ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Ashlee Simpson Wins The Masked Singer Two Decades After SNL Lip-Syncing Controversy

award · 2026-04-02

Ashlee Simpson has been declared the winner of the 14th season of The Masked Singer, performing under the identity of Galaxy Girl. This victory comes more than twenty years after a widely publicized incident on Saturday Night Live in 2004, where a technical error revealed she was lip-syncing during her performance as the musical guest. The mishap, which occurred when the wrong backing track played, led to significant public criticism and questions about her vocal abilities. Simpson, now 41, used the anonymous format of the competition show to demonstrate her singing talent to a broad audience. Her husband, Evan Ross, also participated in the same season as the character Stingray but was eliminated in the tenth episode. Following her win, Simpson expressed enthusiasm about returning to performance, citing upcoming engagements including a Las Vegas residency at the Venetian resort. The singer reflected on the experience of performing incognito, noting it allowed for a different kind of artistic expression. Her career following the 2004 incident included additional music releases, Broadway work, and acting roles. The win on The Masked Singer represents a notable public redemption narrative for the artist.

Key facts

  • Ashlee Simpson won season 14 of The Masked Singer as Galaxy Girl.
  • The victory occurs over 20 years after a 2004 SNL lip-syncing incident damaged her public image.
  • During the SNL appearance, the wrong backing track played, exposing that she was not singing live.
  • Simpson's husband, Evan Ross, competed on the same season as Stingray and was eliminated in Episode 10.
  • Simpson has a Las Vegas residency scheduled at the Venetian resort.
  • She performed Olivia Rodrigo's 'Good 4 U' on the season finale.
  • After the SNL incident, Simpson was booed during the 2005 Orange Bowl halftime show.
  • Simpson stated that performing anonymously on The Masked Singer was a 'moment of discovery'.

Entities

Artists

Institutions

  • Saturday Night Live
  • The Masked Singer
  • People
  • Venetian
  • Broadway
  • Orange Bowl

Locations

  • Las Vegas
  • WeHo

Sources