Halsey Reveals How She Collaborated With Britney Spears on New Song 'Lucky'

Halsey has opened up about their latest single, ‘Lucky’, and the integral role Britney Spears played in its creation, revealing that Spears was involved "every step of the way." In a recent interview, Halsey shared that they kept Spears updated throughout the process of making ‘Lucky’, which features an interpolation of Spears' 2000 hit of the same name. 

"I shared everything with her every step of the way," Halsey explained. "From the first demo of the song to the shot-for-shot treatment of the music video, I wanted to make sure I was nailing it."

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Halsey also mentioned that they and Spears engaged in a friendly exchange of merchandise. "She sent me 'Lucky' merch for the anniversary, and I sent her some merch and stuff like that," Halsey said. "It's definitely like a pinch-me moment. I didn't even know she knew who I was, and every day I’m kind of just looking around, thinking, 'There’s a 6-year-old girl freaking out.'"

The release of ‘Lucky’ featured a production that incorporates Monica's 1997 hit "Angel of Mine" and explores themes of fame, motherhood, and public scrutiny of Halsey's health. Halsey had previously disclosed their diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus and a rare T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder. The music video, which depicts Halsey's shaved head under a wig as a nod to their illness, also pays homage to Spears' videos for ‘Lucky’ and ‘Toxic’.

Following the video’s release, Spears initially expressed discomfort with the content on social media, stating she felt "harassed, violated, and bullied." However, Spears later retracted the statement, calling it "fake news" and clarifying that it was not her but rather a mistaken post. She expressed love for Halsey and deleted the critique.

In response, Halsey showed their support for Spears, posting on social media, "I love Britney!!!! I always have and always will. You were the first person who ever made me realize what it means to feel inspired, and you continue to inspire me every day."

-Sushmita Sarkar