The question of "Who was The Lion on The Masked Singer?" is more complex than you might think, as two different celebrities have donned the majestic, fearsome mask. The original Lion from Season 1 was one of the most memorable and vocally talented contestants, captivating the audience with her powerful stage presence and soulful voice. Her unmasking in Episode 8 of the first season was a major moment that cemented the show's place in reality TV history.
As of late 2025, we now know the identity of the original Lion, as well as the more recent "Sir Lion." This article dives deep into the biographies of both stars, the specific clues that fooled the judges, and what each of these incredible performers is doing in their careers right now, ensuring you have the most current and complete information available. The identity of the original Lion is truly Hollywood royalty.
Rumer Willis: The Lion (Season 1) — Biography and Current Projects (2025 Update)
The celebrity behind the elaborate, gold-adorned Lion mask in Season 1 of The Masked Singer USA was none other than actress and singer Rumer Willis. The eldest daughter of two Hollywood legends, her participation brought a level of star power and vocal talent that surprised many viewers and judges alike. She finished in fourth place, eliminated in the semi-finals alongside The Rabbit.
Rumer Willis's Profile & Career Highlights:
- Full Name: Rumer Glenn Willis
- Born: August 16, 1988 (Age 37 as of late 2025)
- Hometown: Paducah, Kentucky, but spent time in Hailey, Idaho (a major clue).
- Parents: Bruce Willis and Demi Moore (The "Hollywood royalty" clue).
- Occupation: Actress, Singer, Dancer.
- Notable Roles: Starred in films like Hostage and The House Bunny, and won Season 20 of Dancing with the Stars.
- The Masked Singer Performance: Season 1 (2019), finished 4th.
The Lion's Roar: Key Performances and Clues
The Lion's performances were consistently praised for their powerful, emotional delivery and impressive vocal range, leading many to believe she was a professional singer like Kelly Rowland or Michelle Williams.
- Signature Performance: Her stunning rendition of "Feeling Good" by Nina Simone was a standout moment of the entire first season.
- Clues That Fooled Everyone: The Lion mentioned coming from a "pride of women," which referred to her mother, Demi Moore, and her sisters (Scout, Tallulah, Mabel, and Evelyn). Other clues included a newspaper clipping about "The Gabby Awards" and a focus on "Hailey, Idaho," which is where she spent time growing up.
- Judges' Guesses: Panelists threw out names like Kelly Rowland, Emily Blunt, and even Destiny's Child members.
Rumer Willis's Fresh Career Updates in 2025
Since her memorable run on The Masked Singer, Rumer Willis has continued to focus on both her acting and music career. Her life in late 2025 has seen several significant, fresh developments.
In a major career announcement in 2025, Willis took on an exciting new role, showcasing her versatility as an artist. Furthermore, she has been actively promoting a new movie role, which she specifically chose to do because both of her famous parents, Bruce Willis and Demi Moore, had previously "did a Western" during their careers, making the role a poignant tribute to her father.
Willis has also been an open book about her personal life, sharing updates about her father, Bruce Willis, who was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) in 2022, keeping her fans and the public informed about her family's journey.
The Second Lion: Unmasking Sir Lion (Season 11)
To keep the show fresh and surprise viewers, The Masked Singer occasionally reuses a mask theme with a slight variation. In a much later season, a new contestant appeared as Sir Lion. This iteration was a wildcard contestant who joined the competition in Season 11, adding a layer of complexity to the show's history of Lion-themed characters.
The celebrity behind the Sir Lion mask was veteran radio and television personality, Billy Bush.
Billy Bush's Profile & Career Highlights
- Full Name: William Hall Bush
- Born: October 13, 1971 (Age 54 as of late 2025)
- Occupation: Radio Host, Television Personality, Journalist.
- Notable Roles: Former host of Access Hollywood, former co-host of the third hour of NBC's Today show, and host of Extra.
- The Masked Singer Performance: Season 11 (2024), eliminated in Episode 4.
Sir Lion's Performance and Clues
Sir Lion was introduced as a wildcard, meaning he had to fight harder to earn his spot in the competition. His tenure was short but memorable, and the clues strongly pointed to his career in entertainment news.
- Song Performance: Sir Lion performed a cover of Frank Sinatra's "Love and Marriage," a song instantly recognizable as the theme to the classic TV show Married... With Children.
- Clues That Pointed to a TV Personality: Clues included references to his career in television and his well-known family connections (he is a first cousin of former President George W. Bush).
- Judges' Guesses: The panel's guesses included Anderson Cooper, Ryan Seacrest, and Andy Cohen, all major figures in television and media.
Billy Bush's Fresh Career Updates in 2025
The unmasking of Billy Bush as Sir Lion was a surprise to many, and his career has continued to evolve significantly in 2025.
After five seasons as the host of the entertainment news show Extra, Billy Bush confirmed his departure in 2025. This move coincided with a major shift towards his own independent media projects, allowing him to take a new direction in his career.
His primary new venture in 2025 is the launch of his new live talk show, "Hot Mics with Billy Bush," on TuneIn. The show is described as featuring in-depth interviews and current pop culture scoop, leveraging his decades of experience as a celebrity interviewer and TV personality. This new live format, including a "Morning Mics" iteration, marks a significant and fresh chapter in his broadcasting career, moving him from syndicated television to the world of live, digital audio.
Topical Authority: Why The Lion and Sir Lion Were So Hard to Guess
The difficulty in guessing both The Lion and Sir Lion lies in the concept of "hidden talent" that The Masked Singer thrives on. Both Rumer Willis and Billy Bush are primarily known for other aspects of their careers, allowing their vocal performances to be a genuine shock.
- Rumer Willis (The Lion): While she is an actress, her powerful, soulful singing voice was not widely known by the public, despite her having a background in musical theater (she performed in Chicago on Broadway). The clues focused on her "Hollywood royalty" status and her family, distracting judges from her true vocal capabilities.
- Billy Bush (Sir Lion): As a TV and radio host, his vocal talent was completely unexpected. His choice of "Love and Marriage" was a perfect clue for his television background, but the actual voice was not one the public was familiar with as a singer, making it a challenging guess for the panel and viewers at home.
Ultimately, whether you were watching the groundbreaking first season or the more recent eleventh season, the reveal of The Lion and Sir Lion highlights the show's magic: proving that even the most famous celebrities have surprising, hidden talents waiting to be discovered behind the mask.
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