Any casual Super Bowl viewer knows that the colossal event is as much about music – and, OK, commercials – as sports. In recent decades, the end of the NFL season has evolved into an all-day, all-night event, with marquee artists taking the field before kickoff and during halftime.
You probably know that Rihanna is taking the stage at halftime.
And maybe you already know who’s singing this year’s national anthem, as well as the Black national anthem and “America the Beautiful,” before kickoff at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, for Super Bowl 57.
Or maybe you don’t know any of these things. That’s why we’re here to help.
How can I watch the Super Bowl?
The game is being broadcast by Fox. Watch on cable or free with an over-the-air antenna. Pre-game festivities start at 6 EST/3 PST with kickoff at 6:30 EST/3:30 PST.
Cord-cutters can stream on fuboTV, Hulu with Live TV, Sling TV and YouTube TV.
Who is singing the national anthem at Super Bowl?
Chris Stapleton takes on the national anthem, with “CODA” star Troy Kotsur signing the song.
For the third consecutive year, a country singer will steer the booming song. Eight-time Grammy winner Chris Stapleton will handle “The Star-Spangled Banner” and will be joined by Troy Kotsur, the Oscar-winning star of last year’s best picture winner, “CODA.” Kotsur will perform the national anthem in American Sign Language.
Prior to the national anthem, R&B singer and producer Babyface will sing “America the Beautiful” and “Abbott Elementary” star Sheryl Lee Ralph will perform “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”
Why hasn’t Rihanna performed at the Super Bowl before?
In 2019, when the game was held in Atlanta, the NFL struggled to find performers because many of them – including Rihanna – stood in solidarity with former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick. The athlete provoked controversy in 2016 after kneeling during a pregame national anthem to protest social inequality and police brutality.
Rihanna told Vogue in October 2019, months after she had been asked to play the Super Bowl, “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. 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.”
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It is likely that the arrival of her longtime guru Jay-Z as a consultant for the NFL played a role in her decision to perform. The rapper/business mogul aligned himself with the NFL later in 2019 and said he would assist in expanding the cultural influences of the league.
What is Rihanna likely to sing at Super Bowl halftime?
Considering that the halftime production runs between 12 and 15 minutes, there is much to compress from Rihanna’s catalog. Her 17-year career has spawned 14 No. 1 songs and 32 top 10 songs on the Billboard Hot 100, so medleys are a bet worth making.
Biggest hits that should make the cut in some form include “Umbrella,” “Don’t Stop the Music,” “SOS,” “Disturbia,” “Rude Boy,” “Only Girl (In the World),” “We Found Love,” “Diamonds,” “Work,” “Needed Me” and “Love on the Brain.”
It’s unlikely Rihanna will turn to “Lift Me Up,” her Oscar-nominated ballad from “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” as Super Bowl halftime shows tip toward maximum BPMs.
Who could Rihanna bring out as guests during her Super Bowl show?
Even though she teamed with a pair of marquee names in 2015 for “FourFiveSeconds” – that would be Kanye West and Paul McCartney – it is beyond doubtful that either would appear. Also, the song falls into languidly paced territory.
But going back to her roots is a possibility, which would mean a Jay-Z sighting on “Umbrella,” her eight-times platinum smash with the rapper from 2007. Jay-Z called her a “generational talent” in announcing her as the halftime performer, so clearly, respect is there.
Also sensible would be mega-DJ/producer Calvin Harris, who crafted “We Found Love” with Rihanna in 2011. The mirror-ball banger nestled at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 for 10 weeks and sets the perfect backdrop for set-ending confetti, streamers or other messy things to blanket the field.
Get ready for Super Bowl 57:
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Super Bowl 2023 halftime show: What to expect when Rihanna performs
You can view the original article HERE.
