The Masked Singer’s Amber Riley discusses the unforgettable experience when she and her mother met Oprah when the Glee cast performed on her show.
Winning The Masked Singer may be one of Amber Riley’s favorite moments, but it’s hard to compete with meeting Oprah. Just as fans suspected and panelist Nicole Scherzinger figured out, Amber was behind the Harp mask on the singing competition series. In one of her clue packages, she mentioned she met Oprah and was shocked when the talk show host knew her name and her mother’s name. Amber’s show Glee premiered in 2009, and a year later, the cast appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show. Amber and her costars performed their rendition of Queen’s “Somebody To Love,” which they sang on the show.
Over a decade later, The Masked Singer season 8 winner is still starstruck. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Amber reminisced about the Oprah memory she mentioned in her clue package. The star explained that before her performance and interview, Oprah came in to say hello to everyone. “She was like, “Hi, Amber.” And I was like, shocked that she knew my name. And then she turned to my mom, and was like, “Hey, Tiny.” And I’m just like, “WHAT? How did you know my mom’s name?!” Amber explained. The star said having her mom at the show with her was “imperative” because she had watched Oprah’s show since she was a kid.
The Masked Singer‘s Amber Riley Will Never Forget Meeting Oprah
The Masked Singer contestant says Oprah was very personable and sat and talked to everyone and their parents. She made them feel special, not like they were just another guest on her show. Amber admits, “I know that’s a memory that me and my mother will share for the rest of our lives.” What makes the memory even more special is that two days later, Amber had the opportunity to sing for America’s first Black president, Barack Obama. Amber also appreciates Oprah’s kindness because the Glee cast was a very big cast compared to some other shows. It felt extra special that the talk show host took the time to talk to everyone since there were so many of them.
Any Gleek who remembers when the show’s cast performed on Oprah immediately knew Harp’s identity when she gave the Oprah hint in her The Masked Singer clue package. A lot of her other clues were obvious, too, like her finale image of a Mercedes, which clearly pointed to her Glee character Mercedes Jones. While her competition, Lambs, were very talented, fans suspected Harp would win because of her powerful vocals. She’s surely one of the most talented contestants The Masked Singer has ever seen, and her voice was one of the most recognized by fans.
Amber can now add winning The Masked Singer to her list of accomplishments and groundbreaking career moments. Though, the special day with Oprah will likely remain her favorite memory. Oprah is beloved and idolized by so many. It’s understandable why meeting her was so special for The Masked Singer contestant, especially since Oprah has proven how capable women and Black Americans are despite the barriers the world has put up for them. Having Oprah know your name and your mom’s name sounds like a very surreal moment.
Source: Entertainment Weekly
