Rihanna says she watched Beyoncé's Super Bowl halftime performances to prepare for her show: 'She's a beast'

• Rihanna appeared on "The Process with Nate Burleson" podcast on Sunday.
• Rihanna will headline the Super Bowl LVII halftime show on Sunday in Glendale, Arizona.

Rihanna took notes from Beyoncé's Super Bowl halftime performances while preparing for her own show.

The "Lift Me Up" singer shared details about her highly anticipated Super Bowl LVII halftime performance on "The Process with Nate Burleson" published Sunday. The NFL announced in September 2022 that Rihanna would headline the performance.

While speaking with Burleson, Rihanna said she watched the Super Bowl performances of her idols — like Whitney Houston and Janet Jackson — for inspiration. Specifically, Rihanna noted Beyoncé's standout halftime performances from 2013 and 2016.

"I watched Beyoncé's halftime performances a couple of times," Rihanna said. "I mean, she's a beast on a whole other level."

Beyoncé headlined the Super Bowl XLVII halftime show on February 3, 2013, at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans. It included guest appearances from Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams of Destiny's Child. She also appeared as a guest during Coldplay's Super Bowl halftime show on February 7, 2016.

Rihanna also applauded Prince, who performed during the Super Bowl XLI halftime show on February 4, 2007, at Dolphin Stadium in Florida.

"One of my favorite ones, for sure, was Prince's," Rihanna told Burleson. "That was such a rockstar show. Beautiful, well thought out, and you knew he enjoyed it. He did not overthink that — not one second."

In the interview, Rihanna also admitted to being nervous about the performance because it's been several years since she last performed. She learned she would perform at the Super Bowl while her son was just a few months old.

"It was so scary because it was kind of unexpected. I mean, my son was only three months old," she said, adding that the Super Bowl is "the biggest stage ever."

"I haven't performed in like seven years. 2016 was my last tour, and that, to me, was the last time I remember being out there on the stage and … I miss it," she continued. "But to come back from zero to the Super Bowl is kind of nuts, right?"

And while she acknowledged the pressure while talking with Burleson, Rihanna said she doesn't want to succumb to it.

"Once I said 'yes,' there was only one job to get done and that was to do great and to have fun. That's my goal. I want to put on a great show and enjoy it," she said.

On Sunday, the Kansas City Chiefs will face off against the Philadelphia Eagles at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Insider's Kevin Webb shared how to watch the game, which is set to begin at 6:30 p.m. ET.