It’s hard to believe that nearly two decades after her debut album and many hit singles, pop superstar Rihanna has yet to perform at the Super Bowl Halftime Show. But in 2023, she’s finally getting every chance.
The NFL confirmed Sunday (Sept. 25) that the “We Found Love” singer will be taking to the stage for the Halftime Show of Super Bowl LVII on Feb. 12, 2023. Rihanna herself even appeared to confirm the news, posting a shot of her hand palming a football as the rumors swirled around social media.
The announcement immediately got fans talking: Which guest stars will join her during the show? Does this mean that her long-awaited ninth studio album is coming? How will she integrate her Fenty beauty and fashion lines into the show?
But one looming question stands out among the rest: What will a Rihanna Halftime Show even look like? Her discography, complete with eight full albums, the third-most No. 1 singles in the history of the Billboard Hot 100, and a set of banging B-sides mean that there is more than enough material for Rihanna to choose from. But which songs will she select, especially given that Super Bowl Halftime shows average in at about 12 to 15 minutes?
Even picking an extended list of songs for the maximum amount of time she could spend on the stage is a near-impossible job, meaning some fan-favorite songs have to be left on the cutting room floor. So, billboard decided to take a stab at the unenviable task of putting together a dream setlist for RiRi’s hotly anticipated performance that encapsulates the star’s massive musical impact throughout her career.