Rihanna, the superstar who redefined pop and R&B, may be ready to leave her music career in the rearview mirror, at least, that’s what some fans are thinking after her heartfelt remarks at the Fenty Skin launch in her homeland of Barbados on Thursday.

Speaking with an unmistakable air of gratitude and nostalgia, Rihanna reflected on her journey from chart-topping singer to global business mogul, saying, “Music was the thing that got the attention. But God had other plans for me, and I was able to create in ways that were genuine and authentic to the things I love.” At 36, Rihanna seems more focused than ever on her passions outside the recording studio, pouring her energy into beauty and fashion.

In front of a home-country crowd, Rihanna expressed what the moment meant to her, sharing, “I cannot express what this day means to me, to be able to celebrate with people that deserve it the most—my country.” She emphasized that her work “doesn’t even feel like a job,” but being back home made the day especially meaningful, as she stood among the community that she says “has always propelled me to the next place, giving me the strength, the grace…you guys have always inspired me.”

It’s been eight years since Rihanna’s last album, Anti, captivated fans with hits like “Work” and “Love on the Brain.” Though she teased a reggae-inspired album in a 2018 Vogue interview, even confirming that Jamaican producers were submitting tracks, “R9,” as fans lovingly call the mythical album.

Since then, her focus has shifted from music to an empire built on groundbreaking ventures. With Fenty Beauty, Savage X Fenty, and the launch of Fenty Skin, Rihanna has become an unstoppable force in fashion and beauty. And in her personal life, she’s celebrated new beginnings as a mother to two sons, RZA and Riot, with rapper ASAP Rocky.

She did briefly return to music, releasing singles “Lift Me Up” and “Born Again” for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever—a moment that reignited fans’ hope for a full album. But even then, Rihanna hinted that her artistic journey was evolving. “I’m in an era of discovery,” she told Complex’s Jordan Rose last December. “Maybe it’s rediscovery because so much is changing. Some things are fleeting. Some things are yet to be discovered. And I’m in the center of all of that.”

So, is Rihanna saying goodbye to her music career? We wonder.

Main Image: WYTE