Rihanna Explains VMA Absence, Brings Attitude on 'Loud' Album

Rihanna may have one of the biggest hits of the year as the featured guest on Eminem’s “Love the Way You Lie,” but she won’t be able to join her collaborator to perform it at Sunday’s MTV Video Music Awards. The Barbadian singer is busy filming her theatrical debut Battleship, speaking with “ET” from the set about why she won’t be gracing the stage at Los Angeles’ Nokia Theatre.

“I definitely wish I could be there for Eminem. It would have been nice to do it. But he understands and obviously, right now, I’m doing something that’s a priority to me,” she explained. “We don’t have to go to the VMAs this year, the VMAs will be there next year. We’ll have a lot more music out by then.”

Rihanna, who recently released her new single “Only Girl (In the World),” also touched on her upcoming album Loud, slated for release Nov. 16.

“The name of the album definitely reflects the attitude of it,” she said. “It’s really sassy and flirty and really grabs your attention, and that’s why I enjoy it, because it takes you through a really interesting ride. So colorful, the album.”