Rihanna plays first show in eight years at billionaire’s wedding in India

2 March, 2024

Rihanna performing live on stage

Rihanna played her first full live show in almost eight years last night (March 1) at a pre-wedding ceremony in India – watch footage and see the setlist below.

The singer was reportedly paid $6million (£4.7million) to perform a private concert celebrating the marriage of Anant Ambani, the youngest son of Indian billionaire industrialist Mukesh Ambani, and his partner Radhika Merchant (via TMZ).

Taking place in Ambani’s hometown of Jamnagar, the extravagant three-day event hosted a 19-song gig from Rihanna – marking her first full-length performance since 2016 (via Setlist.FM).

The show included live renditions of hits such as ‘We Found Love’, ‘Umbrella’, ‘Stay’, ‘Rude Boy’, ‘Diamonds’, ‘Work’ and ‘All Of The Lights’.

“I’m here tonight in honour of Anant and Radhika, thank you for having me here. God bless your union, I wish you all the best, congratulations,” Rihanna said onstage, according to The National.

Following the performance, the star told reporters: “The show was the best. I haven’t done a real show in eight years.” Check out a selection of fan-shot videos here:

It is said that the guestlist for the pre-wedding party included a host of Bollywood stars, business leaders, politicians and Indian cricketers. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg was among those spotted arriving in Jamnagar, located in the state of Gujarat.

Ambani and Merchant are due to tie the knot in Mumbai this July. Mukesh spent over $100million (£79million) for his daughter Isha’s wedding in 2018, which included a private show from Beyoncé.

Rihanna’s setlist was: 

‘Consideration’
‘Bitch Better Have My Money’
‘Wild Thoughts’
‘Pour It Up’
‘Pose’
‘Birthday Cake’
‘Man Down’
‘Rude Boy’
‘Work’
‘Needed Me’
‘Where Have You Been’
‘We Found Love’
‘Umbrella’
‘Stay’
‘All Of The Lights’
‘Run This Town’
‘Desperado’
‘Woo’
‘Diamonds’

Last year saw Rihanna headline the 2023 Super Bowl Halftime Show and deliver a powerful performance of her 2022 song ‘Lift Me Up’ at the Oscars.

In December, the singer teased that a full comeback was on the horizon after she was reported to have signed a new deal with Live Nation.

“Well we’re always gonna go back on tour,” she said. “[But] I feel I want to do a tour when there’s new music. We already know what that’s gonna be, with the songs that I’ve performed on my last tour. That was a long time ago.”

She continued: “I feel like it’s only fair that my fans get what they’ve been waiting on, which is new music. After that, let’s just like, blow everything up.”

Rihanna’s eighth and latest full-length album, ‘Anti’, was released in 2016.

Last month, A$AP Rocky revealed that his partner Rihanna was still “working on” her highly-anticipated ninth record.

Rihanna is currently among the rumoured acts for Glastonbury 2024. In October, the festival’s co-organiser Emily Eavis teased that there could be two female headliners closing the Pyramid Stage this summer.

Eavis had previously explained that Guns N’ Roses were booked to top the bill last year after an unnamed female headliner was forced to cancel because she “changed her touring plans”. The Glasto boss said she hoped to secure them within the next five years.

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