After almost five years since singing on stage, Rihanna made a comeback with her performance at the Super Bowl Halftime Show. More than a decade after she released "Pon de Replay" in 2005, Rihanna is a billionaire and one of the most recognized superstars on the planet.

As a result of her impressive career filled with hits and awards, the NFL asked her to perform in the Halftime Show of the Super Bowl 2023.

Rihanna Was Asked To Perform At The Super Bowl Before, But Refused

While most singers consider the Super Bowl scene one of the greatest and most popular platforms, Rihanna skipped the experience once in 2019.

She shocked everyone when she refused to perform at the Halftime Show due to her support of former quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

After he kneeled in protest of police brutality and racism, Colin Kaepernick was heavily criticized. Shortly after, Rihanna's refusal of performing at the Halftime Show was said to be her way of supporting Colin Kaepernick and disapproving of the organization's values.

Although her decision shocked many of her fans, she said that accepting to perform in 2019 meant being a "sellout." So, she stepped back that time.

Why Was The Super Bowl So Important For Rihanna's Career?

A few years passed, and the opportunity to perform at the Super Bowl came again. This time she took it and transformed it into an excellent comeback.

As a superstar whose fame is known all around the world, Rihanna has had numerous hits throughout her career, such as "We Found Love", "Wild Thoughts", "Umbrella", and "Only Girl (In The World)". She seemed to use the famous Super Bowl stage to tell the world she is still focused on her singing career.

But before she even started to sing, Rihanna revealed she is expecting her second child with A$AP Rocky. Appearing onto the field from a floating stage, Rihanna showed her growing baby bump under her red tracksuit.

Within hours, her second pregnancy was confirmed. The announcement made headlines immediately as she chose the perfect place to share the event.

Fans Think Rihanna Didn't Sing During Super Bowl Performance

Rihanna told the world she was ready to sign again with this performance. As the first live show she had in about seven years, fans think Rihanna didn't really sing during the Super Bowl Halftime Show.

While many fans were not impressed with what appeared not to be a 100% live performance, the show was the comeback of Rihanna on the scene.

Her last concert tour was in 2016 to promote her album, ANTI. Even if she performed at the Grammy in 2018, the Super Bowl was the real comeback.

Because the Halftime Show is watched by millions of people, it brings massive exposure to any performer instantly. For Rihanna, this meant a return to her singing career, even though she didn't announce any new songs.

The First Choice For Super Bowl Was Taylor Swift

When people heard about Rihanna performing at the Halftime Show, millions of fans were excited about seeing a show from her after many years. It seems that Rihanna wasn't the first choice.

Initially, NFL had its eye on Taylor Swift but 2023 was "bad timing" for the pop star.

When NFL changed its sponsor from Pepsi to Apple Music, the announcement came at midnight. Because it included the word "midnight," Taylor Swift's fans were quick to recognize hints of the singer's upcoming performance at the Super Bowl.

Taylor Swift reportedly wasn't interested in the opportunity at that moment as she had a lot of work. She was involved in the process of completing all her past re-recordings to regain ownership of her music. So, Rihanna filled the spot.

Rihanna Has Multiple Businesses Booming

While "Only Girl (In The World)" and "Wild Thoughts" skyrocketed her international fame, these hits aren't the reason why Rihanna is a billionaire now. More specifically, her beauty line, Fenty Beauty increased her net worth to an impressive amount of over $1 billion.

Rihanna found the way to success and fame through music. Still, since 2018, Rihanna focused mostly on Fenty Beauty, and it's been worth it. Not only did it make her a billionaire, but it also gave Rihanna another platform for empowering women worldwide.

She didn't stop and launched Savage X Fenty. To make the brand a success, Rihanna also used her Hollywood connections to collaborate with Savage X Fenty. From Gigi and Bella Hadid to Emily Ratajkowski, Rihanna's brand boomed in popularity and profits.

Even if she makes big bucks with Fenty Beauty, this Super Bowl performance is one of the most epic moments in Rihanna's singing career. After a long break, Rihanna reminded fans that there's so much more to see and hear from her, even if family life is a priority these days.