MUSIC
Rihanna studied Beyoncé's performances ahead of 2023 Super Bowl Halftime show
Rihanna admits she studied Beyoncé's moves as she prepared for her big Super Bowl LVII halftime performance.
Rihanna made her big comeback at the 2023 Super Bowl halftime show, and the singer revealed that in preparation for the show, she studied Beyonce’s 2013 and 2016 performances for tips.
The popstar made a huge splash at the Super Bowl 57 halftime show, performing a 13-minute montage showcasing her best work, including songs like ‘Diamonds and ‘Umbrella’.
In a Sunday night interview with ‘The Process with Nate Burleson’, an NFL iHeart radio show, Rihanna said that she looks up to Beyoncé and used the other singer as inspiration for her elaborate show.
“I watched Beyoncé's halftime performances a couple of times,” Rihanna said. “She is a beast and a whole other level.”
“Just to be inspired, really,” Rihanna continued.
Rihanna getting ready
In an interview with Apple Music host Nadeska Alexis before the show, Rihanna talked about the significance of the halftime performance.
“Super Bowl is one of the biggest stages in the world,” the entrepreneur said. “So, as scary as that was... there’s something exhilarating about the challenge of it all.”
“It’s important for me to do this, this year. It’s important for representation. It’s important for my son to see that.”
Discussing the challenges she faced ahead of her comeback, Rihanna said deciding how to “maximize 13 minutes but also celebrate” was one of them.
“That’s what this show is gonna be,” Rihanna declared. “It’s gonna be a celebration of my catalog in the best way that we could’ve put it together.”
Rihanna was laser focused
The superstar was so laser-focused on tackling the Super Bowl that she forgot about some upcoming holidays.
Rihanna said she was so focused on her big Super Bowl 57 performance that she completely lost track of time.
“I’ve been so focused on the Super Bowl I totally forgot that my birthday’s coming up,” Rihanna reflected. “I totally forgot about Valentine’s Day.”
Beyoncé's Super Bowl performance history
Beyoncé performed the halftime show 10 years ago, at Super Bowl XLVII Halftime, and in a throwback to the star’s Destiny’s Child days, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams joined her onstage.
Three years later, Beyoncé did the Super Bowl halftime show again, with Coldplay and Bruno Mars in 2016.