Halsey Debates Killing Her ‘Ego’ in Angsty Garage Rock Performance at the 2024 VMAs

Artistes

The so-called Great Impersonator transformed the award show into their own personal driveway.

Halsey performs on stage during the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards at UBS Arena on Sept. 11, 2024 in Elmont, New York.

Noam Galai/Getty Images

And for her next trick, the Great Impersonator — aka Halsey — somehow made the MTV Video Music Awards stage into a cozy driveway as the pop star belted out new single “Ego” from the inside of a suburban garage.

The star began their performance by riding across the UBS Arena stage on a bicycle, sporting a red pixie cut, sleeveless white collared shirt and black tie. Halsey then opened the garage door of a life-size house to reveal her band waiting inside — think Bowling for Soup’s “1985” music video — and joined in on guitar.

“I think that I should try to kill my ego/ ‘Cause if I don’t, my ego might kill me,” she sang as the lights flashed inside the house. “I’m all grown up but somehow lately/ I’m acting like a f–king baby/ I’m really not as happy as I seem.”

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“Ego” is the latest of several singles Halsey has released ahead of their fast-approaching new album, The Great Impersonator, which drops Oct. 25. The “Closer” singer has also shared “The End,” “Lonely Is the Muse” and the Britney Spears-interpolating “Lucky” ahead of the record, and she recently sent fans on a scavenger hunt across the world to reveal the LP’s main artwork and cover variants.

The 2024 VMAs kicked off at 8 p.m. Wednesday at New York’s UBS Arena, with Megan Thee Stallion helming the program as host, show opener Eminem, Vanguard honoree Katy Perry and several more artists tapped to perform. Taylor Swift led the nominations with a total of 12 nods, while her “Fortnight” collaborator Post Malone followed right behind with 11.

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