Rihanna says ‘I’m ready to take on the world’, as pop superstar gets set for Super Bowl

 (Getty Images)
(Getty Images)
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

Rihanna has said she can “take on the world” since becoming a mother — as excitement built ahead of her Super Bowl half-time show. The 13-minute performance at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on Sunday will be her first live show in seven years... and her first since she and partner A$AP Rocky became parents to a son last May.

The Barbadian star, 34, said she was ready to take to the stage in front of a global audience of 100 million, adding: “When you become a mom, there’s something that just happens where you feel like you could take on the world. You can do anything, and the Super Bowl is one of the biggest stages in the world. So as scary as that was, because I haven’t been on stage in seven years, there’s something exhilarating about the challenge of it all.”

 (Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

The star, who has yet to announce her son’s name, said: “It’s important for me to do this... it’s important for representation and for my son to see that.” She said her work-life balance was now “very different” due to caring for her child, and work commitments had to be “worth it... the balance is almost impossible because no matter how you look at it, work is always something that’s going to rob you of time with your child.”

The Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs will go head-to-head in the Super Bowl on Sunday night. Ahead of the match, the 12th Annual NFL Honors event was held last night, with British model Cara Delevingne, who wore a red rose-pattern outfit, among the guests.

The host was singer Kelly Clarkson, 40, who wore a dress made of Dallas Cowboys jerseys while onstage in Phoenix, Arizona.

Damar Hamlin also appeared on stage to make an emotional speech. He went into cardiac arrest during a game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Buffalo Bills on January 2. Medical staff from both teams were honoured during the event, a warm-up before the Super Bowl itself.

Super Bowl Half-Time Showstoppers - In pictures

Beyonce Knowles, Chris Martin and Bruno Mars: Singers Beyonce Knowles, Chris Martin and Bruno Mars perform during Super Bowl 50 between the Carolina Panthers and the Denver Broncos at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California (Timothy A.Clary/AFP/Getty Images)
Beyonce Knowles, Chris Martin and Bruno Mars: Singers Beyonce Knowles, Chris Martin and Bruno Mars perform during Super Bowl 50 between the Carolina Panthers and the Denver Broncos at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California (Timothy A.Clary/AFP/Getty Images)
Shakira and Jennifer Lopez: Singers Shakira and Jennifer Lopez perform during the Pepsi Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show at Hard Rock Stadium on February 02, 2020 in Miami, Florida (Getty Images)
Shakira and Jennifer Lopez: Singers Shakira and Jennifer Lopez perform during the Pepsi Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show at Hard Rock Stadium on February 02, 2020 in Miami, Florida (Getty Images)
Katy Perry: Katy Perry performs onstage during the Pepsi Super Bowl XLIX Halftime Show at University of Phoenix Stadium on 01 February 2015 in Glendale, Arizona (Getty Images)
Katy Perry: Katy Perry performs onstage during the Pepsi Super Bowl XLIX Halftime Show at University of Phoenix Stadium on 01 February 2015 in Glendale, Arizona (Getty Images)
Michael Jackson: Michael Jackson performs during the halftime show at the Super Bowl XXVII in Pasadena IN 1993 (Rusty Kennedy/AP)
Michael Jackson: Michael Jackson performs during the halftime show at the Super Bowl XXVII in Pasadena IN 1993 (Rusty Kennedy/AP)
Janet Jackson: Janet Jackson covers her breast after her outfit came undone during the half time performance with Justin Timberlake at Super Bowl XXXVIII  in Houston in 2004 (David Phillip/AP)
Janet Jackson: Janet Jackson covers her breast after her outfit came undone during the half time performance with Justin Timberlake at Super Bowl XXXVIII in Houston in 2004 (David Phillip/AP)
Beyonce: Beyonce performs during the Pepsi Super Bowl XLVII Halftime Show at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on 03 February 2013 in New Orleans, Louisiana (Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Beyonce: Beyonce performs during the Pepsi Super Bowl XLVII Halftime Show at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on 03 February 2013 in New Orleans, Louisiana (Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
U2: The Edge, Bono and Adam Clayton of U2, perform during the halftime show of Super Bowl XXXVI at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans. At the first Super Bowl following the 2001 terrorist attacks, U2 performed
U2: The Edge, Bono and Adam Clayton of U2, perform during the halftime show of Super Bowl XXXVI at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans. At the first Super Bowl following the 2001 terrorist attacks, U2 performed
Bruno Mars: Bruno Mars performs during the halftime show of the NFL Super Bowl XLVIII football game in East Rutherford, N.J IN 2014 (Charlie Riedel/AP)
Bruno Mars: Bruno Mars performs during the halftime show of the NFL Super Bowl XLVIII football game in East Rutherford, N.J IN 2014 (Charlie Riedel/AP)
Bruce Springsteen: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band  perform at the Bridgestone halftime show during Super Bowl XLIII between the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers on February 1, 2009 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Bruce Springsteen: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band perform at the Bridgestone halftime show during Super Bowl XLIII between the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers on February 1, 2009 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
James Belushi and John Goodman: James Belushi (center) and John Goodman perform during the half-time show at Super Bowl XXXI between the Green Bay Packers and the New England Patriots at the Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana IN 1997 (Al Bello/Getty Images)
James Belushi and John Goodman: James Belushi (center) and John Goodman perform during the half-time show at Super Bowl XXXI between the Green Bay Packers and the New England Patriots at the Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana IN 1997 (Al Bello/Getty Images)
ZZ Top: ZZ Top performs during the half-time show of Super Bowl XXXI at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1997 (Al Bello/Allsport/Getty Images)
ZZ Top: ZZ Top performs during the half-time show of Super Bowl XXXI at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1997 (Al Bello/Allsport/Getty Images)

The half-time show has become one of the most prestigious live performance slots. Last year, Jennifer Lopez and Shakira performed. Various special guests are expected to join onstage with Rihanna, who declined to perform at the 2019 halftime show in solidarity with former NFL player Colin Kaepernick, who took a knee to protest against racial injustice in the US.