Super Bowl LVII was a historic moment for the NFL, but it was the halftime show that truly stole the show. With a performance that left fans and critics alike in awe, Rihanna made history by becoming the most-watched halftime show in Super Bowl history.
In fact, her performance was so captivating that it even surpassed the views of the game itself. For a brief moment, the entire world was captivated by the iconic singer’s electrifying performance, which featured some of her greatest hits and a cast of dancers that took the stage by storm.
Fans around the world were treated to an unimaginable spectacle as Rihanna returned to the stage for the Super Bowl halftime show. While the game itself typically garners significant attention, many tuned in specifically for RihRih’s performance of a lifetime. The numbers appear to indicate that most viewers watched for that reason, as Rihanna’s Super Bowl Halftime Show drew 118.7 million viewers, surpassing the game’s ratings.
According to FOX Sports’ data, Super Bowl LVII shattered numerous milestones, becoming the third-most-watched TV show ever, the most-watched Super Bowl in six years, the most-streamed Super Bowl ever, and the most-streamed event in FOX Sports history, with a total of 113 million viewers.
Despite these achievements, Rihanna’s inaugural Apple Music-sponsored halftime show pulled in over five million more viewers, beating the game’s ratings and becoming the second-most watched halftime show on record, behind Katy Perry’s 2015 performance.
During her performance, she surprised fans with her pregnancy reveal, adding to the excitement and spectacle of the show.
Katy Perry held the most-watched show record for eight years before Rihanna surpassed her, and just behind Perry, with 117.5 million viewers, is Lady Gaga’s 2017 performance. Lady Gaga’s halftime performance earned her six Emmy nominations that year, with one win.
Merch shirts that read “Rihanna concert interrupted by a football game, weird but whatever” showed the support of many fans both at home and at the game. Rihanna’s setlist featured some of her biggest hits, such as “Bitch Better Have My Money,” “We Found Love,” “Rude Boy,” “Work,” and many more.
