Rihanna Trends After Revealing that her Super Bowl Set List Changed 39 Times

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Rihanna poses for photos after the Super Bowl LVII Apple Music Halftime Show press conference held at the Phoenix Convention Center.
Anthony Behar/PA Images/Getty Images

Rihanna’s much anticipated Super Bowl halftime show is just around the corner. This will be her first performance in nearly seven years, since she took a hiatus from touring and making new music.  In an interview with Apple Music ahead of Sunday’s performance, she expressed gratitude about her invitation to perform, saying that she was surprised she was asked to perform only three months postpartum.

Despite Rihanna’s humility, her fans are anything but surprised. Her countless pop hits are expected to create an energetic and creative show, just like she always has.

Rihanna emphasized how many moving pieces are coming together to make Sunday’s performance possible. The elaborate set will require approximately 300 people to build and break down after the 13 minute long show.

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The set list is arguably the most challenging part of the show to assemble for an artist with such an extensive catalogue. Rihanna revealed that the set list has changed 39 times leading up to the big day. While fans are making predictions about which of their favorite songs will be featured, Rihanna warned that a few songs from her 17 year career unfortunately couldn’t make the cut.

Rihanna also hinted at possibly bringing a secret guest performer with her. Fans took a look back at some of her most iconic duets and began taking guesses at who it may be on Twitter.

The latest Apple Music advertisement for Rihanna’s performance pays homage to her native Barbados. At the end of the advertisement, it’s revealed that the video was filmed on the actual street she grew up on in Bridgetown, Barbados.

https://twitter.com/RihannaData/status/1623740593892384768?s=20&t=mIuP7tIo-w8i75wmICN4Pw

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Others praised the creative football themed advertisement for Rihanna’s massively successful makeup brand, Fenty Beauty. The ad features footballs being painted with the vast shade range of Fenty Beauty’s foundation.

Despite the uproar of praise and joy surrounding Rihanna’s long anticipated return to performing, there was still criticism. Former President Donald Trump slammed her today, years after she previously criticized Trump’s far-right leaning politics. Trump initially posted about her stating that “Without her stylist she’d be NOTHING. Bad everything, and NO TALENT!” But as it may seem, he messed with the wrong fan base.

Congressman Ronny Jackson of Texas jumped on the bandwagon, saying that Rihanna should be barred from the Super Bowl. Rihanna has only ever criticized right-leaning politicians for limiting primarily immigration and women’s rights.

The criticism of the NFL’s decision to invite Rihanna to perform was quickly drowned out. Many argued that Rihanna’s history of activism only makes her more American given the events of the last few years.

Rihanna’s pop music defined the early 2000s and 2010s, and while fans were happy to see her success in the cosmetics industry and follow her journey to motherhood, there is undoubtedly excitement in the air for her return to the stage. Even with her nerves and the many hours of preparation that went into developing the elaborate performance, Rihanna is certain to shine bright like a diamond.

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