Heidi Montag Reveals Vocal Cord Injury Following ‘The Masked Singer’ Exit

Heidi Montag has disclosed that a vocal cord hemorrhage rendered her unable to speak following her elimination from “The Masked Singer.” In an interview with Fox News Digital, the 39-year-old former reality star explained that she sustained the injury prior to her appearance on the show, and it worsened during filming.

Montag revealed, “I had just had a vocal injury. I ended up with a hemorrhage on my vocal cords and I couldn’t talk for like weeks, a week before and weeks after.” She noted that her condition was severe enough that she could not have continued competing even if she had not been voted off.

The singer described her experience leading up to her performance on the show, stating that she initially thought she was simply ill. “It was pretty severe,” she said, adding that she lost her voice entirely. To manage her participation, Montag underwent vocal rest for a week and resorted to using sign language to communicate while preparing for her performances.

“I couldn’t even rehearse those songs,” she explained. “So I had to just go out there and just give it my all and do what I could.” Despite her determination, she acknowledged the pain she experienced during and after singing.

Reflecting on her injury, Montag stated, “It feels almost like strep throat, but the hemorrhage is resolved, and now it’s just like I pulled these muscles.” She expressed regret for pushing herself too hard while performing in a heavy costume, which she described as a significant challenge.

Competing as Snow Cone, Montag was eliminated during the episode that aired on February 25, 2025, after singing the Spice Girls hit “Wannabe.” Although the experience was physically taxing, she expressed enthusiasm about participating in the show. “If given the chance, I would absolutely do it again,” she stated, noting that she had been eager to join “The Masked Singer” since its first season.

“The biggest challenge is that costume,” she added. “It is so heavy and big, and you can’t see.” Montag was grateful for the backup dancers who assisted her, describing them as “bodyguards” helping her navigate the stage.

On the night of her elimination, her husband, Spencer Pratt, joined her on stage, dressed as Mr. Snow Cone. This made it easier for Montag to keep her participation a secret from him, a task she admitted would have been challenging otherwise.

Montag also reflected on the impact of her participation on her children. “They love Snow Cone,” she shared. “It is the best thing I’ve ever done. They were so sad when I was voted off.” Her older son, aged eight, expressed his disappointment, but Montag reassured him that she was still present at home.

To accommodate her commitments to the show, Montag often commuted to Los Angeles several times a week, sometimes returning home late at night. She managed to balance this with her parental responsibilities, often sleeping only four or five hours each night.

In addition to her vocal struggles, Montag and her family faced significant challenges in early 2025 when they lost their home in the Los Angeles wildfires. They have since relocated to Santa Barbara.

“The Masked Singer” Season 14 airs new episodes on Wednesdays at 20:00 ET on Fox, with episodes available for streaming the following day on Hulu and Disney+.