5 Jaw-Dropping Facts And The Full Setlist From Rihanna's Record-Breaking Super Bowl 2023 Halftime Show

As of today, December 18, 2025, the conversation around the Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show remains vibrant, cementing its status as one of the most iconic and culturally significant performances in NFL history. The 2023 spectacle, headlined by the Barbadian superstar Rihanna, was a masterclass in stage presence, delivering a powerful medley of hits that transcended a musical performance to become a global event.

This show marked Rihanna's explosive return to the live stage after a five-year hiatus, making the anticipation surrounding the event palpable. The performance was not only a celebration of her 17-year career but also a deeply personal reveal that stunned over 121 million viewers worldwide.

Robyn Rihanna Fenty: A Profile of the Global Icon

The artist who commanded the world's largest stage is Robyn Rihanna Fenty, a multi-hyphenate talent whose influence spans music, fashion, and business. She is a cultural force whose decision to perform at the Super Bowl LVII was a monumental moment for her fans and the industry.

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• Full Name: Robyn Rihanna Fenty
• Date of Birth: February 20, 1988
• Place of Birth: St. Michael parish, Barbados
• Career Highlights: Pop and R&B singer, songwriter, actress, and highly successful fashion and beauty entrepreneur (Fenty Beauty, Savage X Fenty). She is a Grammy Award-winning artist with a catalog of chart-topping hits.
• Pre-Show Context: The performance on February 12, 2023, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, was her first major live performance since 2018.

The Shocking Reveal: A Performance with a 'Very Special Guest'

In the days leading up to the Super Bowl LVII, there was intense speculation about which musical guests Rihanna might bring out. Would it be Jay-Z, Drake, or perhaps Eminem? The answer, however, was far more personal and unexpected, instantly becoming the show's most talked-about moment.

From the moment she ascended onto the first of the floating platforms, clad in a monochromatic red Loewe jumpsuit, the world noticed a subtle but clear bump. Rihanna was pregnant with her second child, a fact she confirmed shortly after the performance. This revelation was her unique way of bringing a "very special guest" to the stage, performing the entire 13-minute set while pregnant.

The significance of this cannot be overstated. By performing a demanding, high-energy show while pregnant, Rihanna became the first artist to ever do so, sending a powerful message of strength and capability to mothers and women globally.

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The Complete Setlist: 12 Hits in 13 Minutes

Rihanna’s performance was a tight, chronological journey through her biggest hits, skillfully mashed together to fit the stringent time limit of the Halftime Show. She performed a medley of 12 songs, showcasing her incredible versatility across pop, R&B, and dance genres.

The full, chronological setlist for the Apple Music Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show was:

1. "Bitch Better Have My Money" (Opening with the dramatic descent)
2. "Where Have You Been"
3. "Only Girl (In the World)"
4. "We Found Love" (featuring a snippet of "S&M")
5. "Rude Boy" (a heavily remixed version)
6. "Work"
7. "Wild Thoughts" (DJ Khaled cover, a nod to her recent collaborations)
8. "Pour It Up"
9. "All of the Lights" (Kanye West cover, which she featured on)
10. "Run This Town" (Jay-Z cover, a nod to Roc Nation, the show's producer)
11. "Umbrella" (The iconic 2007 hit)
12. "Diamonds" (The emotional closing number)

The careful selection of songs, from the aggressive opening of "Bitch Better Have My Money" to the powerful, emotional finale of "Diamonds," demonstrated her ability to captivate and command the massive stadium audience without relying on traditional guest star appearances.

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Global Impact and Record-Breaking Metrics

The Super Bowl 2023 Halftime Show was not just a performance; it was a massive commercial and cultural phenomenon that shattered several records, illustrating the immense power of the Super Bowl stage and Rihanna's star power.

The Most-Watched Halftime Show Ever

The performance drew a staggering audience of over 121.01 million viewers across all platforms. This figure officially made it the most-watched Halftime Show in Super Bowl history, surpassing the previous record held by Katy Perry's 2015 performance.

Massive Music Sales and Streaming Boost

The "Rihanna Effect" was immediate and profound. In the week following the Super Bowl, her music experienced an astronomical surge in consumption.

• Digital Song Sales: A monumental 390% increase in digital song sales.
• On-Demand Streams: A massive 211% increase in on-demand streams.

This sudden spike in sales and streams underscores the enduring commercial relevance of the Super Bowl Halftime slot, proving that even a decade-long music hiatus cannot diminish a global icon's influence.

The Architecture of the Floating Stage

The show's production value was defined by its minimalist yet dramatic staging. Rihanna and her dancers performed on a series of five illuminated, elevated platforms that moved vertically above the field. These "floating stages" were a technical marvel, designed and built by TAIT Towers, creating a dynamic, three-dimensional performance space that felt both intimate and epic. This design choice allowed the performance to be viewed clearly from all angles of the stadium and on television, maximizing the visual impact of her first live show in years.

Legacy and Final Thoughts

Rihanna’s Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show was a masterclass in controlled spectacle. Unlike many previous shows that relied on surprise guests and elaborate stage changes, Rihanna delivered a focused, elevated, and deeply personal performance. Her choice of a single, monochromatic red outfit, a nod to both her brand and a powerful statement of intent, kept the focus squarely on her and the music.

The legacy of this 2023 performance is two-fold: it is a record-breaker in terms of viewership and commercial impact, and it is a cultural landmark for the powerful, yet subtle, way she announced her pregnancy to the world. It remains a defining moment in the history of the Super Bowl Halftime Show, setting a new, high bar for future performers.