Rihanna headlining Super Bowl 2023 halftime show

A massive pop star has been revealed as the headline act for the Super Bowl 2023 halftime show, after previously turning the gig down.

Rihanna is work, work, work, work, workin’ her way to the Super Bowl.

The singer confirmed she’s headlining the 2023 Super Bowl halftime show in Glendale, Arizona, by posting a photo of herself holding a football via her Instagram feed on Sunday.

The caption-less image was posted just hours after TMZ reported that Rihanna was in talks to headline next year’s national championship game.

“IT’S ON. @rihanna will take the stage for the first ever Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show on 2.12.23,” Apple Music added in their own tweet. “#SBLVII @NFL@NFLonFOX @RocNation.”

Roc Nation – who has helped produce the halftime show over the past few years – and the National Football League also tweeted the same image, writing, “Let’s GO” with the hashtag “SBLVII.”

Following the exciting news, Roc Nation founder Jay-Z released the following statement:

“Rihanna is a generational talent, a woman of humble beginnings who has surpassed expectations at every turn. A person born on the small island of Barbados who became one of the most prominent artists ever. Self-made in business and entertainment.”

Seth Dudowsky, Head of Music for the NFL, expressed similar sentiments in his own statement, calling Rihanna “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,” he added.

Stream more entertainment news live & on demand with Flash. 25+ news channels in 1 place. New to Flash? Try 1 month free. Offer ends 31 October, 2022 >

Rihanna has confirmed she will headline the show. Picture: Mike Coppola/.Getty Images North America/AFP

Rihanna, 34, was previously approached to perform the halftime show for Super Bowl LIII in Atlanta.

However, she turned it down at the time amid controversy surrounding the NFL’s treatment of Colin Kaepernick. The former San Francisco 49ers quarterback was both praised and criticised for taking a knee during the national anthem in protest of police brutality and social injustice.

“I couldn’t dare do that. For what? Who gains from that? Not my people. I just couldn’t be a sellout. I couldn’t be an enabler,” Rihanna told Vogue in October 2019.

“There’s things within that organisation that I do not agree with at all, and I was not about to go and be of service to them in any way.”

The show was ultimately headlined by Adam Levine’s pop rock band, Maroon 5, with special guests Big Boi and Travis Scott.

As for Rihanna, her appearance will follow 2022’s star-studded line-up of Dr. Dre, Eminem, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige and Kendrick Lamar, who performed at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, for Super Bowl LVI.

Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg performed at this year’s Super Bowl. Picture: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

The Diamonds singer has had a busy year after giving birth to her first child, a baby boy, with A$AP Rocky in May. Meanwhile, her fans have still been patiently waiting for an update on the release of her ninth studio album, following 2016’s Anti.

Perhaps we’ll finally get new music ahead of the big game?

Super Bowl LVI is set to take place on February 12, 2023 (February 13 AEDT) at State Farm Stadium.

This article originally appeared in the New York Post and was reproduced with permission.

Originally published as Rihanna headlining Super Bowl 2023 halftime show