Halsey continues to dazzle fans with their ongoing tribute to music legends as part of the lead-up to their upcoming album ‘The Great Impersonator’, set for release on October 25. On Thursday, October 17, Halsey channeled one of their earliest musical inspirations: Britney Spears. Sharing a striking image of themselves with blonde-streaked, wind-blown hair, Halsey morphed into the iconic In the Zone era Spears, referencing the singer’s 2003 album that produced hits like “Me Against the Music” and the chart-topping “Toxic.”
Halsey, 30, teased the 16th track from ‘The Great Impersonator’, titled “Lucky,” which samples Spears. In the accompanying Instagram post, Halsey wrote, “It’s Britney, b–ch!!! The first superstar who ever inspired me,” paying homage to the pop icon. “There were infinite Britney looks to choose from, but I had to do this iconic album!,” they added, referencing In the Zone, one of Spears’ most successful and transformative records.
Halsey’s tribute to Britney Spears is part of a larger promotional campaign where the singer has been “impersonating a different icon every day and teasing a snippet of the song they inspired” in the lead-up to the album’s release. Each tribute corresponds to a track on the album, with Halsey’s transformation into Spears marking the eleventh preview of their fifth studio album.
‘The Great Impersonator’ album and its creative promotional approach are built around Halsey’s admiration for some of the most influential artists in music history. Before channeling Spears, Halsey had already paid homage to icons like Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Nicks, David Bowie, Cher, and more.
The album’s promotional journey began with Halsey previewing tracks inspired by these musical legends. For instance, they honored Nicks with the dreamy pop track “Panic Attack” and embraced Dolly Parton’s style with the twangy tune “Hometown.” Other tributes include a nod to British pop star Kate Bush on the track “I Never Loved You” and a heart-wrenching Cher-inspired ballad titled “Letter to God (1974).”
In one of the more powerful transformations, Halsey took on the persona of rock legend David Bowie for the eerie track “Darwinism,” while also embodying the raw energy of Evanescence’s Amy Lee on “Lonely Is the Muse.” Their tribute to late Cranberries frontwoman Dolores O’Riordan featured the hard-hitting track “Ego.”
Halsey’s dedication to these musical tributes extends beyond sound to style as well. From the short copper hairstyle they wore to embody O’Riordan to picking up a guitar and posing in front of an American flag as Bruce Springsteen, Halsey’s looks have been pitch-perfect in honoring each musical legend.
As the album release approaches, fans can look forward to seeing more iconic transformations and hearing more tracks from ‘The Great Impersonator’. Halsey also announced an intimate show at San Francisco’s Regency Ballroom on November 21, exclusive to Wells Fargo Autograph Credit cardholders.
Stay tuned for more updates as Halsey continues to celebrate the musical greats who have shaped their artistry.
See Halsey’s Britney Spears-inspired look below.