Super Bowl news – live: Rihanna readies for Chiefs v Eagles halftime show as Biden beats Fox in interview row
Super Bowl 2023 is almost here!
After a thrilling NFL conference championship, the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles are the last two teams standing and will face-off on Sunday.
Super Bowl LVII kicks off at 4.30pm MT (6.30pm ET, 11.30pm GMT) in Glendale, Arizona, at the Cardinals’ 63,000-capacity State Farm Stadium.
While the focus is football, the annual showpiece is a highlight of the entertainment calendar and this year will feature a performance by Rihanna in the Apple Music halftime show. Country star Chris Stapleton will also open the game by performing the national anthem.
Other performances include Babyface singing “America The Beautiful” and Sheryl Lee Ralph giving her rendition of “Lift Every Voice and Sing”.
And it wouldn’t be the Super Bowl without brands vying for consumer attention with memorable, star-studded ads.
Some 100 million people are expected to watch the spectacle in the US alone, and with just days to go, Fox cancelled and then uncancelled the traditional presidential interview with Joe Biden citing “confusion”.
We’ll be keeping tabs on everything you need to know in the build-up and everything that happens on the night.
Follow along below!
What you need to know
Fox cancels — then un-cancels — Joe Biden’s pre-Super Bowl interview
20:57 , Oliver O'Connell
Executives at the parent company of Fox News have reportedly reversed the decision to cancel a planned broadcast an interview with President Joe Biden on a Fox-owned channel targeted at Black audiences.
According to The Daily Beast, a Fox Corp spokesperson said late Friday that the company’s Fox Soul network “looks forward to interviewing the President for Super Bowl Sunday”.
Andrew Feinberg, The Independent’s White House correspondent, reports from Washington, DC.
Fox cancels — then un-cancels — Biden Super Bowl interview
Sheryl Lee Ralph to sing Black national anthem
21:45 , Oliver O'Connell
Abbott Elementary star Sheryl Lee Ralph will be singing what has become known as the Black national anthem at this year’s Super Bowl halftime show.
The actor made headlines in September after singing during her Emmys acceptance speech, where she won the award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her role as a teacher in Quinta Brunson’s hit mockumentary.
Now, Ralph will be showing off her vocal skills again at the biggest event in American football, with a performance of “Lift Every Voice and Sing”.
Ellie Harrison reports.
Abbott Elementary’s Sheryl Lee Ralph will sing Black national anthem at Super Bowl
Watch: Five of the best ads from Super Bowl 2022
21:20 , Oliver O'Connell
Super Bowl 2023: The best and worst of the ads so far
21:10 , Oliver O'Connell
From a PopCorners campaign featuring Bryan Cranston as his Breaking Bad character Walter White to a Doritos love triangle featuring Jack Harlow, these are some of the best – and worst – Super Bowl ads this year, so far.
Chelsea Ritschel reviews what we’ve seen up to now.
The best – and worst – Super Bowl 2023 ads so far
‘Marine-style hazing’, poverty wages and lifelong injuries
20:30 , Oliver O'Connell
The life of a professional cheerleader looks glamorous, but it is often demanding, dangerous, and demeaning, writes Holly Baxter.
‘Marine-style hazing’ and lifelong injuries: The sad, secret life of cheerleaders
The key battle that will decide Super Bowl 2023
20:15 , Oliver O'Connell
Patrick Mahomes is targeting a second Super Bowl ring in this Sunday’s delicately balanced game, writes Jack Rathborn.
The key battle that will decide Super Bowl 2023
Watch: Eagles arrive in Phoenix ahead of Sunday’s big game
19:30 , Oliver O'Connell
Super Bowl 2023: Philadelphia Eagles arrive in Phoenix ahead of Chiefs clash
Watch: Rihanna halftime show trailer
19:05 , Oliver O'Connell
Before the big game, it’s Team Ruff v Team Fluff
18:45 , Oliver O'Connell
The most important sporting event of the year is nearly here, and we’re not talking about the Super Bowl.
On Sunday 12 February, Puppy Bowl XIX will return to Animal Planet with two teams full of adoptable puppies.
The annual Puppy Bowl is a sports competition dedicated to raising awareness of shelters across the nation and helping adoptable dogs find their forever home.
Chelsea Ritschel has the latest on this weekend’s other main event.
Puppy Bowl XIX: How do you adopt the puppies from Team Ruff and Team Fluff?
Fox cancels Biden Super Bowl interview
18:20 , Oliver O'Connell
Executives at the parent company of Fox News have cancelled plans to broadcast an interview with President Joe Biden rather than allow Mr Biden to sit for an interview with a Fox-owned channel targeted at Black audiences, the White House has said.
Andrew Feinberg, The Independent’s White House correspondent, reports from Washington, DC.
Fox cancels Biden Super Bowl interview
Sibling rivalry brings added drama to Arizona this weekend
18:00 , Oliver O'Connell
Andy Gorel writes:
Everyone loves a good sibling rivalry; there’s something very relatable about it. From Michael Jordan claiming his brother’s dominance over him made him a better player to Liam Gallagher smashing a tambourine over his brother Noel’s head at a gig in 1994, we feel all sorts of ways about our siblings. That’s why Super Bowl LVII will be a particularly fun spectacle to watch.
Read on:
Why this Super Bowl will be one to watch
A hotly anticipated return for Rihanna
17:15 , Oliver O'Connell
Rihanna is well aware that it’s been over six years since she dropped her last album Anti. 2,190 days to be exact.
All eyes have been on her since it was announced that the Super Bowl will be her return to music.
Inga Parkel reports.
Rihanna teases big return in first Super Bowl halftime trailer
Everything you need to know about Super Bowl 2023
16:29 , Oliver O'Connell
When is the game?
How can I watch it?
What are the odds?
Who is performing?
The Independent’s Jack Rathborn is your guide to everything happening this weekend in Arizona.
Super Bowl 2023 date, time, teams and how to watch
Welcome!
16:01 , Oliver O'Connell
Welcome to The Independent’s rolling coverage of the Super Bowl weekend 2023.
We’re going to keep you posted on everything you need to know ahead of not just the big game as the Philadelphia Eagles take on the Kansas City Chiefs, but the whole spectacle as the eyes of the world turn to Glendale, Arizona.
