Rihanna surprised concertgoers at Jay-Z's "Extra Innings" event at Yankee Stadium in Brooklyn, New York, making her first public performance in years. The singer took the stage early Monday morning, joining Jay-Z to perform the hook of his 2009 song "Run This Town."
Following that performance, the 38-year-old Fenty Beauty founder also performed her 2015 track "Bitch Better Have My Money." Addressing the crowd, she remarked on her rustiness, stating, "Y’all know I’m rusty, right? It’s been a while. Y’all with me right now?" She concluded her appearance by telling the audience, "I missed this s–t, y’all! New York, I love you guys!"
Rihanna's last live show was in March 2024 during the pre-wedding festivities of Indian billionaire heir Anant Ambani. Before that, she performed at the 2023 Super Bowl halftime show while pregnant with her second child.
The concert itself experienced significant delays. Jay-Z's final show at Yankee Stadium was scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. Sunday, but was pushed back for hours due to security breaches and a large number of fans attempting to enter the venue. Jay-Z eventually took the stage around 12:15 a.m. Monday.
Jay-Z, 56, apologized to the audience for the delay, explaining that doors were closed for safety reasons due to thousands of people outside attempting to rush the entrance. He expressed regret for the inconvenience and thanked the audience for their patience.
Other notable artists also performed with Jay-Z during his Yankee Stadium residency, including Pharrell, Teyana Taylor, Usher, and Jermaine Dupri. His wife, Beyoncé, also joined him on stage for one of the previous nights.