The moment that massive, glittering Banana walked onto the stage of The Masked Singer Season 6 alongside a sleek, sophisticated Ice Cream, people knew this wasn't just another gimmick. It was high-level talent. You could hear it in the first note. Most contestants on this show are celebrities who can sing, but the Banana Split duo were clearly professionals who live and breathe music. If you spent the season scratching your head, you weren't alone, but the reveal eventually confirmed what the hardcore theater nerds and pop junkies suspected all along.
The Banana Split was David Foster and Katharine McPhee.
They didn't win—that honor went to Jewel as the Queen of Hearts—but they arguably gave the most technically proficient performances in the history of the Fox franchise. It's a weird pairing if you don't know their history, but once you dig into the clues, it’s honestly one of the most logical "get" for the casting directors.
Why Banana Split Was the Perfect Misdirection
Normally, the show features solo artists. Bringing in a duo changes the dynamic entirely. The Banana (David Foster) stayed behind the keys, never singing a single note, while the Ice Cream (Katharine McPhee) handled the powerhouse vocals. This setup was a direct nod to their real-life professional relationship. David is a legendary producer; Kat is the star.
People were throwing out wild guesses. Some thought it might be Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling because of the La La Land vibes. Others guessed Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton, which, let's be real, would have been way too expensive for the production budget. But for those who know David Foster’s specific "piano style"—that bright, compressed pop-ballad sound—the game was over by week two.
Connecting the Clues to David and Kat
The producers are getting better at hiding the truth, but they can't hide 16 Grammy Awards. That’s David Foster’s tally, and the show leaned heavily into his "Hitman" persona. There were references to a "silver screen," which pointed toward Kat's time on the NBC show Smash and her runner-up finish on American Idol.
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Then there was the "5" clue.
David Foster has been married five times. It’s a bit of a running joke in Hollywood, and he’s a good enough sport to let the show use it. There was also a red heart with "6" on it. Kat and David have a son named Rennie, who was David’s sixth child. It’s these tiny, hyper-specific personal details that make the show fun for the armchair detectives.
Honestly, the "California" clues were a bit of a giveaway too. David is Canadian, sure, but his entire legacy is built on the "West Coast Sound." From Chicago to Whitney Houston, he’s the architect of the music that defines Los Angeles. And Kat? She’s a Cali girl through and through.
The Performance Peak
Their rendition of "A Million Dreams" from The Greatest Showman was probably the moment the judges—specifically Nicole Scherzinger—knew exactly who they were looking at. The vocal control required for that arrangement isn't something a reality star or a retired athlete can pull off. It was Broadway-grade.
It’s worth noting that McPhee has starred in Waitress on Broadway and in the West End. That theater training was on full display. When she sang "Let 'Er Roll" by Sam Flash, she showed a range that most pop stars would kill for. It wasn't just about hitting the notes; it was about the character.
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The Controversy of the "Pro" Contestant
There is always a segment of the audience that gets annoyed when actual Grammy-winning singers and world-class producers join The Masked Singer. They feel it's unfair to the "amateurs" like the athletes or comedians who are just there for a laugh.
But that's actually why the show works.
If everyone was bad, you'd turn it off after ten minutes. You need the Banana Splits of the world to provide the "wow" factor. Seeing David Foster, a man who has worked with Barbra Streisand and Celine Dion, dressed as a piece of fruit playing a piano is the peak "absurdist TV" we deserve. It shows a level of humility and a sense of humor that fans really appreciated. They weren't there to revitalize a dying career—they’re doing just fine—they were there because it was fun.
What This Reveal Meant for Their Brand
Before the show, the public perception of David and Kat was sometimes colored by their age gap. They’ve been very open about it, but the internet can be a cynical place. The Masked Singer did something interesting: it humanized them.
By hiding their faces and focusing on the chemistry between the piano and the voice, the audience connected with their talent first. When the masks came off, the standing ovation felt genuine. They weren't just "the celebrity couple"; they were the duo that just did a killer cover of Lady Gaga’s "Poker Face."
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Real Talk: Why They Didn't Win
It's a popularity contest mixed with a "journey" narrative. Jewel (the Queen of Hearts) had a very emotional story arc throughout her season. She talked about her struggles, her childhood, and her connection to the music in a way that resonated with the voting audience.
Banana Split was technically perfect. Maybe too perfect. Sometimes, when a performer is that polished, the audience finds it harder to "root" for them because they don't seem to need the win. They were the "Final Boss" of the season, but Jewel was the protagonist.
Takeaways from the Banana Split Era
If you're looking back at Season 6, or just catching up on clips, here is the reality of who is Banana Split on Masked Singer:
- Musical Pedigree Matters: You cannot fake the kind of synergy David and Kat have. It comes from years of performing together on tour.
- The Clues are Literal: When the show mentions "Grammys" or "Idols," don't overthink it. It's usually the most obvious person fitting that description.
- The Piano is the Key: Whenever a contestant plays an instrument live, it narrows the field down by 90%. There aren't that many celebrities who can play piano at a professional level while wearing a foam costume.
The legacy of the Banana Split is that they raised the bar. They proved that the show could host genuine musical royalty without losing its sense of whimsey. If you want to see more of them, their "Kat and Dave" show (which they often stream or take on the road) is basically a stripped-back version of their time on the show—minus the fruit costumes.
To dig deeper into the world of The Masked Singer and its most iconic reveals, look for the official behind-the-scenes interviews on the Fox YouTube channel. They often break down how the costumes are built to accommodate instruments like David’s piano, which is a feat of engineering in itself. For fans of David Foster, checking out his documentary Off the Record provides a great contrast to his goofy persona on the show, highlighting just how much of a perfectionist he really is.