Billy Crawford unmasked as winner of France’s ‘Mask Singer’ season 9

Multi-talented Filipino-American singer, dancer and TV host Billy Crawford continues to make his mark on France after being crowned champion of Season 9 of "Mask Singer" as L’Ane (The Donkey).

Crawford managed to stay completely unrecognized throughout the competition, remaining behind the mask until the grand finale on June 27, when he was finally unmasked and declared the season's winner.

Following his victory, the R&B singer showed his gratitude in an Instagram post.

“This was an absolutely amazing experience! Thank you to my @masksinger_tf1 family for keeping me a secret for a whole month! Thank you to the costume designers for your incredible patience and for the countless adjustments you made along the way.” 

The 44-year-old also expressed appreciation to fans who voted for him, saying it meant a lot to him personally. 

“L’Ane was a very special character to me because I chose it with my son Amari in mind. I figured if he loved it, everyone else would too!”

“Most of all, thank You, Lord God, for giving me the courage, strength, and opportunity to compete—and on top of that, to win!”

After his victory was announced, social media quickly filled with congratulatory messages from fans, friends, and fellow artists. Among them was Filipino R&B singer Jay R, who wrote, “You the best! Never doubted that you would win!”

Throughout the season, Crawford showcased his versatility by performing French and English songs, including the Black Eyed Peas' “Let's Get It Started,” Calogero's “Le Portrait,” Luis Fonsi's “Despacito,” and “Uptown Funk.” In the final showdown, he faced French singer Carla Lazzari, who competed as Le Poussin (The Chick).

For the final round, Crawford performed Michael Jackson's “Beat It,” which ultimately sealed his victory. The moment also harked back to Crawford’s early career, when he was as a backup dancer for Michael Jackson during the King of Pop’s 1995 MTV Video Music Awards’ performance.

"Mask Singer" is the French adaptation of the globally popular celebrity singing competition where contestants perform in elaborate costumes while keeping their identities hidden until they are eliminated. The format, which has expanded worldwide, includes a Philippine version called “Masked Singer Pilipinas."

Crawford's latest triumph adds to his growing list of accomplishments in France. In 2022, he also won Season 12 of “Danse avec les stars", the French version of "Dancing with the Stars," which aired on France’s TF1 from September to November 2022.

Coincidentally, Crawford was the host of "Masked Singer Pilipinas" for all three seasons before competing in France’s "Mask Singer."