Rihanna made her long‑awaited return to the stage at the Super Bowl with a career‑spanning medley of pop bangers, but it was her baby bump that dominated the conversation. The megastar appeared mid‑air on a floating stage, wearing a clingy, all‑red ensemble with a molded bustier and a belt that led many viewers to deduce another mini‑RiRi was on the way. Representatives for the singer confirmed the speculation to Rolling Stone and The Hollywood Reporter: Rihanna is pregnant with her second child. The 34‑year‑old welcomed her first child, a son with rapper A$AP Rocky, in May.
Musically, fans hoping for fresh tracks were disappointed; Rihanna’s night on the world’s biggest stage offered a nostalgia tour of past hits. She performed club smashers such as “Where Have You Been,” “Only Girl (In the World),” and the timeless “We Found Love,” along with “Rude Boy,” “Bitch Better Have My Money,” “Work,” and “All of the Lights.” A sea of dancers executed stunning acrobatics while “Wild Thoughts,” “Run This Town,” “Umbrella,” and “Diamonds” rounded out the setlist. She did not bring out any guest artists, commanding the stage entirely on her own.
The performance marked a reversal after Rihanna previously turned down the gig in protest of the NFL’s handling of race issues. Accepting the coveted slot this time, the Barbados‑born singer said it was “important for representation.” “It’s important for my son to see this,” she explained.
Since releasing “Anti” in early 2016, Robyn Rihanna Fenty has taken a break from recording but has not slowed down. She has become a billionaire, parlaying her music achievements into successful makeup, lingerie, and high‑fashion brands. Since her last album, Rihanna has performed occasional features and recently recorded music for the “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” soundtrack. However, the album she has been teasing for years remains the stuff of myth—and it seems it will stay that way for a while longer.
Comments are closed for this story.