Nicole Scherzinger hasn't ruled out a return to The Masked Singer (despite not returning for season 12)

A new season ofThe Masked Singerhas officially begun on FOX and the panel once again is missing one of the original panelists who helped launch the hit singing competition series.

Original panelist Nicole Scherzinger has once again been replaced by Rita Ora for season 12, leaving many fans wondering whether Scherzinger has walked away from the series entirely and there’s a good reason for this.

When FOX announced Scherzinger would not be returning for season 11 earlier this year, the announcement seemed as though she was simply taking a one-season break in order to focus on her role in the London production ofSunset Boulevard.It was hinted that Scherzinger would be back for season 12; however, when the season 12 panelist lineup was announced, her name was once again missing with Ora returning alongside Scherzinger’s fellow original panelists Ken Jeong, Jenny McCarthy-Walhberg, and Robin Thicke.

Unlike before, no clear answer was provided this time around regarding why exactly Scherzinger did not return for season 12, though many have speculated thatSunset Boulevardis once again at the root of the decision. While her time in London has ended, Scherzinger is now headlining the show’s US production on Broadway which requires her to be in New York City for weekly performances and creates a conflict with shootingThe Masked Singerin LA.

Nicole Scherzinger hasn’t closed the door on a Masked Singer return

Although Nicole Scherzinger has not appeared inThe Masked Singer’s last two seasons, including its most recent season airing Wednesdays on FOX, she has not ruled out a possible return to the series and has very much left the door open for a return someday.

"Oh my gosh, I would love to, are you kidding me?"Scherzinger told EW aheadof the show’s tenth season and before her exit regarding whether she’d love to remain a part ofThe Masked Singerfamily. "I love my [Masked Singer] family. And it's such a great job. Are you kidding? I love it. Yes."

Of course, these comments were made prior to her exit so it’s hard to know whether her stance on returning might have changed, but Scherzinger has not released any statements suggesting she no longer has a desire to return to the series. Instead, it seems likely that her schedule simply hasn’t allowed for her to film the new seasons of the show in LA while working on the various productions ofSunset Boulevard.

In fact, given that she is still appearing in the Broadway production of the series, there is a good chance she might not be back for season 13 ofThe Masked Singerwhich should be coming our way in the spring but will likely be filming sometime in late 2024 ahead of its return next year.

We’ll have to wait to see if and whenScherzinger does return, but we hope to see her back onThe Masked Singersomeday. In the meantime, Rita Ora has become an amazing new addition to the show’s family so we love having her on the panel!

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