When Rihanna said her “reign won’t end” on “Hard” over a decade ago, she wasn’t kidding. In fact, she was just getting started.
Rihanna is one of the most successful pop music superstars of the 21st century with myriad hits to her name, albeit over the past half-decade, much to the dismay of patient fans who hold out hope of new music year after year, the loyal Rihanna Navy leader has largely kept this ship in dock. Musically speaking, anyway: Rihanna has been very busy building her own empires in the fashion and beauty industries.
In addition to generating billions of dollars in revenue, her hugely successful businesses have been acclaimed for being synonymous with inclusivity and diversity: from the groundbreaking range of shades for all skin tones with her makeup launch Fenty Beauty in 2017, at its increasingly massive, starry Wild X Fenty fashion show shows, proudly showcasing models of different genders, backgrounds and body shapes.
Rihanna hasn’t released a studio album since 2016 Antiand she also hasn’t taken the stage since performing her collaboration with DJ Khaled “Wild Thoughts” at the 2018 Grammys. So when the announcement hit the internet on September 25 that she would be the headlining the Super Bowl LVII halftime show in February 2023, the sheer panic on social media at the prospect of Rihanna’s long-awaited return to music was palpable.
Between her last public performance before the big game, Rihanna has accomplished several feats in her personal and professional life – from taking on acting roles and starting businesses, to becoming a billionaire and a first-time mother. . (And yes, even making a very brief music industry appearance here and there.)
Here’s a timeline of everything Rihanna has done since the 2018 Grammys.