Super Bowl 2023 halftime show live updates: Rihanna performs at ...

Why would musical stars agree to perform for free — and even assume millions of dollars of costs related to production of their acts? When it comes to the Super Bowl halftime show, legendary talent, like Rihanna today, do so happily.

Ask the league why, and they will point to decades of data showing the halftime entertainers’ album sales and song downloads skyrocketing after the game, more than making up for their gratis appearance. Also, the halftime show is such a part of the cultural zeitgeist that musical acts covet the association.

Apple Music is spending $50 million this year just to sponsor the show (12 to 15 minutes). Assuming the show runs the full 15 minutes, that comes to $3.33 million per minute for the sponsorship.

(Photo: USA Today)

Daniel Kaplan·

Staff Writer, Sports Business

Rihanna, born and raised in Barbados, on Thursday said the halftime performance is about representing her homeland and more – and she’s “honored” to do so.

“A big part of why it is important for me to do this show: representing for immigrants, representing for my country Barbados, representing for Black women everywhere,” she said.

Jason Jones·

Staff Writer, Culture

Over the course of her 17-year career, Rihanna says something that has resolutely remained the same are her core values.

She's moved from her native Barbados, released several highly acclaimed studio albums, overhauled the fashion and makeup worlds, but those achievements and success have still had no impact on Rihanna's principles.

"A lot of my core values have never left me," she said. "A lot of the lessons I've learned in my earliest years, I have never forgotten, and I carry them throughout my life and career."

Rhiannon Walker·

Staff Writer, Culture

It's hard to believe Rihanna will be the first female solo act to perform a Super Bowl halftime show in six years.

The last woman to headline solo? Lady Gaga in 2017 at NRG Stadium in Houston. 2020 featured two women as co-headliners in Shakira and Jennifer Lopez, as they performed at Hard Rock Stadium, home of the Miami Dolphins.

(Photo: Ronald Martinez / Getty Images)

Damon Sayles·

Senior Editor, Culture

Rihanna said there have been “about 39 versions” of the set list for the halftime show.

“Every little change counts,” she said during her press conference Thursday.

That’s what happens when trying to fit a 17-year career into a 15-minute window. Songs are added. Songs are shortened. Songs are cut out completely. Rihanna is intimately involved with the show as she is with all her endeavors, so she’s making sure the show is up to her standards and has been tweaking things regularly.

“If it flops or it flies, my name has to stand by that, so I really get involved with every aspect of anything that I do,” Rihanna said.

Rihanna described the show as “jam packed,” so expect as many of her hits as possible squeezed into the halftime show timeframe. That might mean there are a lot more changes to the 39 versions of the show that have already been looked at by the musical star.

Jason Jones·

Staff Writer, Culture

It's been seven years since Rihanna produced her last studio album.

Admittedly, she left on an extremely high note with her exemplary “Anti” album. 2016 also marked the last time Rihanna performed in concert, which she mentioned during her halftime show news conference Thursday as being one of the scariest parts about taking the stage on Sunday.

While Rihanna didn't provide a timeline for when to expect her next album — and even joked about how she's making her fans wait — she acknowledged the next chapter will be different from what she's done in the past. I'm almost curious if we hear anything new from her during the performance, but that was another part of the conversation she kept hush-hush.

"Musically, I'm feeling open," Rihanna said. "I'm feeling open to exploring, discovering, creating things that are new, things that are different, things that are off, weird. Might not ever make sense to my fans, to the people that know the music I've put out. I just want to play. I want to have fun. I want to have fun with music."

Rhiannon Walker·

Staff Writer, Culture

Here is my prop sheet for Super Bowl LVII, some that I’ve made up or re-shaped from real props, along with some commentary along the way.

If you want to use it for your own Super Bowl plans, I’ve added a PDF that you can download and print out (or email to friends and family to play along with).

And if I don’t have enough in-game props, or halftime props, or national anthem props… I encourage you to take what you want from mine, while seeking out other available props to add that might tickle your fancy more.

Read more here.

(Photos: Getty Images — Mitchell Leff, Lester Cohen, Michael Owens)

Brandon Funston·

Senior Editor, Fantasy/Betting

GO FURTHER

2023 Super Bowl party props downloadable sheet: Rihanna sings, Gronk kicks and more fun bets

Rihanna, seven years removed from her last concert tour appearance, has an opportunity to etch her name in Super Bowl history with a memorable halftime performance.

All eyes will be on the multitalented singer/fashion mogul — particularly after last year’s popular halftime show with Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, Eminem and Kendrick Lamar. But will Rihanna’s show be better? Even better question: Can it rival the performances that Prince or Michael Jackson put on in 2007 and 1993, respectively?

The Athletic ranked the Super Bowl halftime shows after last year’s performance. Where will Rihanna’s rank after Sunday?

(Photo: Getty Images)

The Athletic Staff

GO FURTHER

Super Bowl halftime shows ranked: Beyoncé, Katy Perry, Prince and Michael Jackson