Rihanna rumoured for Glastonbury 2025 amidst report of huge London Stadium residency
Rumours are swirling that Rihanna could be headlining Glastonbury 2025 after reports emerged of a huge run of London stadium shows in the days following the festival.
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On Friday, the Telegraph reported that the ‘Umbrella’ star may be planning a six-night residency at the London Stadium, with the first date falling on July 4 – just five days after Glastonbury wraps up this year.
The residency is not confirmed, with the Telegraph claiming that a “senior concert industry source” says the shows are at an advanced planning stage, with an announcement expected in the coming weeks.
NME has contacted Rihanna’s representatives for a response to the reports.
With Glastonbury having only announced one headliner for the 2025 festival so far – Neil Young was confirmed in January – the timing of the rumoured shows is particularly noteworthy.
Rihanna has never played at Worthy Farm and has not toured at all since the ‘ANTI’ World Tour, which ran for a total of 75 shows from March to November 2016. The ‘ANTI’ album, released in January that year, remains her most recent studio record.
She has, however, long been linked with the festival, and was widely thought to have been booked to headline in 2023, only to be forced to pull out after becoming pregnant and being replaced by Guns N’ Roses.
Speculation has been rife for years about the pop superstar’s return to both recording and touring. Last summer, she joked about the long wait she had subjected her fans to in anticipation of her ninth album, and said she was “rediscovering things” and was “prepared to go back in the studio”.
“So, I’m now prepared. I’m gonna start,” she said. “So, you know, give me a second. Yes, I’m starting over, but I don’t wanna neglect the songs that I have. I wanna listen to stuff with new ears, with my new perspective, and then see what still applies and what I’m still in love with.”
In November, however, she spoke at a product launch for her brand Fenty Beauty, saying that “music was the thing that got the attention, but God had other plans for me,” which prompted speculation that she might have decided to quit music for good.
The last song Rihanna was featured on was ‘Lift Me Up’ – the 2022 lead single for the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack. She gave a powerful performance of the ballad at the 2023 Oscars.
Rihanna also headlined the 2023 Super Bowl Halftime Show – which was her first performance in seven years. She then followed that up last year when she played her first full show in eight years for a billionaire’s private wedding in India.
In other news, Rihanna’s partner A$AP Rocky was found not guilty last week in his trial for a 2021 shooting incident. The Los Angeles jury acquitted him on all counts, after he had been charged for allegedly firing a gun at his former friend A$AP Relli. He had faced 24 years in prison and had turned down a plea deal for 180 days in jail.
Responding to the acquittal, Rihanna wrote: “The glory belongs to God and God alone! Thankful, humbled by his mercy! 
”
As well as Young, the other confirmed names for Glastonbury 2025 to date are Rod Stewart for the Sunday afternoon ‘Legends Slot’, which he has said is costing him “a fortune” to do, and Nile Rodgers & Chic, who appeared to accidentally confirm their booking at an awards show in November.
Many other names have been rumoured to be playing, including Noah Kahan, who has just announced a huge Cardiff show on the same weekend as Glastonbury, as well as Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Rodrigo, Sam Fender, The 1975, Stevie Wonder, Alanis Morissette and Lucy Dacus.
Re-sale tickets will go on sale in the spring. The initial batches of tickets quickly sold out last November, with the festival making use of a new queuing system for booking.
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Max Pilley
NME
