What happened to Nicole Scherzinger on 'The Masked Singer'? Here's what she's doing now

The 11th season of "The Masked Singer" kicked off without a familiar face as singer Nicole Scherzinger has stepped away as judge.

Here's what happened.

Why did Nicole Scherzinger leave 'The Masked Singer?' Where is she now?

Scherzinger took a step back from the program this season to star in a revival of Andrew Lloyd Weber's "Sunset Boulevard" in London's West End, according to The Wrap, via Yahoo News. The show ran for 16 weeks, starting in September 2023, and coincided with the singing competition.

She will continue her run as Norma Desmond when "Sunset Boulevard" comes to Broadway this year. According to Deadline, Scherzinger told producers she will commit to a six-month season in New York.

Who are the judges on 'The Masked Singer?'

Scherzinger has been a judge on "The Masked Singer" since it launched in 2019. She sits on a panel with Robin Thicke, Ken Jeong and Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg. This season, British pop star Rita Ora is taking her place.

Who is Rita Ora?

Ora has was previously part of “The Masked Singer UK” and helped out on “The Voice Australia” and “The X Factor UK.”

Ora discussed the differences between the US and UK versions in an interview with Variety.

“I think here in the U.S. it’s just definitely bigger,” Ora told the publication. “I’ve been doing it in the UK for five seasons and it’s such a joy doing it back home. I’ve obviously seen the level of talent on the US version and I just had to be a part of the madness. It feels very similar, but it’s nice because I think there’s a lot more leeway here in the States. Especially this season. There’s so many surprises that I’m like, ‘Oh, is this allowed?'”

Fans react to Nicole Scherzinger's absence on 'The Masked Singer'

Fans (and judges) took to social media to voice their opinions on Scherzinger leaving and Ora joining the program.

This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: What happened to Nicole Scherzinger on 'The Masked Singer'?