This one’s for the girls the girl groups, that is.
Naturally, the contestants all had to sing songs made famous by girl groups.
(Other guesses included Roberta Flack and Loretta Devine.)
Miss Cleocatra on ‘The Masked Singer’ season 11.Michael Becker / FOX
Michael Becker / FOX
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Were you familiar withThe Masked Singerbefore signing on to do it?
JENIFER LEWIS:Absolutely not.
I never watch television.
Jenifer Lewis.Cindy Ord/Getty
I’m busy writing books.
I’m busy studying lines for the next gig.
I made a conscious decision not to watch television.
I will turn on some nature shows.
I love nature, I love animals.
But I’m at an age where time is precious and I use it to create mostly.
I’ll turn on something every once in a while, but no, I don’t watch television.
So I didn’t know anything about the show.
I didn’t even see the last three episodes.
I didn’t even see the last three seasons of [her show]Black-ish.
I just don’t watch TV and Irarelywatch myself.
I may watch myself once, butThe Masked Singerwas different.
Once I started watching, I couldn’t stop because it’s fun.
It’s just so much fun.
And I don’t know if youheard about my accident in Africa.
They called me when I was convalescing and my friends encouraged me [to do it].
I couldn’t walk yet, and I was still on a little morphine.
They were like, “Take it off!”
And I was like, “Huh, what am I?
Who’s taking off what?”
[Laughs] But anyway, yeah, my friends encouraged me.
They said, get out of bed and go do what you love to do.
Well, you could see I was only using my torso in “Stormy Weather.”
And with my last song you’ll see, I never let go of the mic stand.
It was bolted down because I couldn’t walk.
I was kicking a little bit, but very low.
It’s hard to stop Jenifer Lewis when she starts performing, even if she’s got one leg.
[Laughs] It was a great experience.
I mean, who puts Jenifer Lewis in a mask?
Everyone always says in these interviews how hard it is to see and move in those costumes.
You’re very brave for getting out there like that.
Itwasa challenge, but that’s kind of what I’m made of.
That’s why I came back as quickly as I did, because I’m an athlete.
I swam, I cycled, Pilates, yoga.
I read Frank Sinatra’s where he said, talent will out.
They can’t take it from me.
What did you make of the costume?
And you see, they had me on a throne or the boys were holding me up.
But then they of course came up with Cleocatra, which I just thought was so funny.
And I loved it.
The costume was beautiful.
They are really creative over there.
But here we go.
I couldn’t move it like I usually do anyways.
Ken is usually one of the worst at guessing, but he was so sure it was you.
How did you feel about that?
But I’ll tell you another thing: my guess is, 3 million other people knew also.
I can’t hide this voice no matter what I do.
People know this voice.
I saw a lot of people online saying, “I know that laugh.”
Gotta keep laughing.
Cindy Ord/Getty
That’s such a great thing to be known for.
I am flattered by it.
I can’t tell you how much I laugh when somebody’s imitating me.
Oh, Robin, I fell away."
Oh, I laughed so hard because, I’m sorry, I am dramatic.
But I studied theater.
What else am I supposed to do?
I’m the baby of seven children.
What else am I supposed to do?
We loveSister Act, so I have to ask, do you have any updates onSister Act 3?
I was like, “Yeah, of course we got to do that!”
I was thinking, which one?
But yeah, it’s coming.
My guess is it’s coming.
IfWhoopi Goldbergbelieves in it, we’re coming.
She and I have been friends a long time.
And when I saw her, I sat in the audience thinking, well, my career is over.
She was so wonderful.
And we met when we were both very young.
We’ve done three movies together, and we’ve stayed friends.
I ran up to her room.
I said, “Are you insane?
You’ve got Jenifer Lewis and Liza Minnelli at your house for Thanksgiving.”
The next morning on Thanksgiving, a grand piano was delivered.
But that’s Whoopi for you.
It’s the kids now.
I’m performing for the kids.
Here’s auntie, here’s Jenifer Lewis, and she’s a lot of fun.
She’s got a little talent.
It’s all good stuff to me.
It all came together, singing on national TV, and being unveiled… and fun.
And it did inspire me to do more physical therapy with more gusto, to get back.
I needed my legs back, and I got them.
So, happy girl.
