Matthew Lawrence took a bold step in his singing career by choosing TLC’s hit “Unpretty” for his final performance on Fox’s The Masked Singer. The song, released in 1999, holds a special place in Lawrence’s heart as one of his favorite “guilty pleasure” tracks, often sung in the privacy of his shower. This decision came with challenges. He was just as motivated to win the favor of his then-girlfriend, Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas, and her TAG team partner in TLC, Tionne Watkins.
Lawrence’s talent won the day and contributed to a major arc of his comeback on The Masked Singer. It was an important turning point in his own development. He had always been terrified of singing in public after a traumatic Broadway audition. Rather than approach this new opportunity with fear, he saw it as his opportunity to face his fears.
I only wish I hadn’t let fear control my singing life so completely. Because hell, now I sort of understand that bug… Well, I’m certainly more receptive these days, without a doubt, to getting singing opportunities now, for sure. Lawrence shared. His “yes” era, as he later referred to it, was the right time for him to say yes to the show. This is an exciting period when he steps into new possibilities and leaves fear behind.
Prior to taking the stage, Lawrence asked for Chilli and Watkins’ consent. That was very important to me because I knew that Unpretty is in their iconic catalog. He reminisced about the time when the song first gained popularity, noting, “This truly happened, and it’s so amazing how things work out, when ‘Unpretty’ came out back in the day that was one of those guilty pleasure songs I would sing in the shower.”
Chilli and Watkins were both available to provide support at every step in the process. “She was so awesome, so supportive, she even gave me little critiques on how to sing it,” Lawrence acknowledged, expressing gratitude for their guidance.
The pick of “Unpretty” pretty much eviscerated whatever doubts the viewing public had left. Its themes of inner beauty and self acceptance have landed it among the strongest contenders for Lawrence’s final performance. “Do you think I could sing that on The Masked Singer?” he recalled asking himself prior to making the decision. And finally, he learned to understand that taking the stage was less about putting on a show and more about conquering his own challenges.
Lawrence’s older brother, Joey Lawrence, previously appeared on season 8 of The Masked Singer, further connecting the family to the show’s legacy. Matthew found motivation in his tight-knit family. Deepening this connection provided Jeremy with the greatest asset as he mapped out his path through the competition.