Rihanna performs 'Lift Me Up,' brings bold maternity style to Oscars

The music superstar and nominee sang 'Lift Me Up' from 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever'

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Monday, March 13, 2023
Danai Gurira pays tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman
Actress Danai Gurira paid tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman before Rihanna's performance of "Lift Me Up."

LOS ANGELES -- Rihanna followed-up her soaring Super Bowl halftime show with a performance at the Oscars -- while bringing a bold maternity style to the awards show.

Dressed in a sheer, form-fitting gown, the singer arrived on the champagne-colored carpet with her baby bump proudly on display - her first high-profile public appearance since last month's NFL championship game in Arizona.

Nominated in the awards' best original song category, she wore a leather bra and maxi skirt combo, by designer label Alaa, layered over a mesh turtleneck. She completed the eye-catching look with pops of bright red on her lips and nails.

The star has helped redefine maternity fashion, dressing boldly throughout her first pregnancy in crop tops and lacy sheer sets.

The music superstar sang "Lift Me Up" from "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" at the ceremony at the Dolby Theater, having changed into another belly-baring ensemble by Maison Margiela.

Rihanna performs "Lift me up" from "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" at the Oscars on Sunday, March 12, 2023, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
AP Photo/Chris Pizzello

The track, her first single in six years, earned a nomination at both the Oscars and January's Golden Globe Awards. At both, she has found herself up against fellow singer Lady Gaga, whose song "Hold My Hand" featured in "Top Gun: Maverick."

"RRR" won best original song for "Naatu Naatu."

Before Rihanna's performance, "Black Panther" actress Danai Gurira remembered late star Chadwick Boseman, saying "Thank you, King."

Rihanna revealed she was pregnant with her second child with A$AP Rocky while performing during the Apple Music Super Bowl halftime show in February.

"When I found out I was pregnant, I thought to myself, 'There's no way I'm going to go shopping in no maternity aisle.' I'm sorry - it's too much fun to get dressed up," she told Vogue for the magazine's May 2022 cover story. "I'm not going to let that part disappear because my body is changing."

Last week on her Instagram, Rihanna had posted a picture of her visibly upset first child with the caption, "My son when he found out his sibling is going to the Oscars and not him," in which a follower had commented, "The other sibling got to appear as a special guest at the Super Bowl and now The OSCARS?"

ABC News and the CNN Wire contributed to this report.