The Masked Singer: Hanson makes history as first band ever on show while competing as Russian Dolls

The Russian Dolls made history during The Masked Singer quarterfinals episode on Wednesday when their true identities were unveiled.

The trio was unmasked as Hanson, the three brothers famous for their 1997 hit MMMBop and the first band ever to be on the show.

Several panelists had already guessed their identity, including Nicole Scherzinger, 42, Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg, 48, and guest panelist Rob Riggle, 51, the comedic actor.

Historic moment: The Russian Dolls made history during The Masked Singer quarterfinals episode on Wednesday when their true identities were unveiled as the group Hanson

‘It’s been a blast,’ said Taylor Hanson, 38, of being on the show. ‘The fact that you spend all these years performing, you’re always seen as a certain thing—people think they know what you are. And to be able to just start with music and focus on singing and say, ”Hey, we don’t know what’s behind this…”

‘The thing about us, we would normally be out touring, but it’s kind of this unique opportunity to do something very different, and also play to whole new audience,’ his brother Zac Hanson, 35, chimed in apparently referencing the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the music industry.

‘We have never taken to the stage wearing matching outfits before, but I think this might become a thing,’ he added.

The Russian Dolls performed first on Wednesday, doing a jaunty version of Elton John’s I’m Still Standing.

Famous trio: The trio of Russian Dolls was unmasked as Hanson, the three brothers famous for their 1997 hit MMMBop and the first band ever to be on the show

Famous trio: The trio of Russian Dolls was unmasked as Hanson, the three brothers famous for their 1997 hit MMMBop and the first band ever to be on the show

Correct guess: Nicole Scherzinger correctly guessed that Hanson was performing as the Russian Dolls

Correct guess: Nicole Scherzinger correctly guessed that Hanson was performing as the Russian Dolls

Before they went on, they gave fans a glimpse from inside their ‘sandbag’-like costumes, showing that they could hardly see anything when singing onstage.

In their clue packages, the letter m featured prominently, in a nod to their biggest song; a visual of puppet and banjo strings referenced their orchestral album String Theory.

A picture of Abraham Lincoln alluded to Zac’s son Abraham, and Hanson’s song Penny And Me.

First up: The Russian Dolls performed first on Wednesday, doing a jaunty version of Elton John's I'm Still Standing

First up: The Russian Dolls performed first on Wednesday, doing a jaunty version of Elton John’s I’m Still Standing

They and the other contestants were asked to share the artist they were great fans of, and the group said ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic, noting, ‘He’s literally given us great directions in our lives.’

It was later revealed that Weird Al, 61, appeared in their video for Thinking ‘Bout Something.

The band also read fan mail that said, ‘I was a fan of you individually, but when I saw you band together in person—wow! Like, I can’t even. Love you to the moon and back again.’

Tough costumes: Before they went on, they gave fans a glimpse from inside their 'sandbag'-like costumes, showing that they could hardly see anything when singing onstage

Tough costumes: Before they went on, they gave fans a glimpse from inside their ‘sandbag’-like costumes, showing that they could hardly see anything when singing onstage

Popular group: Isaac, Zac and Taylor are shown in 1997 at the MTV Movie Awards in Santa Monica, California

Popular group: Isaac, Zac and Taylor are shown in 1997 at the MTV Movie Awards in Santa Monica, California

Other guesses to their identity had included Sugarland, Jonas Brothers, Devo, Savage Garden, Boyz II Men, Donny and Marie Osmond, the Black-Eyed Peas, and the cast of Glee.

Black Swan was the second performer with a sultry version of Ed Sheeran’s Thinking Out Loud that gave two panelists ‘goosebumps.’

‘I’ve had some disappointments in my career and it made me frightened to take risks,’ the Swan said in her package. ‘So I made a resolution to say ”yes” to things that scare me.’

Eclectic guesses: Other guesses to their identity had included Sugarland, Jonas Brothers, Devo, Savage Garden, Boyz II Men, Donny and Marie Osmond, the Black-Eyed Peas, and the cast of Glee

Eclectic guesses: Other guesses to their identity had included Sugarland, Jonas Brothers, Devo, Savage Garden, Boyz II Men, Donny and Marie Osmond, the Black-Eyed Peas, and the cast of Glee

Unique rendition: Black Swan was the second performer with a sultry version of Ed Sheeran's Thinking Out Loud that gave two panelists 'goosebumps'

Unique rendition: Black Swan was the second performer with a sultry version of Ed Sheeran’s Thinking Out Loud that gave two panelists ‘goosebumps’

Clues to her identity included: a magnifying glass, library, and a red-striped nickel and penny.

Her favorite artist was Cher, 74, of whom she said, ‘We’ve both been a part of iconic fantasy films, and she was a part of my world the very first time I shared my voice.’

‘You’re mega-talented,’ Swan’s fan mail read. ‘I’ll never forget when you were on Oprah, and was so excited you recently got the mega-recognition you deserve. Love ya.’

Big entrance: Show host Nick Cannon made a dramatic entrance

Big entrance: Show host Nick Cannon made a dramatic entrance

Guest panelist: Rob Riggle served as a guest panelist for the quarterfinals

Guest panelist: Rob Riggle served as a guest panelist for the quarterfinals

Guesses to her identity included the singers Normani, 24, and Dua Lipa, 25.

The Piglet sang an operatic intro to Stevie Wonder’s Superstition, which Rob said ‘blew me away.’

‘I remember watching season one of The Masked Singer with my little piggie, and I asked what I should be,’ Piglet said in a pre-show video. ‘The answer? A pig! It was fate.’

Pop star: The guesses for Black Swan included pop star Dua Lipa

Pop star: The guesses for Black Swan included pop star Dua Lipa

Operatic intro: The Piglet sang an operatic intro to Stevie Wonder's Superstition, which Rob said 'blew me away'

Operatic intro: The Piglet sang an operatic intro to Stevie Wonder’s Superstition, which Rob said ‘blew me away’

Piglet said he was a ‘serious guy’ in real life, and loved the silliness of the competition.

His ‘all-time idol,’ he declared, was Bruce Willis, 66. ‘I was speechless when we met. Always cool to meet a fellow action star.’

Piglet’s fan mail read, ‘Whether on my TV or in my headphones, I’m so lucky I discovered you in the ’90s. But I’ve never been jealous of your public relationships.’

Guesses included the actors Justin Timberlake, 40, Jeremy Renner, 50, and singer Nick Lachey, 47.

Wild picks: Guesses for Piglet included Justin Timberlake

Wild picks: Guesses for Piglet included Justin Timberlake

The Yeti showed his skill at singing country when he did Rascal Flatts’ Bless The Broken Road.

He got a standing ovation from the panel, with Nicole saying, ‘He might be the Abominable Snowman, but it made my heart melt.’

‘I love the Masked Singer,’ the Yeti said. ‘It allows me to show other aspects of my skill as a performer. You don’t have the pressure of wanting to be perfect.’

Country song: The Yeti showed his skill at singing country when he did Rascal Flatts' Bless The Broken Road

Country song: The Yeti showed his skill at singing country when he did Rascal Flatts’ Bless The Broken Road

One of his greatest inspirations, Yeti shared, was Diddy, 51, saying: ‘He helped me reach the top of the mountain.’

Yeti’s fan mail said, ‘You are a true triple—nah—quadruple threat. I’m excited you stepped up with a Masked Singer legend and I’m proud to be your biggest fan.’

The panelists felt he could be actor Channing Tatum, 41, or a musician such as Twista, 47, or Ne-Yo, 41. 

After they made their guesses, the rooster Cluedle-Do showed up and said they were all ‘so far off,’ adding that Yeti made a much better panelist than they did. 

Way off: The rooster Cluedle-Do showed up and said they were all 'so far off,' adding that Yeti made a much better panelist than they did

Way off: The rooster Cluedle-Do showed up and said they were all ‘so far off,’ adding that Yeti made a much better panelist than they did

Clues queen: Jenny had the most correct guesses last season on the hit Fox show

Clues queen: Jenny had the most correct guesses last season on the hit Fox show

Creative picks: Ken Jeong entertained his fellow panelists and the audience with his creative guesses

Creative picks: Ken Jeong entertained his fellow panelists and the audience with his creative guesses

The last singer of the evening was Chameleon, who picked Snoop Dogg’s Drop It Like It’s Hot.

In his video, he said he had a theatre background but wasn’t a singer, and usually watched the show with his family because his friends were on it.

He vowed to fight on like his ‘personal hero,’ Jackie Chan, 67, who ‘always brought the rumble to the stage, just like me.’

Last up: The last singer of the evening was Chameleon, who picked Snoop Dogg's Drop It Like It's Hot

Last up: The last singer of the evening was Chameleon, who picked Snoop Dogg’s Drop It Like It’s Hot

Basketball player: Robin Thicke guessed that Chameleon was NBA player Blake Griffin

Basketball player: Robin Thicke guessed that Chameleon was NBA player Blake Griffin

‘Any friend of Martha Stewart’s is a friend of mine,’ his fan mail read. ‘I even saw you play at Madison Square Garden. I wish you only success.’

Guesses included the rappers Snoop Dogg, 49, and Young Thug, 29, and NBA star Blake Griffin, 32.

The Masked Singer will return next week on Fox.

Strong clue: The puppet strings in the clues package were a hint to Hanson's orchestral album String Theory

Strong clue: The puppet strings in the clues package were a hint to Hanson’s orchestral album String Theory