Cedric the Entertainer opens up about his brief yet exciting Masked Singer journey, why he joined the show, and how Kevin Hart and Anthony Anderson pushed him to take the leap.

Cedric the Entertainer, a comedy legend, made his mark on The Masked Singer season 13, but his debut was short-lived as he was eliminated first.

In an exclusive interview, the actor, comedian, and host reflected on his Masked Singer experience, how Kevin Hart and Anthony Anderson played a pivotal role in convincing him to participate, and why he’s frustrated by his early departure.

Cedric’s Masked Singer journey began when he first received an invitation to join the show three seasons ago.

At that time, he wasn’t quite sure what the show was about. “I was like, what is going on? People were out there dancing, singing as caterpillars and all kinds of stuff,” Cedric said.

It wasn’t until his friends, Kevin Hart and Anthony Anderson, both of whom had appeared on the show, got involved that Cedric truly understood the allure.

“Kevin Hart did it one year, and then my good friend Anthony Anderson did it last year—and that’s what really got me motivated,” Cedric revealed. “I saw what it was. This is fun.”

After watching his friends’ experiences, Cedric was excited to take part, and this season’s timing worked out perfectly. “It was the right time for me,” he said.

However, his time on the show was cut short much earlier than he expected. Despite his desire to perform a smoother, more crooner-style ballad, he was pushed into more high-energy numbers.

“I wanted to come out with this energy, but I think I would’ve done better with a blues or crooner song,” he said, frustrated by his early exit. “I hate I got kicked off so quick, but whatever.”

Though Cedric was eliminated first, he noted that the experience was a lot of fun and something completely outside of his comfort zone.

“The costume, choreography, dance, and singing… it was definitely more work in a short period of time, but it was also fun because of the energy,” he said. For Cedric, the most enjoyable part was getting on stage in front of the audience.

“The shiny floor, the lights—there’s a vibe when you get out there. That’s probably the most fun part,” he added.

When it came to the Masked Singer reveal, Cedric’s unmasking left fans shocked.

After performing as Honey Pot in the season 13 premiere, Cedric was the first celebrity to be eliminated, but the judges, including Robin Thicke, Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg, Ken Jeong, and Rita Ora, were left stunned.

With a clue package filled with hints, the panelists guessed various comedic icons, including Martin Lawrence, Eddie Murphy, and Cedric’s close friend, Cedric the Entertainer.

Jeong and McCarthy-Wahlberg were the ones who guessed correctly, unveiling Cedric’s identity, and though it came as a surprise, the comedian took it all in stride.

Cedric also kept his Masked Singer involvement a secret from many of his friends, including Toni Braxton, with whom he shares a Vegas show called Love & Laughter. Toni, too, appeared on the show in a previous season.

“I never even told her,” Cedric confessed. “I was really playing the game of keeping it a secret, and I haven’t even revealed to people that I did it.”

With his Masked Singer experience now behind him, Cedric is focused on the future.

He’s excited about his upcoming projects, including his Vegas residency with Toni Braxton, the spinoff of The Neighborhood (where he stars alongside his sons), and a new spinoff with Tracy Morgan titled Crutch, set to air on Paramount+.

“We’re just having fun expanding this universe and creating family entertainment shows,” Cedric said.

Reflecting on his Masked Singer journey, Cedric shared a valuable lesson. “It was about experiencing something new and getting out of my comfort zone. I had a blast, and it was great to have fun with the audience,” he said.

Despite the early elimination, Cedric is grateful for the opportunity and the fun he had while keeping his identity a secret.

As for advice for future contestants, Cedric offered some words of wisdom. “You have to be prepared to do a lot more work than you thought. Be prepared to hide that secret—keep it down.”

Fans may have only gotten a brief glimpse of Cedric the Entertainer on The Masked Singer, but his return to the stage—whether on the panel or as a performer—seems likely in the future. His experience on the show was a reminder of the fun of taking risks, being vulnerable, and embracing the unexpected.