The Masked Singer returned for its 9th season, and the first elimination was described as ‘the most legendary, decorative and beloved unmasking in history,’ and they were right.

Gnome was the first one to get axed on Wednesday night after performing ‘When You’re Smiling’ by Billie Holiday’s.

But after removing the mask, judges and viewers were left in tears as the Gnome was revealed to be Dick Van Dyke.

The viewers and panelists Nicole Scherzinger, Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg, Ken Jeong, and Robin Thicke were all shocked, with Scherzinger left in tears after seeing the Dick Van Dyke Show and Mary Poppins star.

Before the big reveal, Entertainment Weekly spoke with Van Dyke, who was joined by his wife, Arlene Silver.

The 97-year-old revealed that The Masked Singer was the weirdest thing he has ever done.

When asked by EW about his reaction to getting to do The Masked Singer, he said that he had never seen it. So when he checked it on the air, he thought that it was fun.

“I was so positive that nobody would ever guess it was me, that they would have somebody 97 years old on there,” he said.

“And the experience was weird, because they have to keep it a secret from the crew. So I walked around with my head covered with people leading me. They’ve got a nice crew, but I never got to meet any of them!”

When asked why he sang Billie Holiday’s When You’re Smiling, he revealed that they wanted him to do current songs, “about which I know nothing.”

He said that he would like to sing an old familiar song and he liked When You’re Smiling.

What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments section and SHARE this story with your friends and family!