Rihanna is the superstar of the Super Bowl halftime show. The pop singer was scheduled to perform years ago, but now she’s ending her NFL boycott.
Glendale – The biggest sporting event in the world takes place on the night of February 12th and 13th: The Super Bowl. In the 57th edition, the two best NFL teams fight for the coveted Vince Lombardi Trophy. This year, the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs will face off in the American Football finals. In addition to the spectacle on the pitch, the half-time show is also eagerly awaited, as always.
| Super Bowl |
| Halftime show with Rihanna |
| Stadium: State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona (78,600 spectators) |
| Date: Night of February 12th to 13th (around 2 a.m. German time) |
| Duration: 15 minutes |
Super Bowl 2023: Halftime Show with Rihanna
The great honor of appearing in the halftime show at the Super Bowl 2023 goes to US singer Rihanna this year. The NFL is thus returning to the proven concept of an artist, after several stars have recently performed on stage.
Last February, around 120 million people in the US saw the halftime show by music stars Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J Blige and Kendrick Lamar in Los Angeles. For the first time, she was completely dedicated to hip-hop, R&B and rap.
Halftime show: Rihanna celebrates live comeback in the Super Bowl
For Rihanna, it’s a comeback on the big stage. The R&B and pop singer celebrates her first live performance in more than five years, her last album was released in 2016.
Rihanna was actually scheduled for the Super Bowl 2019 halftime show. At the time, the nine-time Grammy winner canceled her performance and showed solidarity with former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
Rihanna on the second attempt at halftime show: US singer ends Super Bowl boycott
A few years earlier, the ex-NFL star had held a protest to draw attention to the ongoing oppression of blacks and the associated police violence. Kaepernick regularly took a knee during the national anthem before games. Later, the African-American no longer got a contract in the league. A scandal for many observers, including Rihanna.
As a result, the 35-year-old no longer wanted to perform at the Super Bowl. “I couldn’t dare do something like that. Who would benefit? Not my people!” Rihanna explained at the time. A few years later, the pop diva ended her boycott and will finally appear in the halftime show. Country singer Chris Stapleton will sing the national anthem at the Super Bowl this year, while Babyface will sing “America the Beautiful.”
Where, when, how long? The halftime show at the Super Bowl with Rihanna
As usual, the music stars perform for free in the Super Bowl and do not charge a fee. For Rihanna, too, the appearance in the halftime show is the highlight of her career. Superstars such as Michael Jackson, Prince, Beyoncé and Eminem have already honored her. In 2022, in addition to the huge live audience, this year 78,600 viewers are expected at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, around 800 million people watched the Super Bowl live on TV.
Halftime in the Super Bowl lasts 30 minutes instead of the usual 12 because of the halftime show. The music act itself takes 15 minutes of the break. The start of the half-time show depends on the course of the game, kickoff is on February 13 at 0.30 a.m. German time, not until around 2 a.m. In addition to Rihanna’s performance, the commercials at the Super Bowl have always been eagerly awaited, and last year they cost another million dollars. (ck)