Who is Performing at the Super Bowl Halftime Show 2023?
Most sports fans dream about buying Super Bowl tickets and attending one of the biggest sporting events on the planet. But anybody who’s ever been to a Super Bowl knows that it’s about more than just the game. It’s about everything that happens before, during, and after the actual game, especially the halftime show. For some, the Super Bowl halftime show is a bigger deal than the game itself. And this could be the case again during the 2023 Super Bowl halftime show, which is why we’re eager to share everything we know about the halftime show for Super Bowl LVII.
This Year’s Performer
The headliner at the Super Bowl in 2023 will be pop star Rihanna! The NFL has previously tried to book Rihanna to perform at the Super Bowl halftime show in 2019, although she turned down the opportunity. But this year is different. Rihanna is represented by Roc Nation, which was co-founded by Jay-Z, who is one of the producers of the halftime show. That has opened the door for Rihanna and the NFL to come together and put on a great halftime show.
What to Know About Rihanna
Most music fans are familiar with Rihanna, although not everyone knows her life story. She was born and raised in the Caribbean nation of Barbados and signed a record deal with Def Jam in 2005 when she was still a teenager. By the time she released her third album, which featured her hit single “Umbrella,” Rihanna was a bonafide star.
Since breaking out as a star, Rihanna has had 31 top-10 hits on the US charts and 14 no. 1 singles. She’s also won nine Grammy Awards, among many other accolades. To date, Rihanna has sold over 250 million records worldwide, making her the second-best-selling female recording artist in music history. As a result, her net worth is valued at over $1 billion. Fittingly, Super Bowl halftime performers aren’t paid for their services, as the show earns them nearly unlimited amounts of publicity, so Rihanna shouldn’t have to worry too much about not getting paid to perform at halftime of the Super Bowl.
Will There be Special Guests
With the Super Bowl months away, it’s too early to know what other performers might share the stage with Rihanna during the Super Bowl halftime show. In some cases, fans don’t know until the day of the game or during the halftime show itself. However, there’s no question that some other well-known performers will be accompanying Rihanna on stage, mostly because she’s collaborated with several different artists over the years.
Naturally, Jay-Z is the most likely guest performer, as he collaborated with Rihanna on multiple songs, including “Umbrella,” and has helped to put together the halftime show. Jay-Z’s wife, Beyonce, could also be on the list of possible guest stars. The likes of Calvin Harris, Eminem, Nicki Minaj, Justin Timberlake, Drake, Kendrick Lamar, and previous Super Bowl halftime performer Shakira all have at least one song they performed with Rihanna, opening up the possibility of any of those performers being incorporated into the halftime show. It’s even possible to see Paul McCartney, Maroon 5, or Coldplay join Rihanna on stage after previously collaborating with her.
Songs You Might Hear
Given Rihanna’s long and successful career, there is an almost endless list of songs she could perform during halftime of the Super Bowl. The setlist will surely depend on who is booked to join her on stage. But beyond that, anything is possible. Of course, “Umbrella” is a good bit, as it’s one of her earliest and most recognizable songs. There’s also no question that songs like “Diamonds,” “Don’t Stop the Music,” “We Found Love,” and “Rude Boy” would also be a hit with the halftime audience. Rihanna has also recorded a new album, which will be her ninth studio album. She may perform a song or two from that album at the Super Bowl LVII halftime show.
Past Performances
When Rihanna takes the Super Bowl halftime stage, she’ll be following a long line of performers. Last year’s halftime show was filled with stars, including Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar, Mary J. Blige, and Eminem. The year before that, it was The Weeknd. Prior to that, the duo of Shakira and Jennifer Lopez rocked the halftime show. During the history of Super Bowl halftime shows, superstars like Michael Jackson, U2, Lady Gaga, and Prince have all put on memorable shows. Of course, for better or worse, there is no Super Bowl halftime show more memorable than Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson during Super Bowl XXXVIII. But that doesn’t mean Rihanna won’t try to top all of those past performers with her own Super Bowl halftime show.
When and Where is the Super Bowl
For those who care more about the halftime show than the game, Super Bowl LVII is scheduled for Sunday, February 12, 2023. It will be played at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. We know Rihanna will be there ready to perform at halftime, but who will join her and what songs she’ll sing remain a matter of speculation.