Rihanna will headline the Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show in February 2023.
The Umbrella superstar has been announced as the performer for the forthcoming event, after rumours began to circulate online in recent days.
Confirming the news, the hitmaker took to Instagram to share a photo of her holding a National Football League (NFL) football, while executives from the organisation, Roc Nation, and Apple Music – which is sponsoring the event – issued an accompanying statement.
“Rihanna is a generational talent, a woman of humble beginnings who has surpassed expectations at every turn,” said JAY-Z. “A person born on the small island of Barbados who became one of the most prominent artists ever. Self-made in business and entertainment.”
NFL Head of Music, Seth Dudowsky, added: “We are thrilled to welcome Rihanna to the Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show stage. 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.”
The Super Bowl LVII will take place at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona on February 12.
Rihanna released her most recent album, ‘Anti’, in 2016, and has long been teasing fans about a new project.
In a 2021 exchange with a paparazzi, who asked: “Any new music? Anything?”, she replied: “Soon soon soon.” However, new material has yet to materialise.
While details of the LP are being kept under wraps, the Work singer has promised her record will be “worth the wait” and a “completely different sound” to her previous releases. .
“I’m always working on new music,” she said. “Just because I haven’t released an album in a few years doesn’t mean I haven’t been working on it.
“I’m not just going to put music out because people are craving it. I’m going to make it worth the wait – and it will be worth the wait.”