Rihanna admits she’s ‘nervous but excited’ ahead of Super Bowl show and hints at A$AP Rocky appearance

Rihanna has broken her silence after it was announced that she will headline next year’s halftime Super Bowl show.

The Pon de Replay singer, 34, will take centre stage at State Farm Stadium for the Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show at Super Bowl LVII, which will take place on Sunday, 12 February 2023, in Glendale, Arizona.

Speaking to TMZ during a shopping trip on Tuesday, she admitted how she feels ahead of the event.

Rihanna was asked for her feelings about the show. She replied: "I’m nervous, but I’m excited."

The news that Rihanna will perform at the next Super Bowl was confirmed last month on 25 September.

The multi-award-winning singer, 34, shared a photo of her hand holding an American football on Instagram and Twitter.

The picture was reposted by her record label, Roc Nation, the NFL and Apple Music.

Jay-Z, founder of Roc Nation, said: “Rihanna is a generational talent, a woman of humble beginnings who has surpassed expectations at every turn. A person born on the small island of Barbados who became one of the most prominent artists ever. Self-made in business and entertainment.”

The performance will mark the pop star’s first live appearance since 2018.

The star is expected to bring out a special guest, with many of her previous collaborators being rumoured to join her on stage.

Pressed on whether her partner A$AP Rocky could appear as a special guest, the singer responded: “Maybe, girl.”

The pair welcomed their first child together on 13 May.

In October 2019, Rihanna declined an invitation to perform at the 2020 Super Bowl halftime show in solidarity with American football player Colin Kaepernick.

The former San Francisco 49er became the centre of controversy after he refused to stand for the American national anthem in protest against the oppression of ethnic minorities in the United States.

Speaking to Vogue in 2019, Rihanna was asked if she had turned down the Super Bowl show

She said: “Absolutely. 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 organisation that I do not agree with at all. I was not about to go and be of service to them in any way.”

Last year’s performance featured musicians including Dr Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J Blige and Kendrick Lamar.