Rihanna returned to the stage for the first time in five years to deliver an epic performance during the Apple Music Halftime Show at Super Bowl LVII on Sunday (Feb. 12).
The nine-time GRAMMY winner took fans on a journey through her iconic career performing a medley of hits, including “B**ch Better Have My Money,” “Where Have You Been,” “Only Girl (In The World),” “We Found Love,” “Rude Boy,” “Work,” “Wild Thoughts,” “Pour It Up,” “All Of The Lights,” among others.
Donning an all red ensemble, Rihanna kicked off the performance floating high above the field before floating down onto the stage as fireworks erupted over the stage.
Rihanna was joined throughout the entire performance by a team of dancers, who were in perfect sync throughout the entire Halftime Show.
She also performed her chart-topping hits, “Run This Town” and “Umbrella,” sans collaborator Jay-Z.
Her performance concluded with “Diamonds,” as State Farm Stadium sparkled with a sea of white lights as Rihanna floated high above the 50-yard line.
Her boyfriend, rapper A$AP Rocky, was all smiles as he watched her performance from the field.
Rihanna’s Apple Music Halftime Show was produced by DPS. Roc Nation and Jesse Collins served as executive producers, while Hamish Hamilton serves as the performance’s director.
“Rihanna is a generational talent, a woman of humble beginnings who has surpassed expectations at every turn,” Jay-Z, Rihanna’s “Umbrella” collaborator and the founder of Roc Nation, previously said in a statement. “A person born on the small island of Barbados who became one of the most prominent artists ever. Self-made in business and entertainment.”
The pop star has mostly remained out of the spotlight in music over the last several years to focus on her Savage X Fenty lingerie and beauty line. In May of 2022, Rihanna welcomed her first child with her boyfriend A$AP ROCKY.
The worldwide phenomenon later released two new songs, “Lift Me Up” and “Born Again,” which marked her first new music since 2016’s Anti. Both tunes appear as part of the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack.
The Barbados native recently scored her first-ever Oscar nomination at the 95th Academy Awards for Best Original Song for the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever single, “Lift Me Up,” which is also her first solo single in six years.
Rihanna follows previous Super Bowl halftime performers Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, Kendrick Lamar, 50 Cent, The Weeknd, Shakira and Jennifer Lopez, Lady Gaga, Justin Timberlake, and many more.
In addition to Rihanna, Chris Stapleton, Babyface and more also performed Super Bowl LVII.
Stapleton turned heads with his soulful performance of The National Anthem, which brought many viewers to tears and earned praised from the country music community.
Babyface, a 12-time GRAMMY winner, sang “America The Beautiful,” while Emmy-award winning actress, Sheryl Lee Ralph, performed “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”
Additionally, the pregame performers were joined by Academy Award-winner Troy Kotsur, who signed the National Anthem, “America The Beautiful,” “Life Every Voice and Sing,” and will sign the Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show in American Sign Language. Kotsur, who is only the second deaf person to win an Oscar, is an Arizona native known for his work in the film CODA.
Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles faced off during Super Bowl LVII, which took place at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona on Sunday (Feb. 12) at 6:30 p.m. EST on FOX.
