Rihanna Headlining Super Bowl 2023 Halftime Show

Following the exciting news, Roc Nation founder Jay-Z released the following statement:

“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.”

Seth Dudowsky, Head of Music for the NFL, expressed similar sentiments in his own statement, calling Rihanna “a once in a generation artist” who has been “a cultural force” throughout her career.

Rihanna, 34, was previously approached to perform the halftime show for Super Bowl LIII in Atlanta.

However, she turned it down at the time amid controversy surrounding the NFL’s treatment of Colin Kaepernick. The former San Francisco 49ers quarterback was both praised and criticized for taking a knee during the national anthem in protest of police brutality and social injustice.

“I couldn’t dare do that. For what? Who gains from that? Not my people. I just couldn’t be a sellout. I couldn’t be an enabler,” Rihanna told Vogue in October 2019.

“There’s things within that organization that I do not agree with at all, and I was not about to go and be of service to them in any way.”

As for Rihanna, her appearance will follow 2022’s star-studded lineup of Dr. Dre, Eminem, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige and Kendrick Lamar, who performed at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., for Super Bowl LVI.

The “Diamonds” singer has had a busy year after giving birth to her first child, a baby boy, with A$AP Rocky in May. Meanwhile, her fans have still been patiently waiting for an update on the release of her ninth studio album, following 2016’s “Anti.”

Perhaps we’ll finally get new music ahead of the big game?

Super Bowl LVI is set to take place on Feb. 12, 2023 at State Farm Stadium.