Yvette Nicole Brown Says She Joined 'The Masked Singer' to 'Delight' Ken Jeong

Almost every year since its inception, The Masked Singer has asked Yvette Nicole Brown to go under the mask. After all, the star of Community and Drake and Josh has sung many times in her previous roles, showcasing her powerful voice. But the actress has been surprisingly mum about performing as herself, though she has graced the FOX series with her presence as a guest judge in the past. It turned out the twelfth season was the charm, as she truly flew during her short time as "Showbird."

After her reveal, Yvette Nicole Brown spoke to Parade about her time on The Masked Singer .

Related: Everything to Know About The Masked Singer Season 12

So how long had you been getting asks to be on The Masked Singer ? And what led to you finally saying yes?
I think it's been in the works for Ken Jeong since Season 1 or 2. And I've been asked before, actually. I've been asked just about every year to do the show. and I've passed on it because music is very special and precious. And I was scared;, I didn't know that I wanted to put my voice as me out there. I sing all the time as characters. I sing on every show I've ever done. But there's something about saying, "Hi, I'm Yvette, and this is what my voice as me sounds like," that I was afraid to do. Now, granted, I was Showbird. I wasn't even Yvette when I did that. So I finally felt like, this year, I've been saying yes to a lot of things that scare me. And it was a tough year as a caregiver with my papa this year. So I felt like, "If there's any year where I'm going to just take a risk and chase something, why not now? Why not to take my mind off of everything else that's happening in life?"

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Well I'm so sorry to hear about everything that's been going on. So what were you feelings once you actually stepped into the costume after saying no for so long? Especially given the fact that you were a guest judge previously.
Being a guest judge is the sweetest gig. One, you have all this amazing entertainment right in front of you. Also, I do a lot of hosting, and I love to steal from the best. And Nick Cannon is one of is one of the greatest hosts that we have. I put him and Tom Bergeron neck and neck with the way that they can work with the teleprompter and with the audience. So I got to steal from Nick as I was up there as a guest judge. And then just getting to be with Ken and Robin and just having a great time. And Jenny was there, and Nicole was there. Now we have Rita; I want to shout everybody out! But there's something different when you're in the mask and you're doing your best to sound good and dance good and look good and provide great entertainment for those watching. It's another layer of stress that I did not expect. And you're doing it when you're in a mask and you can't see and you can't breathe and it's hot and it's claustrophobic. There's so many layers to all of it. But I gotta say it was one of the greatest decisions I made. And I'm I'm just happy I did it.

You were getting initial guesses of Taraji P. Henson, Sheila E., and Kerry Washington. How did you feel about the comparisons? And were you excited when they weren't able to figure out it was you after the first performance?
They picked people with fabulous figures and beautiful voice and very talented! Kerry Washington and Jennifer Hudson and Taraji and Sheila, thank you very much! But I didn't try to trick, because I'm not a recording artist. If you're Dionne Warwick, then you probably can't sing as Dionne Warwick if you want them not to guess you. No one knows me as a vocalist like that. So it was okay for me to sing like myself. And so I just went out and just tried to sing well. And if they guessed me, they guessed me; they didn't guess me, they didn't guess me. Either way was fine. I just wanted to sound good, and I wanted to delight Ken. Those were my two plans.

Well, speaking of the latter, Ken was able to eventually figure it out and guess you before you were unmasked. How did you feel getting to perform for him?
It's so funny. He's guessed me so many times. It's finally me and he's stumped. I'm like, "Dude!" So I don't really know how much of that was real or not, I don't know. Ken's a jokester, so he could have been joking. I really don't know. After I do all my press today, I'm going to ask him, "When did you know?" Because I would think he would know when I walked out, because we have spent so many hours together on Community . Sixteen-hour days for five years, he should be able to see me as a lump on the floor and go, "That's Yvette in that lump." So I'll ask him. But everything about it was exhilarating and exciting and fun. I highly recommend.

As you mentioned before, while you sing as your characters, you're not necessarily known for singing as Yvette Nicole Brown. So what's it been like for you to have the audience react to your performances?
You know what's funny? After the first episode, I have a Google alert for myself, as as one does. And so I don't think anybody was fooled. From the first time I sang, everybody said, "Showbird's Yvette Nicole Brown." I had friends going, "You're doing a great job as Showbird." No one is like, "Are you Showbird?" No. "Yvette, Showbird's great. You're doing a great job." I'm like, "Come on, guys!" So it's been a wonderful reaction. I have so many friends that I've left on read because I don't want to lie to my friends. So anyone that popped in, I want to apologize if you popped in and asked about Showbird and I ignored you for two weeks. That's why! But yeah, everybody knew. Worst-kept secret! [ Laughs .]

If it helps at all, I'm a millennial, so the popcorn clue immediately drew me to Drake and Josh . Plus, you had Joel McHale giving you a clue! That is so on the nose in hindsight.
Listen, Alison Brie is also a singer. It could have been Alison. But how many other people has he worked with that, that sing, and are 5'2"? There's Gillian and Allison and me, and we're done. And then you add the popcorn, and it's Yvette Nicole Brown.

Now that you've been able to show your own voice off, has it given you any thoughts about showcasing your singing more?
You know, I always joke that I might do like a Christmas EP, like a couple of little Christmas songs. But there's a great documentary, I think it's called 30 Feet from Stardom [sic], and it's about background singers. And it talks about everybody that sings background for  a recording artist is good enough to be out front. A lot of them are better singers than the people that are out front. But there's a big difference. But for that 30 feet, there's a certain mindset. You have to have to believe that, "People should watch me strut my stuff."

And I realized in that mask I don't know that I have that killer instinct that it would take to tell people. I'm a collaborative [person]. I'm an ensemble [person]. I'm a support person. That's what I do in life, whether I'm on camera or not. And so I think there's another gear that you have to shift into to be the person out front. And I don't know that I have that gear, nor do I think I want that gear. I kind of like being the one that celebrates and supports others. Not saying they don't. So I don't know that I would ever go, "Look over here, look at me." And I'm also an introvert. I like to go home and put on my pajamas and be by myself. So I just don't know. But a EP might be in me. One little Christmas song for America.

Finally, who from your various projects would you want to see follow in your footsteps on The Masked Singer ?
If it's from Community , I would love to see Danny Pudi. Oh my God, I think he'd be great. And I think I think Donald Glover would be great. But I think people he sung so much as Childish Gambino, I think people would know it was him. And then, just for comedy's sake, Kym Whitley, who I'm on Act Your Age with, I think Kym would be hilarious in some costume. Kym in heels is a vibe, and not a good vibe. Kym walking in heels is very funny. So I would love that for America.

Next, check out our interview with John Elway, who was eliminated in The Masked Singer Season 12 premiere .