Billy Ray Cyrus Revealed as The Masked Singer's Owl

The country music star stumped the judges with his emotional performance and mystery partner.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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On the Feb. 11 episode of The Masked Singer, the Owl was unmasked to reveal country music star Billy Ray Cyrus. None of the judges correctly guessed his identity, with the 64-year-old singer known for hits like "Achy Breaky Heart" and his role on the Disney series Hannah Montana with daughter Miley Cyrus. Cyrus was emotional during the reveal, discussing a new relationship that started when he was "at his lowest point" and the support of his "angel" partner, revealed to be actress Elizabeth Hurley.

Why it matters

The Masked Singer is known for surprising celebrity reveals, and Cyrus' appearance as the Owl was no exception. As a famous country music star and actor, his participation on the show generated excitement and kept viewers guessing until the very end. The emotional nature of his unmasking also highlighted the personal struggles and relationships that can motivate celebrities to take on new creative challenges.

The details

During his time on the show, the Owl shared clues about achieving massive success early in his career, only to later face public ridicule. He also revealed trying his hand at baseball before finding a new path to success. In his final performance, the Owl sang a rendition of Billy Idol's "White Wedding" and received a supportive message from his partner, referred to as "Lady Owl," who the judges speculated could be actress Elizabeth Hurley based on her British accent.

  • The Owl was unmasked on the Feb. 11, 2026 episode of The Masked Singer.
  • Cyrus and Hurley went public with their relationship in April 2025.

The players

Billy Ray Cyrus

A 64-year-old country music star known for hits like "Achy Breaky Heart" and his role on the Disney series Hannah Montana with his daughter Miley Cyrus.

Elizabeth Hurley

An English actress who was revealed to be the "Lady Owl" supporting the Owl (Billy Ray Cyrus) during the competition. Hurley and Cyrus co-starred in the 2022 film Christmas in Paradise and went public with their relationship in April 2025.

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What they’re saying

“It's an honor to be with you all. It's been a lot of fun being here with all of you all. Music changes, everything. The music changes lives.”

— Billy Ray Cyrus (The Masked Singer)

“It's very rare that none of us get it right, especially for such a big name and a big star and somebody we've guessed so many times. So to be able to fool all of us, that's quite an accomplishment.”

— Robin Thicke, Judge (The Masked Singer)

What’s next

Cyrus and Hurley are expected to continue their relationship in the public eye after his emotional reveal on The Masked Singer.

The takeaway

Billy Ray Cyrus' appearance on The Masked Singer as the Owl showcased his enduring star power and ability to surprise audiences, even after decades in the entertainment industry. His emotional connection to his partner, actress Elizabeth Hurley, also highlighted the personal motivations that can drive celebrities to take on new creative challenges.