Sheryl Lee Ralph, Chris Stapleton, Babyface To Perform At 2023 Super Bowl Pre-Show

The full lineup for the 2023 Super Bowl entertainment has been announced.

Earlier this month, it was revealed that Rihanna would be returning to the stage as the headliner for this year’s halftime show. The NFL announced Tuesday that some other big names would be joining Rihanna for the evening’s musical performances.

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For the pre-show festivities, Abbott Elementary actress Sheryl Lee Ralph will perform a rendition of “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” and country music star Chris Stapleton will do the honors of singing the National Anthem. Award-winning actor Troy Kotsur, who is deaf, will accompany Stapleton to sign the National Anthem in American Sign Language. Keeping with the patriotic tradition, R&B singer Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds will sing “America The Beautiful” before the game begins.

The lineup has already gotten significant buzz as fans anticipate Rihanna’s comeback as she has taken several years off from music to pursue other endeavors including her beauty line, lingerie brand and a new baby with boyfriend A$AP Rocky. One insider said Rocky and the couple’s 8-month-old son will be in attendance to witness the special performance.

Since her last album ANTI, released in 2016, fans have constantly barraged the singer online with pleas for new music.

Rihanna finally gave a nod to those fans in a teaser for the upcoming halftime show. The video opens with a voice saying “It’s been 2,190 days,” followed by another voice saying, “Dude, Rihanna we’ve waited for you,” and a collage of others wishing for Rihanna’s return.

The voices cut out and the star appears under a spotlight in a lavish yellow fur coat to the chorus of her 2016 hit “Needed Me” with viewers hearing only a single line: “You needed me.”