A social media campaign pushed Montag's 15-year-old album "Superficial" to the top of the iTunes charts over the weekend.
Who had the reemergence of "Speidi" on their 2025 Bingo card?
Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag, the polarizing reality TV couple who rose to fame on MTV's "The Hills" almost 20 years ago, have reentered the pop cultural spotlight after a social media campaign pushed Montag's 15-year-old album "Superficial" to the top of the iTunes charts over the weekend, days after their home burned in the Pacific Palisades.
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The 2010 album, along with its single of the same name, hit No. 1 on iTunes Saturday, overtaking Bad Bunny's "Debí Tirar Más Fotos," released Jan. 5, after Pratt posted a series of TikToks last week showing followers photos of his home's destruction and urging them to stream his wife's music.
"Heidi deserves to make top iTunes Charts !!!" Pratt wrote on TikTok, sharing a screenshot of a new anniversary edition of Montag's album. "Please please if you can buy this on iTunes."
And the internet obliged, with droves of fans -- and even celebrities like Flava Flav, Paris Hilton, Perez Hilton, Emily Ratajkowski, Jenny McCarthy and her husband, Donnie Wahlberg -- reposting Pratt's pleas.
Now, with Pratt and Montag setting their sights on the Billboard charts and a reality TV show, here's what to know about the couple poised to flood your algorithm, TV screens, and, possibly, radio station again soon.
How did Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag become famous?
The couple became a household name while cast members on MTV's "The Hills," a reality TV series that premiered in 2006 to document the social life and fashion career of Lauren Conrad, a breakout star of the network's high school-focused predecessor "Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County." Pratt previously appeared on the 2005 reality show, "The Princes of Malibu," alongside Brody Jenner. Montag was introduced in the pilot episode as Conrad's roommate in Los Angeles and her carefree and impulsive personality contrasted Conrad's more focused and levelheaded disposition.
Pratt's relationship with Montag in season two was tumultuous and ultimately ended her friendship with Conrad. The ensuing drama became a central focus of the series -- along with other tabloid-worthy developments in the couples lives: Montag's plastic surgery transformation, Pratt's pricey crystal collection and their lavish 2009 wedding, which was filmed as a midseason finale for "The Hills" and marked Conrad's final appearance on the show.
What have they been up to since 'The Hills?'
Montag and Pratt have been married for more than 15 years and share two kids, Gunnar and Ryker Pratt. Following the success of "The Hills," they appeared together on reality competition shows "I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here!", "Celebrity Big Brother" and "Celebrity Wife Swap."
Over the years, Montag tried her hand at fashion design and acting, making her feature film debut in "Just Go With It." In 2019, they appeared on "The Hills: New Beginnings," joining original cast members for the reboot series. The show was canceled after two seasons in January 2022.
Why have they been controversial?
While appearing on "The Hills," Pratt and Montag became known as antagonists. On the sixth and final season of the original series, their fellow castmates decided to cut them off, marking their last appearance on the show. Their antics continued well after the series concluded with Pratt's villainous behavior on reality competition shows.
In 2009, they released the book "How to Be Famous: Our Guide to Looking the Part, Playing the Press, and Becoming a Tabloid Fixture." The couple, who faced bankruptcy in 2010, also reportedly staged their brief divorce the following year to boost Montag's failing music career.
"At that point, we were pulling our last cards," Pratt told the Daily Beast in 2011. "We felt the hot-air balloon losing its gas. And at that stage, our income would be selling the photo that would go along with the divorce."
How was Montag's album received when it first came out?
Montag reportedly spent $2 million to produce her 2010 debut album, "Superficial," a pop project inspired by acts like Britney Spears and Jessica Simpson. The album took years to make, facing production setbacks and song leaks before it debuted with an underwhelming reception. According to Rolling Stone, "Superficial," sold less than 1,000 copies in its first week of release.
But, in recent years, fans and celebrity media outlets revisiting the project have reevaluated its impact. Life & Style Magazine called it the most underrated album of all time. "The criminally underrated disc is laden with sonic treats," Evan Real wrote in 2018. And in 2023, the album's track "I'll Do It" went viral on TikTok, prompting millions of streams on Spotify.
What happened to the crystals?
Amid the deluge of videos Pratt has posted to his TikTok since the fires last week, he showed footage of his crystals, including his rose quartz, crushed and scattered among the rubble of his home. The crystal collection was reportedly worth approximately $1 million.
What's next for Montag and Pratt?
Pratt is rallying his now 1 million TikTok followers to get Montag on the Billboard charts.
"So I was just informed that for Heidi to get No. 1 on Billboard, we need 'I'll Do It' or 'Superficial' to be on the radio," Pratt said on TikTok. "So anybody that has a radio station, you know, a radio station on social media you can tag, please ask them for the next week to play 'I'll Do It' or 'Superficial' from Heidi's album."
