After a week of drama and suspicions surrounding the headliner of the Super Bowl 57 halftime show, the NFL (puzzlingly) decided to announce on Sunday that Grammy-winning pop star Rihanna will take center stage in Arizona in next February.
The nine-time Grammy award winner gets her first opportunity to play on the NFL’s biggest stage.
Jay-Z, head of Roc Nation (executive producers of the show) released a statement in junction with the NFL regarding the selection:
The announcement of Rihanna isn’t the only major news surrounding the halftime show in 2023 this week. Apple, media and tech conglomerate, is the new sponsor of the show, with Pepsi exiting stage left. There were also some rumors surrounding fellow Grammy winner Swift potentially getting the nod, but that has not come to pass.
MORE: Why Apple is replacing Pepsi as Super Bowl halftime show sponsor in 2023
Here’s the latest on the halftime show for Super Bowl 57:
Super Bowl halftime performers 2023
On Sept. 25, the NFL announced that Rihanna would be headline performer for Super Bowl 57 in Arizona. It’s unclear who will perform alongside her, as guest appearances have become the norm in years past.
The announcement of Rihanna as the show’s performer puts to bed — at least temporarily — the rumors and conjecture of a Taylor Swift performance at the show.
In 2022, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, Kendrick Lamar and 50 Cent performed at the halftime show in Los Angeles.
History of Super Bowl halftime show performers
When Rihanna takes midfield at the Super Bowl in 2023, she’ll join a long list of all-time great performers to perform at the Super Bowl:
