Rihanna to Perform at NFL Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show

We now know who’s going to be headlining the NFL Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show come Feb. 12, 2023. No, it’s not Adam Levine. (We won’t be seeing him on a stage again anytime soon.) Or Taylor Swift. (Sorry, Swifties. Then again, you’re probably not that into football.) It’s your girl Rihanna, maker of such smash hits as “Umbrella,” “Rude Boy,” “Only Girl (In the World),” and our personal favorite, “Birthday Cake” (look up the lyrics and you’ll see why).

The 34-year-old singer from Barbados announced the news in a very Rihanna-style tease on social media yesterday, making fans frantic with excitement.

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— Rihanna (@rihanna) September 25, 2022

Rihanna doesn’t need the Super Bowl, however, to prove how big a success she is. She boasts an impressive 14 No. 1 songs on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. She also has a popular lingerie line, Savage x Fenty, as well as a cosmetics line, Fenty Beauty. The new mom recently welcomed her first son with rapper A$AP Rocky. Oh, and she’s the youngest female self-made billionaire in the U.S. So. There’s that. The NFL needs her more than she needs a halftime show.

“Rihanna is a generational talent, a woman of humble beginnings who has surpassed expectations at every turn. A person born on the small island of Barbados who became one of the most prominent artists ever. Self-made in business and entertainment,” said Jay-Z, who acts in some official music-related role for the NFL, in a statement.

“We are thrilled to welcome Rihanna to the Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show stage,” Seth Dudowsky, NFL Head of Music, said in a separate statement. “Rihanna is a once-in-a-generation artist who has been a cultural force throughout her career. We look forward to collaborating with Rihanna, Roc Nation and Apple Music to bring fans another historic Halftime Show performance.”

RiRi is sexy, sassy, and often silly. For all these reasons and more, we decided to celebrate this huge news by rounding up our favorite GIFs of the pop star. Super Bowl Sunday can’t come soon enough!