Paula Cole Says ‘The Masked Singer’ Forced Her to Examine ‘My Snobbery’ (Exclusive)

Paula Cole discovered an necessary lesson by occurring The Masked Singer.

“That I am a snob and I must recover from myself,” she tells PEOPLE.

The singer-songwriter, 56, refers to herself as a “actually non-public particular person,” so competing on The Masked Singer as Ship “was nice enjoyable to stretch past my consolation zone.”

“I really like dancing, I really like manufacturing. I discovered being inside a tv present very fascinating,” Cole says. “I beloved my anonymity. I beloved that I may simply shut my eyes. It was fantastic having that secrecy.”

Cole misplaced within the Battle Royale to Buffalos, which led to her unmasking on the Oct. 9 episode. “I actually hated the Battle Royale as a result of I do not like music being aggressive,” the “I Do not Wish to Wait” songstress says. “That is antithetical to what music is. Music is a unifier.”

The Grammy winner has been making music professionally for greater than three a long time, and earlier this 12 months, she launched her newest album, Lo. Later this month, she’ll proceed touring the album earlier than specializing in her writing in November. “Consider me, after that is over and my tour is over on the finish of the month, I am diving again to my introversion the place I really feel comfy,” she says.

Cole shares what her Ship costume reminded her of, why she wished to use “a Buddhist perspective” to The Masked Singer and the way she thought of herself fortunate regardless of being eradicated.

Had you watched The Masked Singer earlier than signing on for season 12?

PAULA COLE: I used to be a horrible snob about it and hadn’t even watched the present. However they requested me, they usually had been very loving about it. I did my analysis. They provided me this stunning costume — it jogged my memory of one among my mom’s artwork initiatives, truly. [The show] pressured me to look at my judgment and my snobbery. It helps me to develop a bit of bit as a result of I felt company beneath that masks. It was fantastic having an alter ego. She gave me freedom. beloved dancing. I beloved the choreography. That was fantastic to have a distinct position to play and to do a distinct factor. The competitors half, I actually hate.

So had been you dissatisfied to be eradicated, or did you come on the present simply desirous to have enjoyable?

I attempted to remain stoic and unattached, take a Buddhist perspective on it. However after I needed to unmask and I died, principally, I felt fairly unhappy to have all of it finish. I shed a bit of tear. I wished to remain in that mode a bit of longer. However in the end, it does not actually matter to me. It is only a enjoyable present, and I had a joyful time.

Did you suppose it was unfair that it was three Buffalos in opposition to one Ship within the Battle Royale?

Oh, no. I do not care. No matter works. God bless them. They had been stunning, I simply wished to remain in it a bit of longer. However I do not need to ever do a Battle Royale once more. It was a bit of little bit of a aid to die.

How was singing contained in the Ship costume?

I used to be one of many fortunate ones. A few of the others are a lot tougher to maneuver in. However mine was simple. I simply wanted a variety of headroom/a large berth via doorways. There was some delicacy to it however actually much more enjoyable than I ever thought.

Who knew you had been doing The Masked Singer?

Simply the inside circle of household. My husband, my daughter. I solely advised my different youngsters and my dad and mom proper earlier than the present began. No one in my household would watch the present in any other case. I wished them to get pleasure from it. Nevertheless it was very secretive. It’s important to present up principally in armor with a masks and a hoodie and signal an NDA. It is very severe stuff.

Did you obtain a variety of messages from individuals who thought you had been on present?

Lots of people thought I used to be Annie Lennox, which I discover fascinating as a result of she actually was a major affect to me. She impressed me to begin singing within the first place.

What did it imply to you for choose Jenny McCarthy to say you had essentially the most stunning voice on season 12?

I used to be grateful. I got here away loving Jenny, Jenny and Ken [Jeong] particularly. What good individuals. I feel she had me sussed out fairly early that it was me. She’s a Lilith Truthful era-born particular person and remembers me. That is very transferring.

The place can individuals catch you subsequent now that you just’ve been unmasked?

I am touring. Then, I will get into some writing. I am writing a musical and a e-book, after which I will begin touring once more spring of ’25. I’m in a really artistic place in my life proper now. It may get quiet come November as a result of I am going into writing mode, however there will be numerous bulletins in 2025. I might love for individuals to return see me stay and to concentrate to the socials and the web site for tour dates. I will simply at all times be doing that. I am devoted to music for the remainder of my life.

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The Masked Singer airs Wednesdays on 8 p.m. ET on Fox.