For years, fame meant television, radio, interviews, and press tours.
Then came TikTok and everything changed.

In under 60 seconds, forgotten voices were rediscovered. Songs from the 80s charted again. And celebrities once labeled “washed up” suddenly had millions of new fans asking, “Who is this?”

This isn’t nostalgia. It’s cultural resurrection.

Here are 5 celebrities who turned TikTok into a time machine and brought their careers back from the dead.


1. Kate Bush — “Running Up That Hill” (1985)

  • Then: A cult-favorite British singer with niche fame

  • Now: Global resurgence thanks to Stranger Things + TikTok audio trend

  • The moment: Teens using her track in supernatural edits and emotional storytelling clips

  • Results:

    • Hit #1 on global Spotify charts (nearly 40 years later)

    • Introduced to Gen Z and Millennials as a fresh artist

    • Revenues from licensing, streams, and press exploded

Lesson: Timeless sound + emotional storytelling = infinite replay potential.


2. Fleetwood Mac — “Dreams” (1977)

  • Then: Classic rock legends with aging fanbase

  • Now: Viral royalty thanks to a man on a skateboard sipping cranberry juice

The moment:
@420doggface208 casually skating with “Dreams” playing in the background, no edits, no pitch, just vibe.

Results:

  • 60M+ streams spike

  • Fleetwood Mac re-entered Billboard Hot 100

  • Reissued vinyls sold out

  • Mick Fleetwood and Stevie Nicks joined TikTok

Lesson: Cultural moments don’t need marketing. They need relatability.


3. Robert Pattinson — Rebranded Through Memes

  • Then: Post-Twilight slump, art films, unpredictable roles

  • Now: Reimagined as mysterious, chaotic, charming icon, mostly through TikTok edits

The moment:
Edits of “feral Pattinson” in interviews, fashion shoots, and Batman trailer reactions repackaged for a new generation.

Results:

  • TikTok became his unofficial PR machine

  • Career momentum surged, especially among Gen Z

  • Major roles reframed as cult-classic performances

Lesson: Personality ≠ PR. TikTok favors enigmatic chaos over polish.


4. Jennifer Lopez — From Icon to Interactive

  • Then: Multi-decade fame, slowing music traction

  • Now: Blended global superstar with “relatable Latina mom” TikTok energy

The moment:
JLo embraced trends dances with Ben Affleck, transitions, flashback challenges while keeping luxury tone.

Results:

  • Music streams rose

  • Fashion collabs rebounded

  • Younger fans discovered her for the first time

Lesson: Consistency + humanization = brand longevity across platforms.


5. Brendan Fraser — The People’s Comeback

  • Then: Hollywood heartthrob turned recluse

  • Now: Beloved icon reintroduced through emotional interviews and fan tributes

The moment:
Clips of Fraser getting emotional at fan praise, accepting awards, and speaking softly about mental health exploded on TikTok.

Results:

  • Major film roles returned (The Whale)

  • Public image restructured around warmth + vulnerability

  • The new audience felt like they rediscovered him

Lesson: Emotion is the new authority. Vulnerability scales.


Why TikTok Resurrects Fame Better Than PR

TikTok isn’t a platform for broadcasting.
It’s a platform for reframing songs, personas, and backstories.

It rewards:

  • Memory

  • Contrast

  • Reintroduction

  • Fan-led storytelling

And it turns “forgotten” into fresh.


Final Thought: It’s Never Too Late to Reinvent, If You Look the Part

These celebrities didn’t force it.
They simply fit into the aesthetic momentum already happening on TikTok and then let their fans do the rest.

At Avramify, we help you build the kind of presence that’s ready for rediscovery, whether you’re new, returning, or reintroducing your brand after years away.

Because TikTok doesn’t care how long you’ve been gone.
It cares how you look when you show up again.