This is not a drill. Rihanna, I repeat, the Rihanna will be headlining the 2023 Super Bowl LVII halftime show.
On September 25, Rihanna confirmed the news with an Instagram post featuring a single photo: the bad gal herself holding an NFL-branded football. The National Football League even signed off on the internet-breaking announcement, changing the name in its IG bio to "National Fenty League." Iconic.
Regardless of what team scores a touchdown or throws the ball through that thingie at the end of the field (I know it's a field goal), the main event will undoubtedly be Rihanna on February 12, 2023. Then again, that's usually the case wherever she goes, whether performing or simply making a stylish appearance.
As expected with any major Rihanna news, what was a relatively calm and rather humdrum Sunday afternoon turned into a chaotic frenzy.
The Fenty CEO's name is trending worldwide on Twitter, as fans flock to share the news, customary hilarious memes, and hopes that new music may be closer than we think.
Rihanna's Super Bowl halftime show news comes as no surprise. After all, Roc Nation, Jay-Z's entertainment agency that represents Rihanna, oversees the Super Bowl's halftime performances, per its partnership agreement with the NFL.
This also isn't the first time the opportunity was presented to Rihanna. The Barbadian multi-hyphenate turned the headlining slot back in 2020, standing in solidarity with Colin Kaepernick, who was blackballed by the NFL for kneeling during the national anthem.
With Jay-Z calling the shots and amplifying the football league's social justice platform, perhaps he was able to convince Rih this go-around.
It's unknown whether Rihanna will be taking the stage solo or joining another artist (or four) like last year's stacked lineup. As her first major performance in years and fresh off welcoming her first child with A$AP Rocky, I'm just happy to see that the Fenty Bowl is happening. Hopefully, R9 news isn't too far behind.
