Rihanna performs during the Apple Music Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona on Feb. 12, 2023. Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images.

6:45 p.m. Rihanna’s representatives have now confirmed that she is, indeed, pregnant. — Rihanna made a grand public return to the world stage Sunday during the Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show, only to reveal that she might be taking another break.

The pop superstar, who had her first child in May 2022, starred all on her own over a multi-song set without many of the bells and whistles—and guest stars—that have been oh-so-popular in recent years. She performed on a series of platforms that were raised up and down, along with an ever-increasing amount of dancers in poofy white outfits.

Rihanna first appeared while suspended on one of the platforms for “Bitch Better Have My Money.” Some of the dancers appeared on other platforms that ran lengthwise down the middle of the field. She herself was dressed in a red jumpsuit, over which she had a royal crimson robe. Over the jumpsuit she wore a shiny red plastic or latex bra.

She followed that up with “Where Have You Been,” in an EDM arrangement, while riding the elevator platform up and down. “We Found Love” sounded crisp but used backing vocal tracks. It wasn’t clear whether the lip-syncing effect was intended.

At this point, many might have been wondering which special guests would appear, but Rihanna powered through all on her own with a medley of “Rude Boy,” “Work,” “Wild Thoughts” (her collaboration with DJ Khalid), “Pour It Up” and two Ye numbers, “All of the Lights” and “Run This Town.”

The performance culminated with “Umbrella” and “Diamonds,” being raised higher than before while surrounded by a sea of phone lights. As she looked up into an explosion of fireworks above her, she showed what looked very much like a baby bump.

It was a strong performance, even though it lacked much of the flash of Super Bowl halftime shows in recent years. The decision to keep only one artist on the field the entire time was a brave one.

Rihanna was the musical highlight of the day, following three other affecting performances. Babyface played a surprising rock-infused version of “America the Beautiful,” playing a pink, red, white and blue acoustic guitar.

Chris Stapleton then delivered the “Star-Spangled Banner” in a sparse arrangement that noticeably made several players on both the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs tear up.

Emmy-winning actress Cheryl Lee Ralph, from “Abbott Elementary,” sang touching gospel tune “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”

Follow editor Roman Gokhman at Twitter.com/RomiTheWriter.