Rihanna releases music surprise for 20th anniversary of debut

Twenty years after she released her debut album, Rihanna is back with new music. Well, sort of.

On Aug. 29, 2005, she released her first studio album, “Music of the Sun,” which featured the hit song “Pon de Replay.” Since her debut two decades ago, Rihanna has soared to superstardom, eclipsing expectations in the music world with 14 Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 songs and nine Grammy wins (as well as 34 nominations).

To celebrate her success in the music business and beyond, Rihanna is releasing “R20” merch and a vinyl album boxed set, which are available for pre-order on her official online store.

The songstress herself shared a sweet note on Friday, Aug. 29, thanking her fans and those who “gave me a chance over the years.”

“20 years ago, i left my country, my culture, my food, and family to embark on a journey that started with the release of my very first body of music!” she wrote in an Instagram caption alongside a montage of her biggest career moments. “Thank you for the greatest first 20 years ever!”

She went on to shout out “the most loyal, die-hard fans that don’t play about me whatsoever,” her “hardworking teams” and “my family being my number one support system.” Rihanna’s message ended with one last note of gratitude: “I thank God, He’s been very generous to me and the Glory belongs to Him!”

In the last decade, Rihanna has semi-retreated from music. Despite the success of singles here and there and a buzzy Super Bowl halftime performance in 2023, she has focused her attention on her beauty brand Fenty Beauty and lingerie brand Savage X Fenty.

In lieu of another album, the singer-turned-entrepreneur, born Robyn Fenty, launched Fenty Beauty in 2017 in partnership with luxury goods conglomerate LVMH, which also preceded a short-lived luxury fashion line.

In August 2021, Forbes announced that Rihanna had become one of the richest entertainers in the world, estimating her net worth to be $1.7 billion at the time following the success of her cosmetic company.

What songs has Rihanna released recently?

Earlier this year, RiRi offered a small win to an ever-clamoring fan base: Rihanna treated loyal listeners to “Friend of Mine,” a new single specifically for the “Smurfs” movie.

Rihanna, who has not released a full album since 2016’s “Anti,” voices Smurfette in the film. This is the second such soundtrack she has contributed to for an animated movie, recording several anthems for “Home,” a 2015 film she starred in alongside the “Big Bang Theory” star Jim Parsons.