Move over, Taylor Swift.
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.
Let’s GO - @rihanna @rocnation #SBLVII @AppleMusic @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/xmIXK5jsRg
— NFL (@NFL) September 25, 2022
Jay-Z, head of Roc Nation (executive producers of the show) released a statement in junction with the NFL regarding the selection:
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.
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:
| Super Bowl | Year | Performer(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1967 | "Super Sighs and Sounds" with University of Arizona and Grambling State University bands |
| 2 | 1968 | Grambling State University band |
| 3 | 1969 | "America Thanks" with Florida A&M University band and Miami-area high school bands |
| 4 | 1970 | "Tribute to New Orleans" with Southern University band, Al Hirt, Lionel Hampton, Doc Severinsen, Marguerite Piazza |
| 5 | 1971 | Southeast Missouri State band |
| 6 | 1972 | "Salute to Louis Armstrong" with Ella Fitzgerald, Carol Channing, Al Hirt and U.S. Marine Corps Drill Team |
| 7 | 1973 | "Happiness Is..." with University of Michigan Band, Andy Williams and Woody Herman |
| 8 | 1974 | "A Musical America" with University of Texas Band |
| 9 | 1975 | "Tribute to Duke Ellington" with Mercer Ellington and Grambling State University bands |
| 10 | 1976 | "200 Years and Just a Baby: A Tribute to America's Bicentennial" featuring Up With People |
| 11 | 1977 | "It's a Small World" by Walt Disney Productions including spectators waving colored placards on cue |
| 12 | 1978 | "From Paris to the Paris of America" with Pete Fountain, Al Hirt and The Apache Band |
| 13 | 1979 | "Salute to the Caribbean" with Ken Hamilton and various bands |
| 14 | 1980 | "A Salute to the Big Band Era" featuring Up With People |
| 15 | 1981 | "A Mardi Gras Festival" with Pete Fountain and the Southern University band |
| 16 | 1982 | "A Salute to the 60's and Motown" featuring Up With People |
| 17 | 1983 | "KaleidoSUPERscope" (a kaleidoscope of color and sound, also featuring spectator-held colored placards) |
| 18 | 1984 | "Salute to the Superstars of the Silver Screen" from Walt Disney Productions |
| 19 | 1985 | "A World of Children's Dreams" featuring Tops in Blue |
| 20 | 1986 | "Beat of the Future" featuring Up With People |
| 21 | 1987 | "Salute to Hollywood's 100th Anniversary and The Land of Make Believe", a Disney production featuring high school bands |
| 22 | 1988 | "Something Grand" featuring Chubby Checker, 88 grand pianos, the Rockettes, and the USC and San Diego State bands |
| 23 | 1989 | "BeBop Bamboozled" featuring 3-D effects |
| 24 | 1990 | "Salute to New Orleans" and 40th Anniversary of Peanuts' characters, featuring Doug Kershaw, Doug Kershaw and Irma Thomas |
| 25 | 1991 | "A Small World Salute to 25 Years of the Super Bowl" featuring New Kids on the Block |
| 26 | 1992 | "Winter Magic" featuring Gloria Estefan and figure skaters Brian Boitano and Dorothy Hamill |
| 27 | 1993 | "Heal the World" featuring Michael Jackson |
| 28 | 1994 | "Rockin' Country Sunday" featuring Clint Black, Tanya Tucker, Travis Tritt, Wynonna and Naomi Judd |
| 29 | 1995 | "Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Eye" featuring Tony Bennett, Patti LaBelle, Arturo Sandoval, the Miami Sound Machine |
| 30 | 1996 | "Take Me Higher: A Celebration of 30 Years of the Super Bowl" featuring Diana Ross |
| 31 | 1997 | "Blues Brothers Bash" featuring Dan Akroyd, John Goodman, James Belushi, James Brown and ZZ Top |
| 32 | 1998 | "A Tribute to Motown's 40th Anniversary" including Boyz II Men, Smokey Robinson, Queen Latifah, Martha Reeves and The Temptations |
| 33 | 1999 | "Celebration of Soul, Salsa and Swing" featuring Stevie Wonder, Gloria Estefan, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and Savion Glover |
| 34 | 2000 | "A Tapestry of Nations" featuring Phil Collins, Christina Aguilera, Enrique Iglesias and Toni Braxton |
| 35 | 2001 | "The Kings of Rock and Pop" featuring Aerosmith and NSYNC with guests Britney Spears, Mary J. Blige and Nelly |
| 36 | 2002 | U2 |
| 37 | 2003 | Shania Twain and No Doubt with guest Sting |
| 38 | 2004 | "Choose or Lose" featuring Janet Jackson, Justin Timberlake, Kid Rock, P. Diddy, Nelly and Jessica Simpson |
| 39 | 2005 | Paul McCartney |
| 40 | 2006 | The Rolling Stones |
| 41 | 2007 | Prince |
| 42 | 2008 | Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers |
| 43 | 2009 | Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band |
| 44 | 2010 | The Who |
| 45 | 2011 | The Black Eyed Peas with guests Usher and Slash |
| 46 | 2012 | Madonna with guests Cee Lo Green, LMFAO, M.I.A. and Nicki Minaj |
| 47 | 2013 | Beyoncé with guests Destiny's Child |
| 48 | 2014 | Bruno Mars with guests Red Hot Chili Peppers |
| 49 | 2015 | Katy Perry with guests Missy Elliott and Lenny Kravitz |
| 50 | 2016 | Coldplay with guests Beyoncé and Bruno Mars |
| 51 | 2017 | Lady Gaga |
| 52 | 2018 | Justin Timberlake |
| 53 | 2019 | Maroon 5 with guests Travis Scott and Big Boi |
| 54 | 2020 | Shakira and Jennifer Lopez with guests Bad Bunny and J Balvin |
| 55 | 2021 | The Weeknd |
| 56 | 2022 | Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar, 50 Cent, Eminem, Mary J. Blige |