A 'special guest' and an Adele meme: The biggest moments from Rihanna's Super Bowl halftime show.

Rihanna is back.

The popstar and beauty mogul headlined the 2023 Super Bowl halftime show, bringing a selection of her 14(!!!!) Billboard number ones and 31(!!!!!!) other top 10 hits to one of the biggest stages in music.

Imagine trying to nail down that set list? (In a pre-show interview, Rihanna said there had been 39 iterations before landing on the final performance schedule, which shows just how prolific her discography is)

The 13-minute spectacle was Riri's first live performance since the 2018 Grammys. Yeah, she forgot she was a musician for a little while there, dedicating the past few years to her beauty and lingerie brands.

But what better stage for her musical comeback than at the Super Bowl? 

So, are you RIHeady? (Sorry). Here are the very best moments from Rihanna's Super Bowl halftime performance. 

A viral pic of Adele.

Okay, so technically this is from before the show. But it's related, because Adele was a MOOD in the Arizona crowd, waiting for the sport to stop interrupting the Rihanna concert.

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A post shared by Mamamia (@mamamiaaus)

Same, girl. Same.

A pregnancy announcement on pop's biggest stage.

Look. This feels weird, because pregnancy speculation is usually super unnecessary, but by far the biggest talking point to come out of the show is... exactly that.

Rihanna started the show with a big smile and a belly rub.

Rihanna took the stage for an epic Super Bowl halftime show performance! #SBLVII pic.twitter.com/G6YkyJ2BbH

— Entertainment Tonight (@etnow) February 13, 2023

This led to the entire internet wondering if she had announced it or not: 

Me realizing Rihanna is pregnant again, and we’re never getting another album. 😭 pic.twitter.com/3gOiJa8bHE

— J. Slai (@JSLAi) February 13, 2023

Me trying to figure out if Rihanna is pregnant or not
pic.twitter.com/MIvlJVi9cS

— ♡ Aaliyah ♡ (@Abookishdiaries) February 13, 2023

RIHANNA GIRL R U PREGNANT pic.twitter.com/2XZQnCXMea

— izzy (@angeleyerry) February 13, 2023

ok so everyone just googled “rihanna pregnant” right

— David Mack (@davidmackau) February 13, 2023

Rihanna pregnant or am I disrespectful??

— Mo. (@SymoneElena) February 13, 2023

In her pre-show interview a few days ago, she coyly said she was thinking about bringing a special guest. And then after the show, a representative confirmed she and ASAP Rocky were expecting their second child.

Is that the greatest pregnancy announcement of all time? Because I think... yes.

The dancers and their floating platforms.

The biggest aspect of Rihanna's stage were a number of giant, floating platforms which she and her dancers used to float high above the ground.

Visually, it was SO COOL:

Image: Getty.

Image: Getty.

Of course - the Fenty makeup touch-up.

The internet has been joking ever since Rihanna confirmed her halftime show that the 13 minutes would be a Fenty Beauty ad.

It wasn't - but Ri did shout out her brand (and troll us all a little), but checking her makeup with a compact mirror during 'All Of The Lights'.

Fenty Beauty will be sold by all means pic.twitter.com/i5ef01wIXM

— Milagro Gramz (@MilagroGramz__) February 13, 2023

Rihanna did NOT just do the Fenty makeup tutorial on the field 💀 pic.twitter.com/PLaRQLJM8R

— Joey Nolfi (@joeynolfi) February 13, 2023

THE FENTY BEAUTY SPONSOR LMAOOOO WE KNEW IT WAS GONNA HAPPEN pic.twitter.com/Wquf7pjx1C

— ray ✨ (@mascarayde) February 13, 2023

A show with no special guest.

Halftime shows are renowned for special guests: Katy Perry brought out Lenny Kravitz and Missy Elliott. Coldplay brought out Beyonce and Bruno Mats. Beyonce brought out Destiny's Child. And that's just off the top of my head!

Speculation about Rihanna's guest had been swirling for weeks, with many assuming someone like Jay-Z or Eminem could join her onstage.

But what she did might be even better: slaying the whole damn thing solo.

Rihanna said.. I need no guest, no surprise appearance.. I’M THE SHOW, I’M THE STAR #Rihanna #HalftimeShow #RihannaSuperBowl pic.twitter.com/7AOL7d8kop

— MarTEAnis With Eddy (@MarTEAnisEddy) February 13, 2023

The 'Diamonds' finale.

The entire show was hit after hit after HIT, from 'We Found Love' to 'Work' to 'Umbrella', with Rihanna leaving perhaps her most signature song till last: 'Diamonds'.

Chocado! Ela entregou tudo!
Assista ao fim do show de #Rihanna no #SuperBowl pic.twitter.com/YvCAVaUphX

— Portal NaTelinha (@sitenatelinha) February 13, 2023

Okay, VOCALS.

Then she ascended into the heavens, probably never to release music again (idk I'm trying this reverse psychology thing).

What a show.

Feature image: Getty.

TAKE SURVEY ➤