Rihanna’s Super Bowl halftime show press conference summary, no tour announcement
Rihanna Super Bowl press conference as it happened
This year it's Usher...
Rihanna Reveals the Challenges of Her Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show Performance / MIKE COPPOLA / Getty Images via AFP
Rihanna’s Super Bowl halftime show press conference summary, updates
As she held the official press conference ahead of her Super Bowl halftime show, Rihanna looked in spectacular form.
The 'Umbrella' singer talked about the dynamics of 400 people putting together a stage, taking it all apart again in the few minutes available at the break in the football action, and how much work goes into that. She also said she would be representing immigrants, the Caribbean, and all black women, as she takes the stage for the biggest show on the planet.
While some fans might be disappointed after not getting what they hoped for- a tour announcement, they'll have to be satisfied with this Apple-produced video: "Run this town - the road to halftime" that we are (and by that I mean this writer) completely in love with.
And this will be it for us.
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Reactions to Rihanna's 'run this town' music video
We now know that "The Road to Halftime Starts on Rihanna Drive," but fans are still pondering and wondering about how the surprising video really touches on every emotion possible ahead of Rihanna's Super Bowl performance.
From comments reading 'goosebumps,' and 'appreciation' to 'Black excellence,' 'Caribbean massive' and lots of the word 'crying.'
Barbados will be on the Super Bowl 57 stage!
“It’s a long way from home. It’s a beautiful journey I’m on. I could’ve never guessed that I could’ve made it here. It’s a celebration of that. I’m excited to have Barbados on the Super Bowl stage!” said Rihanna as she looked stunning on the inside (and outside of course).
Little Rihanna wins our hearts
We will NOT forget this is Super Bowl Sunday's performer on February 12.
Thank you, Rihanna
Who is NOT team Rihanna!?
We really are all team Rihanna after walking down memory lane in Barbados and seeing how far the little island girl from the Caribbean has come...
Rihanna: "the performance will be a celebration of my catalog"
During the official interview ahead of the halftime show performance, Rihanna talked about the challenge of building the setlist, which she referred to as "the hardest hardest part."
"Deciding how to maximize 13 minutes, but also celebrate it... That's what the show is going to be. It's going to be a celebration of my catalog in the best way that we could have put it together. And you only have 13 minutes that's a challenge... so you're trying to cram 17 years of work into 13 minutes so it's difficult, but you know some songs we have to lose because of that and that's going to be okay, but I think we did a pretty good job at narrowing it down."
Rihanna continued to say that they probably have about 39 versions of the setlist right now... "Whether I want like a guitar, cut out something muted something added, or just put out a whole new song or take out a whole song like every time I make a change. Something has to be updated. That's a new version."
No tour announcement!
While we're all still getting the feels of Rihanna's clip demonstrating her childhood, her culture, and her big dreams, we can't help but talk about the fact that no tour announcement was made on today's press conference ahead of her halftime show.
Rihanna's emotionally beautiful representation of her childhood
To conclude Rihanna's official interview ahead of the Super Bowl 2023 halftime show, Apple Music showed a clip of a fearful young girl walking down the streets of Barbados, looking confident and unstoppable before two other girls join her. Showing a sign that reads 'Rihanna Drive', the kids fly their kites in the air as they celebrate 'running this town'.
The clip ends with a beautiful and emotional phrase that read," My whole life was shaped on this very road. I was just a little island girl flying kites in the cemetery... but I had big dreams"
Absolutely beautiful representation of Rihanna's childhood, of the children of Barbados, and of what big dreams look like...
Rihanna: "Stay humble"
"This industry will teach you how to stay humble one way or another." Rihanna shared that she always fears the pedestal that the world can put her on and she always wants to feel her feet on the ground.
RIhanna reveals her favorite album
When asked by some of her young fans what her favorite album was, Rihanna said she "really enjoyed" loud and diamonds. But ANTI was her greatest album ever made!
Caribbean culture will be represented at the Super Bowl!
"The physical challenge has been immense," says Rihanna, who has a nine-month child.
"From the time it starts, it never ends- until the very last second. It takes a toll on your body."
Nadeska Alexis, who's being beautifully and genuinely supportive of Rihanna's role as a mother, woman, and artist, touches on real topics like how difficult it is to take on this challenge during this time, and how she sees Rihanna as an icon who represents a lot of people. We love it!
Rihanna shares how excited she is to have Barbados on the Super Bowl stage... and she promises herself to "have fun"!!!
R: It's a long way from home, but it's a beautiful journey that I'm on. I'm excited to have Barbados on the Super Bowl stage!
Nadeska says that all Caribbean women claim Rihanna as their own.
Will there be elements of Caribbean culture in the show? Rihanna says representation for immigrants, for Barbados, for black women everywhere is really important to her.
"I've been bossy all my life"
When asked how she knows what the right thing is for her, Rihanna says she doesn't care about coming off too bossy. "Whatever I do, I'm that annoying girl who's gonna talk about everything"
Riri's core values are key
Nadeska and Rihanna talk about how the core values of the Barbadian continue to show, and she continues to live by.
Riri talks about the challenge of putting 17 years in a 13-minute show
Rihanna's moment is now!
"If it's impossible, you could do it," says Nadeska to Rihanna.
She continued to talk about timing, and how she's a big believer in Rihanna's big moment coming now. Riri confirms that "as scary as it was" to get that call, "there's something exhilarating about the challenge of it all"
Rihanna's on stage
Looking stunning as always, Rihanna is joined by Nadeska on stage, talking about not getting enough sleep yet.
Riri says she's been so focused on the Super Bowl that she forgot about her birthday.
Riri is here!!
She's here!!!
Rihanna is upon us, and among us, as she joins Nadeska on stage...
Nadeska welcomes Rihanna
the Host of the Nadeska show is introducing the icon's moments on stage
Nadeska and Rihanna coming up next
Just a few seconds away from Riri walking in
Music moves walls
All three artists, who will be performing at the 2023 Super Bowl pre-show, are sharing how music brought them where they are today and how lucky they feel for having chosen music in their lives
"Be honest. Give the words life to what it means to you, as you sing it," thank you Babyface.
Babyface ready with answers
When asked who he was rooting for, Babyface decided to go with Rihanna and we gotta say... the crowd loved it.
First Super Bowl of many firsts...
Sheryl explains how she believes all three songs the three artists will be performing "shows a nature effort by the NFL to be inclusive, representing all people on a day.... coming together" to enjoy Football
Sheryl Lee Ralph, Chris Stapleton, and Babyface bringing some energy
More halftime show performers showing up with excitement ahead of Rihanna's official interview, and we can't get enough of Super Bowl Sunday surprises...
Sheryl Lee Ralph, Chris Stapleton, and Babyface will be the 2023 Super Bowl pre-show performers.
Beautiful start to Apple Music's press conference
Millions of deaf people will be inspired to watch Apple Music's press conference starting with three resilient, and incredible performers at the show... thank you Rihanna, NFL Network and Apple Music
Language, culture and diversity
The three sign language performers are sharing their excitement to be here, representing part of American the Beautiful, ahead of Rihanna's official interview
Official Rihanna press conference kicking off!
NFL's MJ Acosta Ruiz is introducing the three official sign language performers
Another fun fact
Rihanna won a beauty pageant in high school a year before her first hit single "Pon de Replay" was released.
When was that, you ask?
In 2004... and we're here to take you back...
Rihanna fun fact
Okay since we're waiting eagerly for Rihanna's official interview, and obviously singing out every one of her songs (especially if it's one with Drake), here's a fun fact about the Barbadian:
- You've probably been announcing her name wrong.
Yepp... Riri's full name is actually Robyn Rihanna Fenty. Hence, Fenty beauty... get it?
We all here Ri
It's almost here guys.
The beauty and fashion icon, mother, and philanthropist focusing on climate justice, domestic violence and covid relief, is almost upon us, with speculation running wild that the bad-ass artist is gearing up to announce her first tour since 2016.
Apple Music Radio’s Nadeska Alexis, whom we introduced below, is getting ready to interview Rihanna at the Super Bowl halftime show press conference.
Don't go anywhere!
Rihanna prepares for the Halftime Show of Super Bowl LVII
History at the Super Bowl 2023
Super Bowl 57 is set to make history regardless of the outcome. Not only will the game between the Chiefs and Eagles be the first time two black quarterbacks will face each other in the Super Bowl, but Riri is also the halftime show performer. And regardless of all the lables, Rihanna just doesn't stop shining, in every way.
Queen R returns!
We're only a few minutes away from Rihanna's official interview ahead of Super Bowl 2023 as Apple Music presents Rihanna's Road to Halftime playlist. No worries if you can't catch it live. We're here covering it for you as the day unfolds.
Or shall we call it FentyBowl?
Stay tuned!
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But was Taylor Swift really the NFL's first option? Read more to find out
Who is Nadeska Alexis?
Rihanna will be joined at her press conference today by Nadeska Alexis, a music journalist, presenter and producer. The 36-year-old presents the Nadeska show on Apple Music as well as R&B Now. Born in Grenada, she moved to Brookyln when she was 11 and made her name as a music journalist on AOL Music magazine, MTV News and Complex Media. She's interviewed heavyweights like Pusha T, Designer, Schoolboy Q, as well as A$AP Rocky, Rihanna's partner.
As we get ready for Rihanna's official interview with Nadeska in less than 15 minutes, we know Patrick Mahomes' family is eagerly tuning in, and "more excited about Rihanna's halftime show performance" than the Chiefs vs Eagles game.
Wild Mahomes family!
Super Bowl 2023 about to blow up
Fun fact as we wait on diamond Riri's press conference, a record 50.4 million Americans expected to bet $16 billion on Super Bowl LVII.
The ‘Rihturn’ is a long time coming
For all of you who don't remember when was the last time Rihanna toured on stage, it was in 2016 at the ‘ANTI World Tour.’
Since then, the Barbadian has instead been focusing on building her Fenty Beauty and fashion brand, and on being a mum to her nine-month-old son with rapper A$AP Rocky.
Her last performance on stage was during the 2018 Grammy Award Show held at New York’s Madison Square Garden alongside DJ Khaled and Bryson Tiller.
And another piece for our readers highlighting Badgirlriri's possible 2023 American and 2024 European Tour following her Super Bowl performance.
Since we are talking Rihanna, the halftime show, and all things Super Bowl 2023, we might as well share with our lovely readers our daily live feed that covers everything related to the most exciting day of the year. Stay up to date people!
New York is on board too
We know, though, this is Rihanna's year.
She is back, she is hitting big, and she is as exciting as ever
Rihanna's change of heart
The Barbadian singer is making her first appearance on stage since 2018 and there is a reason for it.
Back in 2019, Rihanna rejected the opportunity to star in the Super Bowl halftime show, saying that “there’s things within that organization (the NFL) that I do not agree with at all, and I was not about to go and be of service to them in any way”, she said at the time.
This time, when it was announced in September that Rihanna would be making her long-awaited return to the stage at Sunday’s Super Bowl, it took fans by surprise. Badgirlriri though, who teased her Super Bowl look in a short 30-second video clip earlier this week, said she had a change of heart, “If I’m going to leave my baby, I’m going to leave my baby for something special”.
Apple Music presents Rihanna Road to Halftime playlist
While there is so much hype about the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles facing off in Arizona this Sunday, there is probably just as much buildup (if not more) about Rihanna's halftime show, whom we know will shine bright like a diamond!
In anticipation of the show, Apple Music presents Rihanna's Road to Halftime playlist, which includes a soundtrack of the singer's hottest hits, in addition to a recap of 10 of the most iconic halftime shows in history. I'm so excited already!
Apple Music subscribers will also have access to 32 playlists, curated by each NFL team, featuring the most heard songs in the NFL, both on and off the field.
Super Bowl 2023 live blog: welcome
Hello everyone and welcome to our live coverage of Rihanna's Super Bowl halftime show press conference! We are bringing you all the updates on your favorite 'badgirlriri' ahead of the buildup to the best day of the year, which is slowly but surely creeping up on us!
Tune in with us today for all the updates as Apple Music presents Rihanna's Road to Halftime playlist.
Happy Super Bowl Week!