Rihanna will headline Super Bowl LVII halftime show
ByBob D'Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
ByBob D'Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
NEW YORK — Nine-time Grammy Award-winning singer Rihanna will take center stage as the main act for the halftime show at Super Bowl LVII in February, the NFL announced on Sunday.
Apple Music and Roc Nation also announced that Rihanna, 34, will be the headliner at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on Feb. 12, 2023.
It is the first year that Apple Music will be the presenting sponsor for the event, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Apple will take over the lead role from Pepsi, which had been the main sponsor for the past decade.
“Rihanna is a generational talent, a woman of humble beginnings who has surpassed expectations at every turn,” Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter said in an NFL news release on Sunday. “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 Super Bowl LVI halftime show earlier this year featured Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, Kendrick Lamar and 50 Cent at SoFi Stadium in California, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
“We are thrilled to welcome Rihanna to the Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show stage,” Seth Dudowsky, the NFL’s head of music, said in a statement. “Rihanna is a once-in-a-generation artist who has been a cultural force throughout her career.”
The NFL said the 2022 halftime show was viewed by more than 120 million people, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
“Rihanna is an incredible recording artist who is a favorite for many millions of Apple Music customers around the world,” Oliver Schusser, vice president of Apple Music and Beats, said in a statement. “We’re excited to partner with Rihanna, Roc Nation and the NFL to bring music and sports fans a momentous show -- what an incredible artist for the inaugural Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show.”
Past Super Bowl halftime show performances include The Weeknd, Jennifer Lopez, Shakira, Justin Timberlake, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Bruno Mars, Prince, Madonna, Paul McCartney, the Rolling Stones, The Who, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Bruce Springsteen and Michael Jackson.
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Through the years Roc-A-Fella recording artist Rihanna performs at the Teen People Listening Lounge hosted by Jay - Z at the Key Club on July 14, 2005 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Through the years Roc-A-Fella recording artist Rihanna performs at the Teen People Listening Lounge hosted by Jay - Z at the Key Club on July 14, 2005 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Through the years Singer Rihanna performs onstage at the 2005 World Music Awards at the Kodak Theatre on August 31, 2005 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Through the years Barbadian singer Rihanna and composer Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds announce the nominations for the 33rd Annual American Music Awards during a press conference at the Beverly Hills Hotel on September 20, 2005 in Beverly Hills, California. The 33rd Annual American Music Awards will be held on Novemebr 22, 2005 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Vince Bucci/Getty Images) (Vince Bucci/Getty Images)
Through the years Rihanna is seen during an interview before a party to celebrate the release of her new album "A Girl Like Me" on April 22, 2006 in her hometown of St. Michael, Barbados. (Photo by Scott Gries/Getty Images for Universal Music) (Scott Gries)
Through the years Singer Rihanna performs on NBC's Today Show at Rockefeller Plaza July 21, 2006 in New York City. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Getty Images) (Evan Agostini/Getty Images)
Through the years Recording artists Eminem (L) and Rihanna perform onstage at the 2014 MTV Movie Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on April 13, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images for MTV) (Christopher Polk/Getty Images for MTV)
Through the years Rihanna attends the Christian Dior Cruise 2015 show at Brooklyn Navy Yard on May 7, 2014 in the Brooklyn borough of Brooklyn, New York. (Photo by JP Yim/Getty Images) (JP Yim/Getty Images)
Through the years Rihanna attends the Christian Dior Cruise 2015 Show on May 7, 2014 in Brooklyn, New York City. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for Christian Dior) (Bryan Bedder)
Through the years Rihanna attends the "China: Through The Looking Glass" Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 4, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images) (Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
Through the years Rihanna attends the "China: Through The Looking Glass" Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 4, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images) (Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
Through the years Singer Rihanna at Rihanna's 8th album artwork reveal for "ANTI" at MAMA Gallery on October 7, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images for WESTBURY ROAD ENTERTAINMENT LLC) (Christopher Polk)
Through the years Singer Rihanna at Rihanna's 8th album artwork reveal for "ANTI" at MAMA Gallery on October 7, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images for WESTBURY ROAD ENTERTAINMENT LLC) (Christopher Polk)
Through the years Singer Rihanna performs onstage during the 2016 MusiCares Person of the Year honoring Lionel Richie at the Los Angeles Convention Center on February 13, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images for NARAS) (Christopher Polk/Getty Images for NARAS)
Through the years Singer Rihanna attends the 2016 Billboard Music Awards at T-Mobile Arena on May 22, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images) (David Becker/Getty Images)
Through the years Rihanna attends the 'Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garcons: Art Of The In-Between' Costume Institute Gala at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 1, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images) (Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)
Through the years Rihanna hosts a pep rally to celebrate the launch of the AW17 FENTY PUMA by Rihanna collection at Bloomingdales on 59th Street on October 13, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for FENTY PUMA by Rihanna) (Dimitrios Kambouris)
Through the years Rihanna and A$AP Rocky attend the Louis Vuitton Menswear Spring/Summer 2019 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on June 21, 2018 in Paris, France. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images) (Dominique Charriau/Getty Images)
Through the years Rihanna attends Rihanna's 4th Annual Diamond Ball benefitting The Clara Lionel Foundation at Cipriani Wall Street on September 13, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Diamond Ball) (Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Diamond Ball)
Through the years Rihanna attends the Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Anniversary Event at Overseas Passenger Terminal on October 3, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Caroline McCredie/Getty Images for Fenty Beauty by Rihanna) (Caroline McCredie/Getty Images for Fenty Beauty by)
Through the years Rihanna attends Rihanna's 5th Annual Diamond Ball at Cipriani Wall Street on September 12, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Steven Ferdman/Getty Images) (BAUZEN/Getty Images)
Through the years Rihanna attends AFI FEST 2019 Presented By Audi – "Queen & Slim" Premiere at TCL Chinese Theatre on November 14, 2019 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images) (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Through the years Rihanna poses with the President’s Award at the 51st NAACP Image Awards, Presented by BET, at Pasadena Civic Auditorium on February 22, 2020 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Robin L Marshall/Getty Images for BET) (Robin L Marshall/Getty Images for BET)
Through the years A$AP Rocky and Rihanna attend The 2021 Met Gala Celebrating In America: A Lexicon Of Fashion at Metropolitan Museum of Art on September 13, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images) (mike coppola/Getty Images)
Through the years ASAP Rocky and Rihanna attend The 2021 Met Gala Celebrating In America: A Lexicon Of Fashion at Metropolitan Museum of Art on September 13, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue ) (Dimitrios Kambouris
/Getty Images for The Met Museum/)
Through the years Rihanna and A$AP Rocky attend the "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" World Premiere at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, California, on October 26, 2022. (Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney)
Through the years Rihanna attends the "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" World Premiere at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, California, on October 26, 2022. (Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney)
Through the years Rihanna performs during halftime of Super Bowl LVII. ( Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Roc Nation)
Through the years Rihanna performs onstage during the 95th Annual Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre on March 12, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Through the years Rihanna waves onstage as she promotes the upcoming film "The Smurfs Movie" during the Paramount Pictures presentation during CinemaCon, the official convention of the National Association of Theatre Owners, at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace on April 27, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
