Halsey discusses killing her 'ego' in anxious garage-rock performance at 2024 VMAs

And for her next trick, the great impersonator – aka Halsey – somehow transformed the MTV Video Music Awards stage into a cozy driveway while the pop star belted out her new single “Ego” from a suburban garage.

The star began her performance by riding a bicycle across the UBS Arena stage, wearing a red pixie cut, sleeveless white collared shirt and black tie. Halsey then opened the garage door of a life-sized house, revealing her band and special guest Victoria De Angelis of Måneskin waiting inside (think Bowling for Soup's “1985” music video) and joined in on guitar.

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“I guess I should try to kill my ego/ 'Cause if I don't, my ego might kill me,” she sang as lights flashed in the house. “I'm all grown up, but I've kind of been acting like a damn baby lately/ I'm really not as happy as I seem.”

“Ego” is the latest of several singles Halsey has released ahead of her upcoming new album. The great imitatorwhich is out on October 25. The “Closer” singer also released “The End,” “Lonely Is the Muse,” and the Britney Spears-esque “Lucky” ahead of the record's release, and recently sent her fans on a scavenger hunt around the world to reveal the LP's main artwork and cover variants.

The 2024 VMAs kicked off at 8 p.m. on Wednesday at New York's UBS Arena. The program was hosted by Megan Thee Stallion, the show opened by Eminem, and Vanguard Award winner Katy Perry and several other artists were nominated as artists. Taylor Swift led the nominations with a total of 12 nominations, while her “Fortnight” collaborator Post Malone followed close behind with 11 nominations.

Watch Halsey perform “Ego” below.

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