Rihanna Teases ‘Jam-Packed’ Super Bowl 2023 Halftime Show

PHOENIX (AP) — Rihanna is placing within the work forward of her Super Bowl halftime present, focusing so exhausting on what she guarantees will likely be “a jam-packed show” that her upcoming birthday and Valentine’s Day virtually slipped her thoughts.

“The setlist was the biggest challenge. That was the hardest, hardest part. Deciding how to maximize 13 minutes but also celebrate — that’s what this show is going to be. It’s going to be a celebration of my catalog in the best way that we could have put it together,” Rihanna stated.

At a media preview Thursday forward of Sunday’s matchup between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs, the music famous person and new mother stated her look — her first reside occasion in seven years — feels “like it could have only been now.”

The singer stated she was initially not sure about taking over the problem of performing throughout a time when she was three months postpartum and puzzled “should I be making major decisions like this right now? I might regret this.”

“But when you become a mom, there’s something that just happens where you feel like you can take on the world, you can do anything,” Rihanna stated. “The Super Bowl is one of the biggest stages of the world. As scary as that was, because I hadn’t been on stage in seven years, there’s something exhilarating about the challenge of it all.”

A nine-time Grammy Award-winner, Rihanna has 14 No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hits, together with “We Found Love,” “Work,” “Umbrella” and “Disturbia.” She and rapper A$AP Rocky not too long ago welcomed her first little one.

“At the end of the day, if it flops or it flies, my name has to stand by that. And so I really get involved with every aspect of anything I do,” she stated.

Halftime efficiency sponsor Apple Music held a moderated occasion Thursday, however moderator Nadeska Alexis was the one journalist allowed to ask Rihanna questions.

Rihanna joins a listing of celebrated entertainers who’ve performed throughout Super Bowl halftime exhibits, together with Beyoncé, Madonna, Coldplay, Katy Perry, U2, Lady Gaga, Michael Jackson, Jennifer Lopez, Shakira and The Weeknd. Last yr, hip-hop was celebrated with Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige and Kendrick Lamar all performing.

The singer had beforehand declined to carry out within the 2019 halftime present out of solidarity with Colin Kaepernick. But she has stated that the timing and circumstances this time round had been proper for her.

Country music star Chris Stapleton will sing the nationwide anthem, whereas R&B legend Babyface will carry out “America the Beautiful.” Actor-singer Sheryl Lee Ralph may also carry out “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” When requested who they had been cheering for on Sunday, Ralph stated she was rooting for the Eagles whereas Stapleton and Babyface stated they had been backing Rihanna.

Ralph applauded the NFL for making an effort towards being inclusive and “represent all people” by way of the three songs.

“On a day, Super Bowl Sunday, 200 million people coming together to sit and experience it here, what a time and what a way to bring us all together,” she stated. “I’m very pleased and very happy to be able to be on the 40-yard line.”

Babyface stated he first began singing “America the Beautiful” as a sophomore for a play in highschool.

“It’s hard to believe that so many years ago, which is a lot of years ago, that I’m here to sing ‘America the Beautiful,‘” he stated. “Back then, my mom was in the audience and she couldn’t believe I was up there on the stage singing. Like the shy kid who actually got up there singing. To think of her looking at this now and see me at this moment singing ‘America the Beautiful,’ it’s full circle.”

Oscar winner Troy Kotsur will carry out the nationwide anthem in American signal language. Colin Denny will signal “America the Beautiful” and “Lift Every Voice and Sing” will likely be signed by Justina Miles.

Through an interpreter, Kotsur stated performing makes him really feel prouder to be an American. Miles stated “Lift Every Voice and Sing” represents resilience.

“The national anthem never really resonated with me personally, but the Black national anthem is really inspiring and empowering,” Miles stated. “This song is so positive and so beautiful. You don’t really hear or see it very often. There’s many folks who don’t even know the Black national anthem even exist. It’s not only for me to share this experience with the whole world, but to really bring that empowerment to millions of Black, deaf people all over the country who’ve never seen that before.”

Apple Music this yr changed Pepsi, which sponsored the present for the previous 10 years. Terms weren’t introduced, however analysts had anticipated the league to get not less than $50 million per yr for the rights.