\u201d Sweater did it again with a sweet, soulful run through Queen\u2019s 1984 power ballad \u201cI Want to Break Free.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tWhen it came time to guess, the judges were in the neighborhood, with Robin Thicke praising the singer\u2019s signature \u201cnasty\u201d notes on \u201cHouse\u201d (and quickly guessing the singer\u2019s identity), while judge Rita Ora speculated it could be Smokey Robinson, Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg guessed Aaron Neville (after earlier guessing that Lionel Richie covered his own song<\/a>) and always-wrong Ken Jeong aiming too young with New Jack swinger Johnny Gill.<\/p>\n \n\tWho was that masked man who\u2019s 13 Grammy nominations and has a lock as Billboard<\/em>\u2018s top adult R&B male artist with the most No. 1s in that category to date? None other than former Gap Band lead singer and solo star Charlie Wilson<\/a>, best known for such hits as \u201cParty Train,\u201d \u201cYou Dropped a Bomb on Me,\u201d \u201cOops Upside Your Head\u201d and his featured vocals on songs by rappers including Snoop Dogg, The Notorious B.I.G., Pharrell, U.G.K. and Tyler, the Creator, among many others.<\/p>\n \n\tIn addition to his surprise appearance alongside Tyler at last weekend\u2019s Coachella \u2014 where he performed on the rapper\u2019s 2019 single \u201cEarfquake\u201d and did a bit of The Gap Band\u2019s \u201cOutstanding\u201d \u2014 Wilson, 71, received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in January and is currently promoting his Billboard<\/em> top five adult R&B chart solo single \u201cSuperman<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tBillboard<\/em> spoke with Wilson before his elimination to hear about how T-Pain inspired him to get in the Masked<\/em> game, how wearing the Ugly Sweater was no holiday, and what it felt like to slip onto the main stage at Coachella last weekend.<\/p>\n \n\tBe honest: Had you ever watched this show before they reached out?<\/strong><\/p>\n \n\tOh yeah! I saw the one when T-Pain won [in season 1 as Monster]. I was so excited for him. I know T-Pain, he did songs for me and he\u2019s a very gifted young man. I saw that it was fun and I wanted to get to be a part of it, but it just took some time because I was busy doing shows and recordings. I thought, \u201cI can do this,\u201d so it finally dropped in my lap.<\/p>\n \n\tSome iconic old-school and new-school R&B greats have appeared on the show \u2014 Bobby Brown, Faith Evans, Toni Braxton, Chaka Khan, Patti LaBelle, Seal, Gladys Knight \u2014 so it seems like there\u2019s no shame in the game of putting on that costume right?<\/strong><\/p>\n \n\tYeah, my costume was\u2026 oh my gosh. It was built for me and was one of the most expensive suits they\u2019ve built for the show. The [showrunners] kept telling me to try and make sure I stay as long as I can because [they said], \u201cWe spent a lot of money on this suit!\u201d It was so heavy! So, so heavy I could barely walk in it. The feathers on the head were 8 to 10 pounds a piece and they had to take some off. I could barely pick up my feet!<\/p>\n \n\tIt seems like a great showcase for so many of those classic R&B singers, especially some of your old-school peers.<\/strong><\/p>\n \n\tI don\u2019t know about anybody else, but I didn\u2019t think about it being a showcase for me, because I\u2019m still making No. 1 records. In fact, I have a top five song this week with one of my records [Wilson is in the top five on Billboard<\/em>\u2018s Adult R&B Airplay<\/a> chart with \u201cSuperman\u201d]. I\u2019m the only one out there still making top five records in the business!<\/p>\n \n\tYou\u2019ve been at this for more than 50 years, so tell me: Is this the weirdest gig you\u2019ve ever had?<\/strong><\/p>\n \n\tIt\u2019s a blessing and a curse at the same time, because a lot of people don\u2019t want to see me have these records do as well as they\u2019re doing. All those people you mentioned all wish they had the records I\u2019m having. So yeah, I don\u2019t pop my collar all the time, but people bring it up.<\/p>\n \n\tThe judges\u2019 guesses were all over the place, but mostly in the pocket. I can\u2019t imagine you were ashamed to be confused for Smokey, Aaron or Lionel?<\/strong><\/p>\n \n\t[Laughs<\/em>] No, Robin Thicke said, \u201cThat\u2019s Charlie Wilson!\u201d as soon as I opened my mouth. I was like, \u201cOh man, I\u2019m toast!\u201d as soon as I opened my mouth and sang! He said, \u201cI studied his voice and know him like the back of my hand.\u201d I was like, \u201cCould you just be quiet for a second?\u201d He was tearing me up.<\/p>\n \n\tSpeaking of, how did it feel to sing that Commodores song?<\/strong> Was there any rivalry with them in your bands\u2019 heydays in the 1970s and \u201980s?<\/strong><\/p>\n \n\tOh man, it was always that [rivalry] because if bands are good, they are gonna be at it. I won\u2019t stand around and have someone call me a bootsy [someone who is uncool or weird]. I\u2019m gonna get you. I\u2019m gonna come after you like y\u2019all coming after us! It was all in fun, not hostile, we was all in fun. I love The Commodores.<\/p>\n \n\tYou\u2019ve had so much success collaborating with rappers over the years \u2014 especially Snoop and Tyler. What is it about hip-hop that appeals to you? And talk to me about joining Tyler at Coachella last weekend.<\/strong><\/p>\n \n\tIt is great anytime I sing with these rappers or anyone from back in the day is coming for me and it\u2019s their idea. If they want to do it, I\u2019m gonna do it. I\u2019m so, so blessed to have rappers still coming for me.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n