The mystery of Eggplant has finally been solved.
On the March 4 episode of The Masked Singer, the purple powerhouse was revealed to be Daytime Emmy nominee and singer Jack Wagner. His run ended during “Ozzfest Night,” a tribute to rock icon Ozzy Osbourne.
Earlier in the night, Wagner performed “One Step Closer” by Linkin Park before facing off against High Voltage in a head-to-head performance of “Iron Man” by Black Sabbath. Ultimately, Eggplant came up short in the battle — bringing Wagner’s run on the competition to an end.
The reveal came as a surprise to the panel, who never guessed Wagner’s identity and instead floated names like Rick Springfield, Nathan Lane, and Alice Cooper.
The longtime star — known for roles on General Hospital and Melrose Place, along with his music career and Broadway work — spoke with Gold Derby about adapting to the surprisingly cumbersome Eggplant costume, the unforgettable night he met Michael Jackson during the recording of “We Are the World,” and why singing “Rocket Man” by Elton John became his favorite moment of the experience.
Gold Derby: The artist formerly known as Eggplant. What was it like when you heard that was the costume? What honestly went through your head?
Jack Wagner: At the beginning I had an image of what it would be, and then when I got there it was so different. I had to adapt. It was a constant adaptation to a really cumbersome costume. When I saw the first performance, what I had planned just didn’t work. Movement was very limited — you couldn’t really see my feet or legs — so it became more about making circles and a little dip here or there. I had to adjust on the fly.
You completely fooled the panel and that doesn’t always happen. What was it like hearing the names they were guessing?
I think they were thrown by the Broadway clue. People don’t really know my theatrical background — I’ve done tons and tons of theater and played Jekyll and Hyde on Broadway. And I think the “We Are the World” clue threw them too. I was on Quincy Jones’ label in the ’80s and was there that night. Those clues really threw them. So when I hear guesses like Kenny Loggins, Billy Joel, and Daryl Hall, I’m going, “Damn, thank you.”
You mentioned the “We Are the World” story. What was that night like for you?
I remember giving Lionel Richie an AMA Award that night, and Quincy Jones was like, “Hey, man, come over to this recording.” I wasn’t there to record, but I could hang out for a while. I’d been around a lot of artists because I was with Quincy, but that night was incredible.
Michael Jackson came up to me out of the blue and said, “I really love your record. I love your voice.” Just hearing that from him — what an experience. And seeing Bruce Springsteen and Tina Turner and everyone there. You have these experiences in life, and that was definitely one of them for me.
Who were your music idols?
I was a big Neil Young fan. Big James Taylor fan. Southern rock — Lynyrd Skynyrd. I’m from Missouri and I’m a self-taught guitarist, so I played a lot of that stuff growing up. I also had the rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar memorized. Elton John and Billy Joel, too. I’d sit in my room and imitate those voices. I was connected to music on a deep level before I launched into General Hospital and a recording career.
What was it like performing Linkin Park on “Ozzyfest Night”? That’s a little bit of a departure.
It was different. It was hard because I don’t sing grunge rock. Nothing against them — it’s just not my wheelhouse. So I tried to jump around more and add physical movement and really go for it. I tried to grunge myself up as much as I could and do justice to a great band and a cool song.
The clues were interesting because you’ve done so many things in your career — soaps, Broadway, primetime, and even golf.
The golf club clue! They didn’t get that one. I thought someone might piece together the celebrity golfer clue.
Of all the interesting people you’ve golfed with, who’s the biggest trash talker?
Michael Jordan. Without a doubt.
What’s it like golfing with Michael Jordan?
This was in the ’90s at the celebrity tournament up in Lake Tahoe. Jordan, John Elway, Charles Barkley — all those guys were there. They all knew me because after practice they’d watch General Hospital in their hotel rooms. They’d ask me to take pictures with their wives. We became great friends. But Jordan and Barkley? Those guys love to talk trash. We’d gamble, play golf, go to the casino — great times.
You’ve had such a long career across music, soaps, Broadway, and primetime. What’s the key to longevity?
Preparation and attitude. Be prepared, know your stuff, and be a pro. Treat people the way you want to be treated. It’s all about relationships. I always know my lines, hit my mark, and collaborate with writers, actors, and directors. It’s got to be a process of collaboration.
What do you take away from The Masked Singer? What was your favorite memory?
Singing “Rocket Man.” When they suggested that song, I was like, “OK.” It’s a really hard song — you’ve got to hit that falsetto and not crack. I feel like I nailed the vocal. That was really important to me, to do justice to Elton John and that song. That’ll be the one I remember most.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
