Rihanna and Bad Bunny- Caribbean Icons Make Super Bowl Halftime History as Most-Watched Female and Male Headliners Ever

Barbados’ National Hero Rihanna and Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny lead Super Bowl halftime history as the most-watched female and male headliners of all time. Rihanna’s 2023 Super Bowl LVII halftime show drew over 121 million viewers, making her the most-watched female headliner, while Bad Bunny’s 2026 halftime performance is estimated to have reached around 135 million viewers, making him the highest-viewed male headliner in history so far.

Like Bad Bunny, Rihanna’s Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show, was 13-minute spectacle that put a global spotlight on the superstar’s culture and her bilinear dollar brand.

Performing “Bitch Better Have My Money,” suspended high above the field on a floating platform, Rihanna was the highest watched Super Bowl half-time show up to that point. Usher broker her record for most watched show in 2024 and Kendrick Lamar eclipse both records last year.

Unlike all the other halftime shows, Rihanna did not bring out any guest performers, despite having major collaborations with artists like Jay-Z, Kanye West, Drake, and DJ Khaled. Instead, the focus remained entirely on her — her voice, her presence, and notably, her brands. Which makes her the highest watched complete solo headliner in Super Bowl halftime history.

Mid-performance, Rihanna famously touched up her makeup, a moment widely interpreted as a live nod to Fenty Beauty. Her dancers were styled in coordinated looks resembling pieces from her Savage X Fenty line, effectively turning the stage into a fashion runway. The red ensemble she wore — custom-made by Loewe and Alaïa — added to the fashion-forward narrative and drew comparisons to bold stagewear seen in other high-profile performances in recent years.

While Super Bowl halftime performers traditionally aren’t paid, the business impact was immediate. During the show, her albums surged up digital music charts, proving that the exposure translated into renewed interest in her music catalog. At the same time, the visibility of her beauty and lingerie lines reinforced Rihanna’s evolution from pop star to global business mogul.