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‘Rising Star’ Halsey Makes Music For Her Fans, Not For Awards

But the recognition is still awesome

On the heels of her first No. 1 hit — “Closer” with The ChainsmokersHalsey is getting a shiny new trophy for her hard work: Billboard's Rising Star award, which honors women on their way to the top of the music industry. Previous recipients include Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande, and Nicki Minaj. Clearly, Halsey is following in some very talented footsteps.

This is also the first major award Halsey's won since entering the scene as an MTV Artist to Watch in 2015. Earlier this year, she was nominated for Favorite Breakout Artist and Best New Artist at the People's Choice Awards and NME Awards, respectively. She didn't win either of them, but her debut record, Badlands, went platinum. “Closer” then went double platinum. The recognition is great, but that's not what's motivating her in the studio.

“I think I listen more to what my fans say rather than what accolades I'm awarded or what the industry has to say,” Halsey told Billboard. “I don't make music for awards and for critics and for accolades. I make music for people. For me, I'm part of a generation where most people identify as something that is non-linear... So for me, it was a no-brainer to kind of talk about who I am and the intricacies of that and it's created a very significant bond between myself and my fans.”

Halsey will take home her Rising Star award Friday (December 9) at Billboard's annual Women in Music show, which airs December 12 on Lifetime. “Sometimes I worry: What if I used up all my pixie dust on the first one?” she said. “But I’m proud to the point of tears of what I’ve been able to create.”

Something tells me there's plenty more “pixie dust” where that came from.

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