Rihanna marks 20 years since debut with heartfelt tribute

WEB DESK: On August 29, 2005, a 17-year-old Rihanna released her debut album Music of the Sun. Twenty years later, the Barbadian superstar is reflecting on a career that has taken her far beyond pop stardom.

Born Robyn Fenty, Rihanna has since expanded her identity into acting (Battleship, Smurfs), entrepreneurship (Fenty Beauty, Savage x Fenty), philanthropy, and motherhood, raising two sons, RZA and Riot Rose, with A$AP Rocky. To mark the milestone, she shared a nostalgic video across Instagram and X on Friday, celebrating her chart-topping hits, awards, businesses, and charitable work, paired with a message of gratitude.

“20 years ago, I left my country, my culture, my food, and my family to embark on a journey that started with the release of my very first body of music,” Rihanna wrote. “So many of you were a part of my life and career since the very beginning… I’m forever grateful to all of you.”

She thanked her fans, whom she described as “the most loyal, die-hard,” as well as the teams, mentors, and industry figures who supported her long before global acclaim. “20 years of lessons, 20 years of unforgettable experiences and accomplishments… and to all the people who said yes to me and gave me a chance before it was ‘cool’—20 years worth of thanks to you!!” she added, ending with praise for God’s generosity. She signed off with #R20, echoing her Navy fanbase’s tributes.

Music of the Sun announced Rihanna’s arrival, led by breakout single Pon De Replay, which peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album debuted at No. 10 on the Billboard 200 and stayed for 35 weeks. Since then, Rihanna has collected 32 Hot 100 top-10 hits, 14 of them chart-toppers, cementing her as one of the defining artists of her generation.