From pop to country, R&B to hip-hop, one thing that unites many of the world’s biggest musicians is a love of Halloween.
Over the years, A-list artists have proven their passion for the holiday by showing off impressive costumes, embodying their favorite characters, creepy-crawly creatures and instantly recognizable idols with wigs, custom outfits and spooky makeup — just like all other Halloween lovers. Unlike most celebrators, though, these same musicians are often the inspirations for other people’s costumes each year; so, while countless fans are walking around as Taylor Swifts and Lady Gagas on any given October 31, those pop stars simultaneously get the chance to be someone else for just one night, escaping their world-famous personas and temporarily stepping behind the mask of a festive disguise.
Celebs also get access to some of the biggest Halloween gatherings of the year, whether they’re attending exclusive events — such as Heidi Klum’s annual party and Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights – or hosting themed celebrations of their own. Megan Thee Stallion, for instance, has thrown her signature “Hottieween” parties and concerts, while Harry Styles wore Wizard of Oz and Grease group costumes with his band for his “Harryween” shows in 2021 and 2022, respectively. Plus, Kelly Clarkson dresses up each year for Halloween episodes of The Kelly Clarkson Show, and so do her guests when they stop by for interviews close to the holiday.
From elaborate showstoppers to simple and cute getups, musicians have rocked a diverse array of costumes on Halloweens past. See photos of some of Billboard’s favorites below.
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Cher
Cher at Bob Mackie’s Halloween party dressed as Cleopatra at Century Paramount on Oct. 31, 1988 in Century City, California.
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Rihanna
Rihanna dresses as a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Oct. 31, 2014 in New York City.
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Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey arrives as a mermaid at her private Halloween party at The Collection on Oct. 31, 2003 in London, England.
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Katy Perry
Katy Perry dresses as a Cheeto for Kate Hudson’s annual Halloween party on Oct. 30, 2014 in Los Angeles, California.
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Taylor Swift
Dressed as a unicorn, Taylor Swift visits “The Elvis Duran Z100 Morning Show” at Z100 Studio on Oct. 31, 2014 in New York City.
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Demi Lovato
Demi Lovato is seen arriving to Vas Morgan and Michael Braun’s Halloween Party on Oct. 28, 2023 in Los Angeles, California as Snow White.
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Harry Styles
Harry Styles attends the Casamigos Halloween Party on Oct. 26, 2018 in Beverly Hills, California as Elton John.
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Charli XCX
Charli XCX attends Charli XCX ‘After The After Party’ Halloween Party on Oct. 31, 2016 in London, England dressed as a devil.
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Coco Jones
Coco Jones dresses up as an angel for the Hub Network’s 1st Annual Halloween Bash at Barker Hangar on Oct. 20, 2013 in Santa Monica, California.
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Grace Jones
Grace Jones performs as a sailor on Halloween at the Roseland Ballroom on Oct. 31, 1978 in New York, New York.
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Jade Thirlwall
Jade Thirlwall attends Maya Jama’s annual Halloween party on Oct. 30, 2021 in London, England as Marge Simpson.
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Nicki Minaj
Dressed as a fairy, Nicki Minaj attends a Haunted Funhouse Halloween party at 1 OAK Nightclub at The Mirage Hotel & Casino on Oct. 31, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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Becky G
Becky G attends Heidi Klum’s 22nd Annual Halloween Party presented by Patron El Alto at Marquee on Oct. 31, 2023 in New York City as Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride.
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Kelly Clarkson
Kelly Clarkson dresses as Meryl Streep’s Death Becomes Her character for the Halloween episode of “The Kelly Clarkson Show” on Oct. 12, 2020.
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Elvis Presley & Joan Bradshaw
Elvis Presley and Joan Bradshaw wear costumes to celebrate Halloween on Oct. 31, 1957 in Hollywood, California.
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Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga leaves her hotel on Halloween on Oct. 31, 2013 in London, England.
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Elton John
Elton John dresses up as a devilish vampire for NYRP’s 10th Anniversary Bette Midler’s Hulaween at the Waldorf Astoria on Oct. 31, 2005 in New York City.
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Victoria Monét
Victoria Monét attends Megan Thee Stallion’s Hottieween Party as a glamorous nun on October 28, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia.
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Megan Thee Stallion
Megan Thee Stallion wears an Alice in Wonderland flower costume to her Hottieween Party on October 28, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia.
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Ciara
Ciara channeled Black Panther‘s Nakia for “BACARDI presents Liberate Your Spirits With Ciara For Halloween” on Oct. 30, 2018 in New York City.
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The Weeknd & Bella Hadid
The Weeknd and Bella Hadid dress as Beetlejuice and Lydia Deetz for Heidi Klum’s 19th Annual Halloween Party Sponsored by SVEDKA Vodka and Party City at Lavo NYC on Oct. 31, 2018 in New York City.
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Steven Tyler
Steven Tyler dressed as Rhett Butler from Gone with the Wind to celebrate Halloween at Halloween Horror Nights 26 at Universal Studios on Oct. 31, 2016 in Orlando, Florida.
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Rita Ora
Rita Ora arrives as a Barbie doll to ‘Death Of A Geisha’ hosted by Fran Cutler and Cafe KaiZen with Grey Goose on Oct. 31, 2014 in London, England.
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Meghan Trainor
Meghan Trainor appears as a Ghost Buster on the Halloween episode of “The Kelly Clarkson Show” on Oct. 12, 2021.
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Iggy Azalea
Iggy Azalea, dressed as Cruella de Vil, attends the VEVO Halloween showcase at The Oval Space on Oct. 31, 2013 in London, England.
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John Legend
John Legend arrives to Roberto Cavalli’s Halloween Party at Cipriani 42nd Street on Oct. 31, 2007 in New York City as a pirate.
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Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lopez channels a chic skeleton at the Heidi Klum Halloween Party on Oct. 31, 2015 in New York City.
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P!nk
P!nk attends Heidi Klum’s 9th annual Halloween party presented by Absolut 100 at 1 OAK on Oct. 31, 2008 in New York City as a clown.
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Pete Wentz
Pete Wentz of Fall Out Boy dresses as Chas Tenenbaum for the 7th Annual Heidi Klum Halloween Party at Privilege on Oct. 31, 2006 in Los Angeles, California
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Cyndi Lauper
Cyndi Lauper attends Bette Midler’s 2019 Hulaween at New York Hilton Midtown on Oct. 31, 2019 in New York City.
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Nick Jonas
Nick Jonas attends the Maxim Halloween Party Presented By Karma International on Oct. 24, 2015 in Los Angeles, California as the Hamburglar.
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Jessica Biel & Justin Timberlake
Jessica Biel dresses as her husband, Justin Timberlake, who appears next to her as her microphone, for the 2019 Casamigos Halloween Party on Oct. 25, 2019 at a private residence in Beverly Hills, California.
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Gloria Estefan
Gloria Estefan arrives in gothic attire to Bette Midler’s New York Restoration Project’s ‘Hulaween’ at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel on Oct. 31, 2008 in New York City.
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Halsey
Halsey arrives as a siren to Vas Morgan and Michael Braun’s Halloween Party on Oct. 28, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.
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Lily Allen
Lily Allen attends the UNICEF UK Halloween Ball at One Mayfair on Oct. 31, 2013 in London, England as a green bug.
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Megan Fox & Machine Gun Kelly
Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly wear Kill Bill costumes to the Annual Casamigos Halloween Party on Oct. 27, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.
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Adam Lambert
Adam Lambert dresses as a werewolf for his 2nd Annual Halloween Bash at Bootsy Bellows on Oct. 31, 2014 in West Hollywood, California.
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Kelsea Ballerini
Kelsea Ballerini arrives as a cowgirl Barbie to The Original Donut Shop Coffee and Kelsea Ballerini Celebrate Halloween With A Treat-Filled Costume Party In New York City at Beauty & Essex on Oct. 25, 2023 in New York City.
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Bette Midler
Dressed as a flower, Bette Midler attends “Hulaween,” a celebration of her 60th birthday and the 10th Anniversary of the New York Restoration Project, at the Waldorf Astoria on Oct. 31, 2005 in New York City.
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Lizzo
Lizzo performs onstage in a Yoda costume during the Ghost Town Halloween Party with Parcast’s “Obsessed” hosts Benito Skinner and Mary Beth Barone, prestented by Spotify on Oct. 29, 2021 in West Hollywood, California.