Heidi Montag has been working hard for her pop star moment for years. The singer, actress, and reality TV star recently released her sophomore album, Heidiwood, and opened up about her music journey, including working with big names like Timbaland and her dream collaborations with artists like Addison Rae.
From Reality TV to Pop Stardom
Heidi Montag first became known on The Hills alongside her husband Spencer Pratt. After making waves on MTV and in the tabloids, Montag shifted her focus to music, releasing her debut album, Superficial, in 2010. While the album didn’t get much critical attention at the time, it’s since gained a loyal fan base.
In 2023, one of the songs from Superficial, “I’ll Do It,” found a new audience after a difficult period in Montag’s life, when the California wildfires destroyed her home in Pacific Palisades. She expressed to PEOPLE that hearing fans stream her music during that time gave her hope to rebuild and move forward.
Heidiwood: A New Era of Music
Leaning into the support she’s received, Montag released Heidiwood last month. The album features new tracks, previously released singles, and some songs from the reissue of Superficial.
Montag revealed to PEOPLE that she loves the pageant queen vibe on the album cover, calling it a “Queen pageant” moment, describing herself as “the people’s princess.”
Collaborating with New Artists
Montag worked with multiple producers and songwriters for the album, including Cali Rodi, Sizzy Rocket, and Alex. She described their approach to creating the album as finding one song at a time and treating each one as a potential single. “We wanted to have an up-to-date version of ‘Superficial,’” she said.
One of the standout tracks for Montag is “White Flag”, which she described as having a melody that’s “soul-filling.” Though the song isn’t about her marriage, she feels it resonates with anyone going through difficult relationships.
Working with Timbaland
Montag also revealed that she has a song coming out with legendary producer Timbaland, who reached out to her during a live stream with Spencer on TikTok. “He has a track for you,” Montag shared, and she says it’s one of her favorites.
The Role of Spencer in Her Music Career
Montag and her husband Spencer Pratt have worked closely together on their music projects. She mentioned that Spencer is a huge part of their record label, doing a lot of the behind-the-scenes work, like sending emails and handling scheduling.
“He’s the executive of Pratt Productions,” Montag said. “We both find the songs, like the songs, and I make the final choice.”
A Career High: Mighty Hoopla Performance
One of the major highlights for Montag was her performance at Mighty Hoopla, where she sang for tens of thousands of people. “That was a career peak,” she said, reflecting on the energy of the audience and how good it felt to perform live.
The Importance of Support After the Fires
Reflecting on the support she received after losing her home in the fires, Montag said it gave her hope to rebuild. “It was really nice to have so many people rally behind us and support us,” she shared. “We have never particularly been supported in our careers, so it was really heartwarming.”
What’s Next for Heidi Montag?
Montag is still figuring out whether to release another full album or stick to singles. “We do have pretty much an album done,” she said. “The world is changing so quickly, and we’re trying to stay ahead of it.” She’s not sure if she’ll release something later this year but says that she’s taking her time to assess the best plan.
Dream Collaborations: Addison Rae and More
Montag has a list of dream collaborations for her next project, including Zara Larsson, Doja Cat, Charli XCX, and Addison Rae. “I love what Addison is doing for herself. It’s really unique. It’s cool,” Montag said. “She’s doing a really good job with her team.”
She even joked about Addison Rae responding to her on TikTok in the past and added, “Next time you talk to Addison, tell her I’m fully available. I’ll get on the ‘Fame is a Gun’ remix.”
