Rihanna in Charge of Headlining 2023 Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show

Rihanna at the 5th Annual Clara Lionel Foundation Diamond Ball in 2019.
Rihanna at the 5th Annual Clara Lionel Foundation Diamond Ball in 2019. Photo by Gregory Pace/Shutterstock (10412685y)

It’s been years since Rihanna surprised us with a new album, but she just shared an amazing announcement that got fans of her music super excited. The nine-time Grammy winner will be in charge of headlining the 2023 Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show.

There’s always a lot of fuss surrounding the announcement of the Super Bowl halftime show headliner, and this year was no different. The rumors of Rihanna’s potential involvement hit the fan on Sunday, and she decided to take things into her own hands and confirmed she’s headlining the show.

Rihanna posted a photo that shows her holding an NFL football, which quickly spread to the NFL’s social media channels. Seth Dudowsky, NFL head of music, officially confirmed her involvement and described her as “a once-in-a-generation artist who has been a cultural force throughout her career”, adding they’re thrilled to welcome her on stage.

The Super Bowl LVII will return to State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona on February 12, 2023. Rihanna is somewhat an unconventional choice since it’s been six years since she released her last album Anti, but fans are hoping this means she has new music on the way. She dropped hints about her ninth studio album on several occasions over the years and said it’s coming “soon”, but she’s yet to officially announce its release.