Why Halsey Thought Their Next Album 'Might Be the Last I Ever Got the Chance to Make'

Halsey truly thought their music career was coming to an end.

The 29-year-old singer (who uses both they/them and she/her pronouns) returned to the spotlight earlier this summer to unveil her latest single, “The End” and disclose secret health struggles she’s been dealing with since 2022. 

In a June 5 Instagram post, Halsey revealed they’d been diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus and a rare T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder, “both of which are currently being managed or in remission.” A day prior, while announcing the single, the Grammy-nominated artist shared on social media that she was “lucky to be alive” and confirmed a new album is on the way.

Halsey provided a new update on the yet-to-be-titled project on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, July 18, telling fans what type of vibe they can expect to hear from it.

“All over the place,” the "I'm Not Mad" singer wrote in response to a fan asking whether the new album era will be “manic” — a nod to their 2020 album — or have more cohesion. “When I started writing it, I thought it might be the last album I ever got the chance to make,” they admitted, “so I tried to do whatever I’d been wanting to do, but hadn’t tried yet ⭐️.”

In another X post, Halsey also shared the inspiration behind her forthcoming LP. “I wrote a lot about what I was going through. I felt like I couldn’t tell anyone, though it was mostly my choice to not,” she wrote, alluding to her diagnoses. “but the weight of it all and looking at my life wondering if I was happy with who I was. While simultaneously changing against my will. more on that later lol.”

Halsey’s been keeping fans updated on the road to releasing their fifth studio album, likely arriving over three years after 2021’s If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power. On Wednesday, she announced that her next single, “Lucky,” will be released on Friday, July 26.

The track was first previewed in an Instagram teaser on July 1, revealing an interpolation of Britney Spears’ 2000 song of the same name — which Halsey confirmed they got her “blessing” to use. 

In response to an X user who asked if the pop star had been involved in the song’s process, the star wrote, “yes of course! I wouldn’t even dream of doing it without her blessing!”

During her Thursday Q&A session on X, Halsey also divulged how she feels about sharing her most intimate and personal feelings with fans now. "so basically, I tried to take a break for some privacy. And then I got sick," the Manic singer wrote on the platform. "And the break lasted 2 years longer than I had wanted/intended. and I was just desperate to do the thing I love again. It’s different now. But I still love it and I have so much gratitude."