Another summer of secrets came to an end on Monday with the Claim to Fame finale, which not only revealed the winner of Season 2 but also confirmed the four remaining secret celebrities.
The ABC guessing game’s sophomore season featured an eclectic cast, with close connections to everyone from Tom Hanks and Dolly Parton to Neil deGrasse Tyson and Lil Nas X. And watching them figure each other out one by one was a highlight of our summer. The deception! The backstabbing! The meltdowns! Come on, that’s just good TV.
Read on for a complete breakdown of this season’s contestants and their now-revealed celebrity relatives, then drop a comment with your thoughts below. Which of these family family members did you guess first, and which gave you the most trouble?
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CARLY REEVES
Image Credit: Courtesy of ABC, Steven Ferdman/Everett Collection NIECE OF TOM HANKS (RITA WILSON’S SISTER’S DAUGHTER)!
Carly may have been the first contestant sent home this season, but thanks to her absolutely bonkers elimination — during which she screamed about the show making her clues too easy, and how she deserved much more screen time — we couldn’t forget her if we tried. Click here to watch the incredible moment for yourself.
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CHRIS OSMOND
Image Credit: Courtesy of ABC, James Atoa/Everett Collection SON OF DONNY OSMOND!
Close, but no cigar! After placing third in the finale, Chris was exposed as the son of ’70s pop icon Donny Osmond, whom Chris considers his personal hero. Don’t we all.
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COLE COOK
Image Credit: Courtesy of ABC, Elizabeth Goodenough/Everett Collection BROTHER OF ALICIA KEYS!
No one was “Falling” for Cole’s charade after Episode 5, which ended with the reveal that Cole is Keys’ beloved brother. He also dated Emma Watson, to the point where he’s been written up in People magazine, so he technically doubles as his own claim to fame.
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GABRIEL CANNON
Image Credit: Courtesy of ABC, Priscilla Grant/Everett Collection BROTHER OF NICK CANNON!
This season’s last relative standing, Gabriel stunned his fellow competitors when he revealed his older brother to be none other than actor-turned-host-turned-professional impregnator Nick Cannon.
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HUGO WENTZEL
Image Credit: Courtesy of ABC, Sony Pictures Classics/Everett Collection GRANDSON OF JIMMY CARTER!
After failing to correctly guess Chris’ relative in Episode 7, Hugo was eliminated, at which point his famous grandfather was revealed to be Jimmy Carter, the 39th president of the United States.
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ROBERT LAMAR STAFFORD JR. (AKA J.R.)
Image Credit: Courtesy of ABC, Priscilla Grant/Everett Collection BROTHER OF LIL NAS X!
We’ve known about J.R.’s connection to the “Old Town Road” singer since his birthplace was revealed way back in Episode 2. But it wasn’t so easy for the other houseguests, who never correctly guessed the connection. Instead, it was revealed after J.R. was eliminated in Episode 8 for incorrectly guessing that Chris was related to Billy Idol.
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JADA ‘JANE’ STAR
Image Credit: Courtesy of ABC, Derek Storm/Everett Collection NIECE OF DOLLY PARTON!
The third person eliminated this season, Jane also has the honor of being the first contestant to actually make us jealous. Come on, Aunt Dolly?! It doesn’t get much better than that.
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KARSYN ELLEDGE
Image Credit: Courtesy of ABC, MORA/Everett Collection NIECE OF DALE EARNHARDT JR.!
The first contestant eliminated in the season’s two-hour finale, Karsyn revealed herself to be the niece of NASCAR great Dale Earnhardt Jr.
“I think I’ve done him proud,” she said with tears in her eyes, adding, “I owe Jeff Gordon a big thank-you when I get home too.”
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JERRICA MONAY BROOKS
Image Credit: Courtesy of ABC, Emiley Schweich/Everett Collection DAUGHTER OF J.B. SMOOVE!
This season’s runner-up claims to be the female version of her father, a comedian best known for his work on Curb Your Enthusiasm and the Caesars Sportsbook commercials.
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OLIVIA AQUILINA
Image Credit: Courtesy of ABC, Priscilla Grant/Everett Collection NIECE OF JENNY MCCARTHY!
One of the biggest mysteries of the season, Olivia could have easily won it all… had she not shot herself in the foot in Episode 6 by incorrectly guessing Karsyn’s connection to Jeff Gordon. The closest Olivia’s competitors got to guessing her relative’s identity was Carrot Top — and that wasn’t close at all.
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SHAYNE MURPHY
Image Credit: Courtesy of ABC, Kristin Callahan/Everett Collection DAUGHTER OF EDDIE MURPHY!
Episode 4 ended with Cole blindsiding Shayne, revealing her father to be Hollywood legend Eddie Murphy. Shayne admitted to being “completely surprised” by Cole’s decision, and most of the other players — especially Shayne’s bestie Monay, who immediately swore revenge — felt the same.
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TRAVIS TYSON
Image Credit: Courtesy of ABC, Priscilla Grant/Everett Collection SON OF NEIL DEGRASSE TYSON!
Well, that’s one universal mystery solved: Travis was outed as the son of this famed astrophysicist in the season’s second episode, making his overall performance in the competition… less than stellar.
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