Friday, December 19, 2025

Rihanna, Not Taylor Swift, Gets Super Bowl Halftime Show, Jay Z Retains Firm Grip on Production

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Rihanna is back. It’s been six years or more since her last album. She had a baby, and became a fashion icon.

But now Rihanna has been confirmed as the star of the Super Bowl halftime show. Rumors of Taylor Swift doing it did not pan out.

This means that Jay Z and his Roc Nation management still have a firm hold on the SuperBowl despite the changeover from Pepsi to Apple Music as sponsor.

If Rihanna’s doing the show, it likely means she has a new album for 2023. I think she’s now gone beyond Adele for longest stretch between albums.

I love Rihanna’s voice. I know that “Work” song will be a big deal at the Super Bowl but I hope she gets to belt out some tunes. If she brings Eminem out to do “Monster,” there will be fireworks.

Welcome back, Rihanna!

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Roger Friedman
Roger Friedmanhttps://www.showbiz411.com
Roger Friedman began his Showbiz411 column in April 2009 after 10 years with Fox News, where he created the Fox411 column. His movie reviews are carried by Rotten Tomatoes, and he is a member of both the movie and TV branches of the Critics Choice Awards. His articles have appeared in dozens of publications over the years including New York Magazine, where he wrote the Intelligencer column in the mid 90s and covered the OJ Simpson trial, and Fox News (when it wasn't so crazy) where he covered Michael Jackson. He is also the writer and co-producer of "Only the Strong Survive," a selection of the Cannes, Sundance, and Telluride Film festivals, directed by DA Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus.

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