If you were sitting on your couch during Season 12 of The Masked Singer, staring at a giant, regal seafaring vessel belt out a hauntingly beautiful version of "Pompeii," you weren't alone in your confusion. The costume was massive. The voice was unmistakable yet somehow hard to place for the younger crowd. But for those of us who lived through the Lilith Fair era, that soulful, vibrato-heavy alto felt like a warm hug from 1997.
So, let's just cut to the chase: The Ship was Grammy winner Paula Cole.
Honestly, it’s one of those reveals that makes perfect sense once the mask comes off, but the clues were just tricky enough to keep the panel guessing for weeks. From "Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?" to the Dawson's Creek theme song that defined a generation, Paula Cole has a voice that’s practically woven into the DNA of pop culture. Seeing her emerge from a literal ship was, well, a moment.
Why Everyone Was Obsessed With the Ship’s Identity
The Ship didn’t just sing; she commanded the stage. Most contestants on this show go for the "furry amoeba" look (Paula’s own words, by the way), but the Ship was elegant, towering, and carried a certain gravitas.
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When she first performed, the guesses were all over the map. Rita Ora was leaning toward Kate Bush or Sarah McLachlan. Ken Jeong, in his classic "I know exactly who this is" fashion (that is usually wrong), threw out Sheryl Crow. But the clues were staring us right in the face the whole time.
The Cowboy Hat That Gave It All Away
Early on, a bedazzled silver cowboy hat was presented as a gift from a "Masked Ambassador." That ambassador? Jewel. If you know anything about 90s alt-pop, you know Jewel and Paula Cole are basically the architects of that sound. The hat was a direct nod to Paula’s 1997 smash hit "Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?" It was almost too obvious, yet it still stumped a few people.
The "I Don’t Want to Wait" Connection
During the Group A finals—Soundtrack of My Life Night—the clues got even more specific. There was a wooden model of a rowboat. Now, if you didn't grow up watching James Van Der Beek cry on a dock, you might have missed it. But that rowboat was a dead giveaway for Dawson’s Creek. Paula Cole’s "I Don’t Want to Wait" was the opening theme for that show for years.
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Who is the Ship on Masked Singer? Breaking Down the Clues
If you missed the play-by-play, the clue packages were actually a pretty deep dive into Paula’s real life, not just her hits. She talked about being "lost at sea" and "shipwrecked," which sounds dramatic, but it’s a very real reflection of her stepping away from the massive spotlight to raise her daughter and focus on her craft.
- The "Best New Artist" Note: She showed a note from LeAnn Rimes dated 1998. That was the year Paula won the Grammy for Best New Artist.
- The $2 Burrito: This was a surprisingly gritty detail. Paula mentioned being broke and living off a $2 burrito a day—half for lunch, half for dinner—before her big break. She eventually joined Peter Gabriel’s "Secret World Tour" as a backup singer, which "saved" her career.
- The Cheerleader and Prom Queen: Surprisingly, the soulful, introverted singer was actually a star cheerleader, class president, and prom queen in high school. The "boot" clue referred to a foot injury that sidelined her and led her to find solace in the piano.
The Performances That Defined Her Run
Paula Cole didn't just phone it in. She took some risks with the arrangements that really showed off her range.
- "Pompeii" by Bastille: This was her debut. It was slowed down, ethereal, and completely different from the original. It set the tone that the Ship was a "real" singer, not just a celebrity having a lark.
- "Almost Paradise" by Mike Reno and Ann Wilson: For Footloose Night, she stayed true to her roots. Singing an Ann Wilson song is a bold move for anyone, but Paula’s voice has that same raw power.
- "Because the Night" by Patti Smith: This was the Group A finals. It was moody, intense, and frankly, she should have probably stayed in the competition longer based on this alone.
What Paula Cole Said After the Reveal
When the mask finally came off, Paula was incredibly candid about why she did the show. As an introvert, she actually found freedom inside the costume. She told People that it forced her to examine her own "snobbery" about the show.
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She’d been watching it with her daughter, Sky, who actually encouraged her to do it. For someone who takes their art very seriously (which Paula does—her recent album Lo is a masterclass in songwriting), The Masked Singer was a lesson in letting go.
She also mentioned that the "Ship" costume was heavy. Like, really heavy. Pushing that boat out onto the stage was a workout. But she loved the "agency and freedom" that came with being anonymous. For a few weeks, she wasn't "90s icon Paula Cole"—she was just a giant boat with a killer voice.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
If the Ship’s performance reminded you why you loved the 90s, there are a few things you should do to catch up with what Paula Cole is doing now in 2026:
- Listen to her 2024 album, Lo: It’s her first album of entirely original songs in years, and it's deeply personal.
- Watch the Peter Gabriel "Secret World Live" concert: If you want to see the "international tour" she mentioned in her clues, this is it. Her performance of "Don't Give Up" is legendary.
- Revisit "This Fire": Everyone remembers the "Cowboy" song, but "This Fire" is the track that really shows off the grit she brought to the Ship character.
Paula Cole’s run as the Ship proved that even if you’ve been "lost at sea" for a while, a truly great voice never loses its way back to shore.
Next Steps: You can stream Paula Cole's latest music on Spotify or Apple Music to hear the voice behind the mask without the literal ton of fiberglass. If you're looking for more Masked Singer breakdowns, check out the latest reveals from Group B to see if your other favorites have been unmasked.