Few artists have conquered pop, R&B, fashion and beauty quite like Rihanna. From a teenager in Barbados to a Super Bowl headliner, a billionaire businesswoman and a National Hero of her home island, her story is one of the great modern music careers - and fans are still waiting patiently for the next chapter.
In 2025 she voiced Smurfette in the animated film Smurfs and welcomed her third child, and in July 2026 she joined Jay-Z as a guest at his Yankee Stadium show. Here is our fan-to-fan look at the albums, records and milestones behind the icon. Browse more legends in our R&B music collection.
Rihanna Fact File
| Full name | Robyn Rihanna Fenty |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 20 February 1988 (age 38) |
| Place of birth | Saint Michael, Barbados |
| Nationality | Barbadian |
| Occupation | Singer, songwriter, actress, businesswoman |
| Years active | 2003-present |
| Genres | Pop, R&B, dancehall |
| Labels | Def Jam, Roc Nation, Westbury Road |
| Signature song | "Umbrella" (2007) |
| Nickname | RiRi |
Career History
| Years | Label | Key albums |
|---|---|---|
| 2005-2006 | Def Jam | Music of the Sun (2005), A Girl Like Me (2006) |
| 2007-2009 | Def Jam | Good Girl Gone Bad (2007), Rated R (2009) |
| 2010-2012 | Def Jam | Loud (2010), Talk That Talk (2011), Unapologetic (2012) |
| 2016-present | Roc Nation / Westbury Road | Anti (2016) |
The table lists her eight studio albums by era. She has released no new studio album since Anti, focusing on business, film and family.
Early Years in Barbados
Robyn Rihanna Fenty grew up in Saint Michael, Barbados, singing from a young age. As a teenager she formed a vocal trio with school friends and auditioned for American producer Evan Rogers, who was holidaying on the island. Demo recordings followed, and in 2005 she auditioned for Jay-Z, then president of Def Jam, who signed her on the spot.
Her debut single "Pon de Replay" arrived in 2005, blending Caribbean rhythms with club pop, and it became a transatlantic hit. Within a year she had two albums out and "SOS" had given her a first US number one.
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Good Girl Gone Bad and the Breakthrough
Everything changed in 2007. "Umbrella", featuring Jay-Z, spent ten weeks at number one in the UK and topped the charts in the US, winning her a first Grammy. Its parent album Good Girl Gone Bad reinvented her as a confident pop icon, and hits such as "Don't Stop the Music" and "Disturbia" kept the momentum going.
Rated R (2009) showed a darker, rockier side, before Loud (2010) and Talk That Talk (2011) delivered a run of bright chart smashes. "We Found Love" with Calvin Harris became one of the defining songs of the decade, and she went on to collect 14 US number ones.
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Anti, Fenty and the Super Bowl
Anti (2016) was her most adventurous record, praised by critics for its moody textures and featuring the hit "Work" with Drake. She then turned her attention to business, launching Fenty Beauty in 2017 with a wide foundation range that changed the beauty industry, followed by the lingerie brand Savage X Fenty.
In 2023 she headlined the Super Bowl LVII halftime show, a performance watched by a huge global audience, and earned an Academy Award nomination for "Lift Me Up" from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
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Later Career and Legacy
Her success in beauty and fashion made her the first female musician to reach billionaire status. In 2021, as Barbados became a republic, she was named a National Hero of the island, having already served as its Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary since 2018.
Awards
Music
- Nine Grammy Awards
- 14 US Billboard Hot 100 number ones
- "Umbrella": ten weeks at number one in the UK
Film and Culture
- Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song ("Lift Me Up")
- Super Bowl LVII halftime headliner (2023)
National Honours
- National Hero of Barbados (2021)
- Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Barbados (2018-present)
Away From the Spotlight
Rihanna founded the Clara Lionel Foundation, named after her grandparents, which supports education and emergency response projects around the world. She is a mother of three and continues to lead her Fenty businesses.
FAQs
How old is Rihanna?
Rihanna was born on 20 February 1988, which makes her 38 years old.
What is Rihanna's real name?
Her full name is Robyn Rihanna Fenty. Rihanna is her middle name.
Where was Rihanna born?
She was born in Saint Michael, Barbados, and grew up on the island before moving to the US to pursue music.
How many albums has Rihanna released?
Rihanna has released eight studio albums, from Music of the Sun (2005) to Anti (2016).
How many Grammys has Rihanna won?
She has won nine Grammy Awards, including her first for "Umbrella".
When did Rihanna do the Super Bowl?
She headlined the Super Bowl LVII halftime show in February 2023.
Shop the Rihanna Collection
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Explore more stars in our R&B music collection and pop music collection, or design your own custom name hoodie.
Part of our Icon Profiles series. Read next: Beyoncé Career Story and Adele Career Story.
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