Singer Rihanna has accepted to be part of the Super Bowl Halftime Show in 2023 after initially refusing to perform on the show in 2019.
In solidarity with Colin Kaepernick, Rihanna had initially declined to perform at the prestigious sports event in 2019.
While speaking to Vogue in 2019, the celebrity singer said she did not see any reason to perform at the Super Bowl Halftime Show.
"Who gains from that? Not my people. I just couldn’t be a sellout. I couldn’t be an enabler. There’s things within that organization that I do not agree with at all, and I was not about to go and be of service to them in any way," she said.
Kaepernick had alleged that the NFL made plans to keep him out of the league and accused them of racism. This major highlight made Rihanna reject the Super Bowl Halftime Show offer in 2019.
However, in 2022, Rihanna finally accepted the offer and is set to perform at the show on February 2023.
The Super Bowl Halftime Show is said to be sponsored by Apple Music and will be performed at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
NFL has already announced this latest event of the celebrity singer, and the singer herself has confirmed.
Rihanna posted on Twitter a photo of a hand holding an NFL ball.
Jay-z to oversee production on the Halftime Show
It has also been reported that Jay-z will be the executive producer of the upcoming NFL Halftime Show.
The legendary rapper and business mogul have spoken about Rihanna and her acceptance to perform at the show.
He said that Rihanna is a "generational talent," and it would be great to have her perform at the Super Bowl Halftime Show.
"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."
"Rihanna is an incredible recording artist who is a favorite for many millions of Apple Music customers around the world," said Oliver Schusser, Apple's vice president of Apple Music and Beats. "We're excited to partner with Rihanna, Roc Nation, and the NFL to bring music and sports fans a momentous show — what an incredible artist for the inaugural Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show," Jay-Z said.
Rihanna Upcoming Album
Fans are already speculating that the long-awaited Rihanna album may drop before the singer headline the Super Bowl Halftime Show.
According to a report that The Rolling Stone made in 2018, the singer had initially scheduled to release the album that year. But, she had kept postponing the release date till she gave birth to her first child.
It is alleged that Supa Dups, Stephen “Di Genius” McGregor, and R. City are among the list of producers that may eventually produce the album with the singer.
While speaking to The New York Times Style Magazine in 2019, the singer also stopped rumors that she would be working with Lady Gaga and Drake on the Album.
"I don’t see it happening. Not on this album, that’s for sure," she said.