Here is the winner of “The Masked Singer” Season 9, and reveals identities of Macaw and Medusa

Throughout Season 9 of Fox’s “The Masked Singer,” Bishop Briggs maintained a steady flow, like a river, and her perseverance was rewarded with the championship. This season’s top prize went to Briggs, who played Medusa. On Wednesday night’s finale, he and runner-up David Archuleta, who played the Macaw, were finally unveiled.

Briggs, who put on the most shows this season, won with performances of Sia’s “Elastic Heart” and My Chemical Romance’s “Welcome to the Black Parade.” Although Briggs acknowledged that singing in the Medusa costume was difficult, she emphasized that it paled in comparison to her performance last year.

Briggs is well-known for songs like “Wild Horses” and “River,” among others. She recently released the brand-new single “Baggage,” and next month, she will release the brand-new EP “When Everything Went Dark.” This will be followed by a North American tour with MisterWives in the fall.

In participating in “The Masked Singer,” Briggs said she was a fan of the show and was curious about “having the opportunity to really make it about my voice… it was an adventure performing underneath the costume, for sure. I feel like I could see at the beginning of each song and then by the end of it, who knows what I could see. But my expectations going in were just to be as authentic as possible. And my hope was that the emotion would come through.”

Briggs was nearly disposed of before in the season however saved by the show’s “Ding Dong Keep It On” ringer. Requested to pick her number one exhibition from the season, she went with her front of Hozier’s “Take Me to Church.” “I got to do all the things that I love to do in my own sets,” she said. “I got to lean into the passion of the song, I got to run around, and I love Hozier.”

For Medusa, specialist Nicole Scherzinger got it right with Diocesan Briggs. Grimes, Robin Thicke thought. Fergie was chosen by Wahlberg’s Jenny McCarthy. Susan Boyle and Ken Jeong acted erratically.

Scherzinger got it right once more with David Archuleta in Macaw. Jeong concurred. Thicke thought it was Jason Mraz. McCarthy Wahlberg went with Neil Patrick Harris.

During the regular season, “The Masked Singer” has once again adopted a “Champion of Masked Singer” format. Every episode, three costumed famous people performed, yet only one would win and continue on to contend again the next week.

New this season was “Ding Dong Keep It On.” Panelists had the chance to save a singer from being eliminated in the new competition twist; however, the bell can only be rung three times during the first three rounds. On a special episode, those three singers competed to rejoin the competition, which eventually included Medusa.

Pentatonix as California Roll, David Archuleta as Macaw, Bishop Briggs as Medusa, Keenan Allen as Gargoyle, Melissa Joan Hart as Lamp, Alicia Witt as Dandelion, Dee Snider as the Doll, Christine Quinn as Scorpio, George Wendt as Moose, Holly Robinson Peete as Fairy, Alexa Bliss as Axolotl, Lele Pons as Jackalope, Mal

There were a total of 21 contestants in Season 9 of “The Masked Singer,” including “Mustang,” “Axolotl,” “California Roll,” “Dandelion,” “Moose,” “Gargoyle,” “Jackalope,” “Doll,” “Polar Bear,” “Night Owl,” “Rock Lobster,” “Gnome,” “Macaw,” “Squirrel,” and “Wolf.” The costume designer for this season is Tim Chappel.

The contestants from Season 9 “boast a combined 28 Emmy nominations, six Grammy wins, 10 gold albums, four Golden Globe nominations, five medals, 26 books, two Tony Award nominations, five Lifetime Achievement Awards, a combined 95,231,000 records sold,” according to the show’s website. New themed episodes, such as “ABBA Night,” “New York Night,” “DC Superheroes Night,” “Sesame Street Night,” “80s Night,” and “Movie Night,” will debut in Season 9.

Here were the last two challengers and their exhibitions on night fourteen:

Medusa (BISHOP BRIGGS)

Songs: “Elastic Heart,” by Sia; “Welcome to the Black Parade,” by My Chemical Romance

Panel guesses: Elle Goulding, Fergie, Kesha, Grimes, Lorde, Shirley Manson, Bishop Briggs

Package voiceover: “I think people who know me wouldn’t be the least bit surprised I’m wearing a costume with a bunch of snakes all over it and looking creepy. Being a cheeky, reptilian enchantress is basically my aesthetic. The truth is, I feel really grateful I have such a powerful costume to embody. Medusa has become my second skin. The truth is I feel really grateful that I have such a powerful costume to embody. Medusa has become my second skin. I’m actually afraid I’ll get too used to it and won’t take it off when I go on tour. I fought hard to get here, and it would mean so much to me to join the ranks of past winners like the amazing Queen of Hearts [Jewel]. This experience is something I’ll carry with me forever… I cannot believe I am here in the finale! It has been such a journey. I am grateful but deep down in my stomach there is a fire that makes me really want to win. Because more than any other singer this season, I had to fight the hardest to earn my place here tonight. I was almost sent home, but all of those obstacles prepared me for this moment right now. Because no matter the circumstances, my priority is the connection with the people in front of me. And the hope that they’ll feel less alone because of my music. I hope when my son watches this he’ll hear Medusa’s message that we are capable of being so many different things at once. That with great loss, there is always still joy. And more than anything, it’s worth fighting for. I hope I make him proud.”

Previous songs: “Someone Like You,” by Adele; “Happier Than Ever,” by Billie Eilish; “Dancing Queen,” by ABBA; “New York, New York,” by Frank Sinatra; “Mercy,” by Shawn Mendes; “Take Me to Church,” by Hozier

Previous panel guesses: Elle Goulding, Megan Markle, Jessie J, Charli XCX, Dua Lipa, Lorde, Tove Lo, Apple Martin, Dakota Johnson, Florence Welch, Shirley Manson, Susan Boyle, Kesha, Imogen Heap, Regina Spektor, Bishop Briggs, Amy Lee, Halsey, Ashlee Simpson, Grimes, Natalie Merchant, Paula Cole, Hailee Steinfeld, Dove Cameron, Dido. And when she was about to be voted off: Ken Jeong picked Susan Boyle, Robin Thicke went with Kesha, Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg said it was Halsey, Nicole Scherzinger guessed Lorde.

Macaw (DAVID ARCHULETA)

Songs: “Hold Back the River,” by James Bay; “All by Myself,” by Eric Carmen

Panel guesses: Zayn Malik, Neil Patrick Harris, Doug Robb of Hoobastank, David Archuleta, Darren Criss

Package voiceover: “Becoming the Macaw is exciting because it’s like I’m becoming a new person. Even though people can’t see me in this, in a way it lets me show a lot more of myself. I can show the colors I was too afraid to show, and I’m able to tap deeper emotionally in my performances. You know, I had a lot of anxiety coming here because I wasn’t sure I could handle an environment of being judged again. Especially with millions watching me on TV. But being the Macaw makes it a lot more fun. And if I win, it means I actually can win something. Maybe the last night for Macaw, but he’ll live in me forever. When I first started this competition, I didn’t think I’d make it this far. And honestly, I wasn’t sure I’d still be singing at all. Not a lot of people know this about me, but I had a major injury last year that made me completely silent for three months. I was also going through some pretty big life events, and I began to wonder if this is really for me. But after taking time to reflect, I realized there was still a part of me in performing and that I should keep trying, even with all the changes. I once thought I would be alone. But from this bird’s eye view, I can see I deserve to be loved.”

Previous songs: “Your Song,” by Elton John; “Live Like You’re Dying,” by Tim McGraw; “What Makes You Beautiful,” by One Direction

Previous panel guesses: Elijah Wood, Zayn Malik, Doug Robb, Macaulay Culkin, Gavin McGraw, Ryan Cabrera, Darren Criss, David Archuleta, Daniel Bedingfield, Daniel Radcliffe