Nick Cannon tests positive for COVID-19 as Niecy Nash takes over The Masked Singer hosting duties

Nick Cannon will be sitting out the first few episodes of The Masked Singer, season five.

The former Nickelodeon star has tested positive for COVID-19, just days before production begins.

He will be temporarily replaced by Niecy Nash, who’s been tapped to take over his hosting duties on the highly-rated Fox competition series, which is scheduled to return in March.

Positive test: Nick Cannon has tested positive for COVID-19, just days before production on season five of The Masked Singer begins (pictured in January, 2020)

Temporary replacement: He will be temporarily replaced by Niecy Nash, who's been tapped to take over his hosting duties on the highly-rated Fox competition series, which is scheduled to return in March (pictured in January, 2020)

Temporary replacement: He will be temporarily replaced by Niecy Nash, who’s been tapped to take over his hosting duties on the highly-rated Fox competition series, which is scheduled to return in March (pictured in January, 2020)

The 40-year-old is currently resting at home in quarantine, and Fox expects him to return to the show later in the season.

Nash, 50, begins production Thursday, as she joins returning celeb panelists Jenny McCarthy, Nicole Scherzinger, Ken Jeong and Robin Thicke.

It comes after LeAnn Rimes won season four, when she was unmasked as The Sun back in December, as the show became TV’s No. 1 entertainment series, tying with NBC’s This Is Us.

The show has maintained strict COVID-19 precautions since returning to production last summer, months after the pandemic forced Hollywood into lockdown.

Plenty of rest: The 40-year-old is currently resting at home in quarantine, and Fox expects him to return to the show later in the season (pictured in December, 2018)

Plenty of rest: The 40-year-old is currently resting at home in quarantine, and Fox expects him to return to the show later in the season (pictured in December, 2018)

Star-studded panel: Nash, 50, begins production Thursday, as she joins returning celeb panelists Jenny McCarthy, Nicole Scherzinger, Ken Jeong and Robin Thicke

Star-studded panel: Nash, 50, begins production Thursday, as she joins returning celeb panelists Jenny McCarthy, Nicole Scherzinger, Ken Jeong and Robin Thicke

Winner winner: It comes after LeAnn Rimes won season four, when she was unmasked as The Sun back in December, as the show became TV's No. 1 entertainment series, tying with NBC's This Is Us

Winner winner: It comes after LeAnn Rimes won season four, when she was unmasked as The Sun back in December, as the show became TV’s No. 1 entertainment series, tying with NBC’s This Is Us

Nash previously appeared as a guest panelist on season four, as well as the new spin-off I Can See Your Voice, which is hosted by Jeong.

Meanwhile, a second spin-off titled The Masked Dancer is halfway through its first season, with contestants Vinny Guadagnino, Brian McKnight, Elizabeth Smart, Bill Nye the Science Guy and Ice-T having already been unmasked.

Cannon recently welcomed his second child with ex Brittany Bell, 33, a daughter named Powerful Queen, who was born in December. 

The couple previously welcomed their firstborn, a son named Golden ‘Sagon’, three, back in February of 2017.

COVID precautions: The show has maintained strict COVID-19 precautions since returning to production last summer, months after the pandemic forced Hollywood into lockdown

COVID precautions: The show has maintained strict COVID-19 precautions since returning to production last summer, months after the pandemic forced Hollywood into lockdown

Celeb guest: Nash previously appeared as a guest panelist on season four, as well as the new spin-off I Can See Your Voice, which is hosted by Jeong

Celeb guest: Nash previously appeared as a guest panelist on season four, as well as the new spin-off I Can See Your Voice, which is hosted by Jeong

Bell revealed the news of their latest arrival with a Christmas family photo on Instagram, writing: ‘The best gift ever. we have been surprised with… A GIRL!!!!! Powerful Queen Cannon came this week perfect timing for Christmas. 

‘So much more to share. All I can say is that Nick was my rock through the most intense yet empowering natural water birth. It was nothing but POWERFUL. Merry Christmas!!!! THANK YOU GOD.’ 

Cannon has since come under fire, after model Jessica White, 36, revealed that she suffered a pregnancy loss with Cannon last year, before they split in August.

She said on Fox Soul’s Hollywood Unlocked with Jason Lee that it came just before Bell announced her pregnancy on Instagram in June: ‘I found out on Instagram along with the rest of the world.’

New addition: Cannon recently welcomed his second child with ex Brittany Bell, 33, a daughter named Powerful Queen, who was born in December

New addition: Cannon recently welcomed his second child with ex Brittany Bell, 33, a daughter named Powerful Queen, who was born in December

Tragic loss: He's since come under fire, after model Jessica White, 36, revealed that she suffered a pregnancy loss with Cannon last year, before they split in August (pictured in November, 2020)

Tragic loss: He’s since come under fire, after model Jessica White, 36, revealed that she suffered a pregnancy loss with Cannon last year, before they split in August (pictured in November, 2020)

Proud dad: Cannon also shares twins, daughter Monroe and son Moroccan, both nine, with ex-wife Mariah Carey, 50, to whom he was married from 2008 to 2016

Proud dad: Cannon also shares twins, daughter Monroe and son Moroccan, both nine, with ex-wife Mariah Carey, 50, to whom he was married from 2008 to 2016

White continued: ‘She was aware that I just had a miscarriage two weeks prior to her news coming out, because he told me that he told her. I was living at his house, and she knew that as well.’ 

She also recounted being bullied online by Bell’s fans who called her a ‘homewrecker,’ adding that she felt betrayed by Cannon, who never defended her. 

The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue model added: ‘He said he was going to right his wrongs and say something. He has yet to do that. I think he’s a man of his word and he eventually will in his own time. 

Cannon also shares twins, daughter Monroe and son Moroccan, both nine, with ex-wife Mariah Carey, 50, to whom he was married from 2008 to 2016.

Just dance: A second Masked Singer spin-off titled The Masked Dancer is halfway through its first season, with contestants Vinny Guadagnino, Brian McKnight, Elizabeth Smart, Bill Nye the Science Guy and Ice-T having already been unmasked

Just dance: A second Masked Singer spin-off titled The Masked Dancer is halfway through its first season, with contestants Vinny Guadagnino, Brian McKnight, Elizabeth Smart, Bill Nye the Science Guy and Ice-T having already been unmasked