Jamie Foxx Singing Rihanna Opera-Style Will Have You on the Floor Laughing
The Grammy-winning actor also performed a Broadway version of "Who Let the Dogs Out?"
From portraying Ray Charles in an Academy Award-winning performance to his wildly spot-on impression of The Voice Coach John Legend singing the Toys "R" Us theme song, there’s truly nothing Jamie Foxx can’t do. And, as he demonstrated during a May 2017 visit to the The Tonight Show for an edition of Musical Genre Challenge, that includes opera singing.
Jamie Foxx became the Phantom of the Opera singing a Rihanna cover on The Tonight Show
At the start of their game, Fallon explained they'd take turns hitting his big red button. "This activates the Random Genre Generator,” he said. “You land on one random song title and one random musical genre.”
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Fallon kicked off the game, pressing the button to reveal his song as “Can’t Feel My Face” by The Weeknd, in the style of a “50s Crooner." When it was Foxx’s turn next, he landed on “Who Let the Dogs Out” by the Baha Men, to be sung like a Broadway musical.
The award-winning actor didn’t hold anything back — especially when the generator revealed his next mission: to sing Rihanna’s 2015 banger “B---- Better Have My Money” like an opera singer.
As The Roots got the background music going, Foxx quickly got into character and covered one of his eyes like he was the Phantom of the Opera. “B---- … better have my moneeeeyyy,” Foxx belted out with such vigor he’d give Susan Boyle a run for her money.
“You should know me well enough,” he continued to sing. “B---- better have my moneeeeyyy. Please don’t call me on my bluff!”
Foxx even added a little choreography, throwing in a dab in between the lyrics “Pay me!” and “What you owe me!”
As Foxx sang one final line — ”B---- better haaaaaave my moneeeeyyy!” — the audience erupted in applause.
Not only were fans thoroughly entertained by Foxx’s opera cover of the club classic, they were equally impressed by his unexpected talent. One YouTube commenter said that his version of Rihanna’s song was “too fire for no reason at all” while another called it “epic.”
“Jamie Foxx is entertainment. A true artist,” one more added, while another asked, “Is it even allowed for a person to be this talented?”
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Jamie Foxx is a Grammy-winning musician
The multi-talented Foxx’s immediate expertise at opera should come as no surprise. Throughout his career, in fact, Foxx has released five studio albums and won a Grammy Award for his 2008 song "Blame It,” featuring T-Pain. He’s also worked with big names like Justin Timberlake, T.I., Rick Ross, and more.
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In the early days of his career, Foxx initially moved out Los Angeles for music and ultimately found success with acting. Like Jim Carrey, he first broke through as a cast member of Fox's hit 1990s sketch comedy show In Living Color alongside former Saturday Night Live cast member Damon Wayans. And now, in 2025, Foxx is reportedly working on new music, and his next album can’t come soon enough.
