Super Bowl halftime show : Pregnant Rihanna admits ‘no updates’ on plans for new music as fans reel
Pop star delivered a mesmerising performance of hits including ‘Diamonds’ and ‘Only Girl in the World’
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Rihanna put on a spectacular performance for the 2023 Super Bowl halftime show at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
The nine-time Grammy winner made her return to live music after a five-year hiatus at the US event, performing hits including “Diamonds”, “Only Girl in the World” and “B**** Better Have My Money”. A representative confirmed the singer is pregnant with her second child soon after the performance.
In an interview with Good Morning America ahead of her iconic show, she told host Michael Strahan that she’s “excited to actually put new music out”.
However, she admitted that she doesn’t have “any updates” to give at the moment.
Country star Chris Stapleton opened proceedings by performing the national anthem, which has earned praise from fans online. Viewers were also wowed by actor Troy Kotsur’s sign language performance to the national anthem.
Other performances include Babyface singing “America The Beautiful” and Sheryl Lee Ralph giving her rendition of “Lift Every Voice and Sing”.
And it wouldn’t be the Super Bowl without brands vying for consumer attention with memorable, star-studded ads.
Some 100 million people are expected to watch the spectacle in the US alone.
Follow along below!
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Fox cancels — then un-cancels — Joe Biden’s pre-Super Bowl interview
Executives at the parent company of Fox News have reportedly reversed the decision to cancel a planned broadcast an interview with President Joe Biden on a Fox-owned channel targeted at Black audiences.
According to The Daily Beast, a Fox Corp spokesperson said late Friday that the company’s Fox Soul network “looks forward to interviewing the President for Super Bowl Sunday”.
Andrew Feinberg, The Independent’s White House correspondent, reports from Washington, DC.
Fox cancels — then un-cancels — Biden Super Bowl interview
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Sheryl Lee Ralph to sing Black national anthem
Abbott Elementary star Sheryl Lee Ralph will be singing what has become known as the Black national anthem at this year’s Super Bowl halftime show.
The actor made headlines in September after singing during her Emmys acceptance speech, where she won the award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her role as a teacher in Quinta Brunson’s hit mockumentary.
Now, Ralph will be showing off her vocal skills again at the biggest event in American football, with a performance of “Lift Every Voice and Sing”.
Ellie Harrison reports.
Abbott Elementary’s Sheryl Lee Ralph will sing Black national anthem at Super Bowl
Rihanna is headlining the halftime show at the biggest event in American football
Super Bowl 2023 predictions — all the odds and the latest tips
The Independent’s Jack Rathborn runs through everything you need to know about betting on the Super Bowl LVII:
Super Bowl odds, latest tips and predictions
From the pre-game coin toss and the action on the field to the colour of the Gatorade shower, the Super Bowl now has more betting markets than ever before
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Meredith K Ginley, who studies gamblers, writes:
Gambling has become ever-present in our lives. Sports betting, particularly on major games like the Super Bowl, has become the topic of much debate (and hand-wringing). The American Gaming Association estimates 50.4 million people will legally wager $16 billion on this one game alone. Has the combination of easy-to-access sport betting apps, a flood of gambling ads, and the excitement of the Super Bowl essentially created the perfect storm? As a member of a team of research psychologists dedicated to understanding gambling harms and how to treat them, let’s take a closer look at this issue.
Read on:
I study gamblers. Here’s what you need to know before you bet on the Super Bowl
Has the combination of easy-to-access sport betting apps, a flood of gambling ads, and the excitement of the Super Bowl essentially created the perfect storm?
She’s about to command the most-watched stage in the world — what are Rihanna’s politics?
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From tangling with the NFL over racial injustice to backing farmers’ protests in India, the Barbadian pop icon has expressed solidarity with marginalised people around the world, Io Dodds writes
Watch: Who’s going to win the Super Bowl?
The Independent’s Jack Rathborn answers your questions about which team might come out on top on Sunday.
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The Kansas City Chiefs will face off against the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl 57 on Sunday 12 February, as the NFL playoffs come to a thrilling conclusion. It promises to be a fascinating match to follow the drama of the Los Angeles Rams edging out the Bengals last year at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. The Independent’s Jack Rathborn answers your questions on MVP odds and which team is expected to take home the Lombardi Trophy. Click here to sign up for our newsletters.
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