Rihanna made her triumphant return to the stage at the 57th Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show on Sunday (Feb. 12). The 13-minute set marked the first time that the global superstar had performed in seven years. The performance was made even more memorable when Rihanna surprised viewers when she revealed she is expecting her second child. The news of Rihanna’s performance and pregnancy announcement spread like wildfire through social media, with Latine music superstars and fans alike tuning in.
Karol G had a full circle moment when she shared photos of a backstage meet and greet with Rihanna herself. “As a fan, I have to say that this was the highlight of my entire life,” she wrote in a caption. “I hope that when you meet your idols that they are just as incredible as she was with me. I love you @badgalriri” followed by star emojis and the hashtag #Fueunachimba. Some fans believed that Karol’s red hair is a nod to Rihanna’s iconic look from her Loud era when she revealed the new look last summer.
Shakira, who has previously performed at the Super Bowl Halftime show and collaborated with Rihanna on the single “Can’t Remember to Forget You,” took to Twitter to express her support for the Barbadian singer. She wrote, “Remembering good times and wishing you the best vibes for tonight’s show, Rih!”
Spanish singer Rosalia watched the performance from home and shared a video to her Instagram Story singing along to Rihanna’s hit “Diamonds.”
On her Instagram Story, Anitta shared a moment of Rihanna and her dancers performing an energetic Brazilian funk remix of “Rude Boy” to show her appreciation to Rih for incorporating the genre into her set.
Natti Natasha expressed her adoration and wrote, “Impeccable and fierce! I love how Rihanna embraced her pregnancy during the halftime show.” Back in 2016, the Dominican singer made waves online when her blazing Spanish remix of “BBHMM” made its way around the blogosphere.
In a tweet, Mexican singer-songwriter Sofia Reyes wrote, “Respect [to] Rihanna. Pregnant and on top of a platform, I couldn’t imagine the emotions being there.” As a rising star and advocate for women in the music industry, Reyes is no stranger to the challenges of being a female artist. “We talk a lot about supporting other women and collaborating, but I think what’s really important is that it’s genuine,” Reyes told Remezcla last year.
Watch Rihanna’s Super Bowl Halftime performance here.
