Rihanna performs "Where Have You Been" on "SNL."
After weeks of so-so performances and understated acts, Rihanna brought the heat to the "Saturday Night Live" stage with an elaborate set.
The singer served as the musical guest alongside host Eli Manning, where she performed two tracks off her album, Talk That Talk -- "Birthday Cake" and "Where Have You Been" -- but not without some controversy.
According to TMZ, Rihanna missed her "SNL" dress rehearsal performance because of an illness, which angered many "Saturday Night Live" producers, including Lorne Michaels. "Rihanna was sick and needed to save her voice for the live show," a source told TMZ.
The pop megastar showed no ill effects during her "SNL" performance, which included some of the dance sequences she highlighted in a recently released video for "Where Have You Been." In a behind-the-scenes clip, Rihanna revealed that famed choreographer Hi-Hat ("Step Up 3") was helping her create a routine.
In February, Rihanna unveiled a controversial remix of "Birthday Cake," featuring Chris Brown, her ex-boyfriend. Brown viciously beat Rihanna in a 2009 incident before the Grammy Awards, at which they were scheduled to perform.
WATCH: Rihanna performs "Birthday Cake"/"Talk That Talk"
PHOTOS: Rihanna and Other Stars at the TIME 100 Gala
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Rihanna
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 24: Rihanna attends the TIME 100 Gala celebrating TIME'S 100 Most Influential People In The World at Jazz at Lincoln Center on April 24, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Fernando Leon/Getty Images for TIME)
Rihanna
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 24: Rihanna attends the TIME 100 Gala celebrating TIME'S 100 Most Influential People In The World at Jazz at Lincoln Center on April 24, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Fernando Leon/Getty Images for TIME)
Tyra Banks
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 24: Tyra Banks attends the TIME 100 Gala celebrating TIME'S 100 Most Influential People In The World at Jazz at Lincoln Center on April 24, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Fernando Leon/Getty Images for TIME)
Tyra Banks
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 24: Tyra Banks attends the TIME 100 Gala celebrating TIME'S 100 Most Influential People In The World at Jazz at Lincoln Center on April 24, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Fernando Leon/Getty Images for TIME)
B. Michael and Cisely Tyson
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 24: Designer B. Michael and Cisely Tyson attends the TIME 100 Gala, TIME'S 100 Most Influential People In The World, cocktail party at Jazz at Lincoln Center on April 24, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for TIME)
Cisely Tyson
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 24: Cicely Tyson attends the TIME 100 Gala celebrating TIME'S 100 Most Influential People In The World at Jazz at Lincoln Center on April 24, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Fernando Leon/Getty Images for TIME)
Arianna Huffington
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 24: Arianna Huffington attends the TIME 100 Gala celebrating TIME'S 100 Most Influential People In The World at Jazz at Lincoln Center on April 24, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Fernando Leon/Getty Images for TIME)
Raphael Saadiq
Raphael Saadiq attends the Time 100 Gala celebrating the Time 100 issue of the Most Influential People In The World at Jazz at Lincoln Center on April 24, 2012 in New York. AFP PHOTO / TIMOTHY A.CLARY (Photo credit should read TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images)
Muslimah Habel and Manal al-Sharif
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 24: Muslimah Habel and honoree Manal al-Sharif attend the TIME 100 Gala, TIME'S 100 Most Influential People In The World, cocktail party at Jazz at Lincoln Center on April 24, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for TIME)
Claire Danes
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 24: Actress Claire Danes attends the TIME 100 Gala celebrating TIME'S 100 Most Influential People In The World at Jazz at Lincoln Center on April 24, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Fernando Leon/Getty Images for TIME)
Barbara Walters
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 24: Barbara Walters attends the TIME 100 Gala celebrating TIME'S 100 Most Influential People In The World at Jazz at Lincoln Center on April 24, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Fernando Leon/Getty Images for TIME)
Victor Cruz
New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz attends the Time 100 Gala celebrating the Time 100 issue of the Most Influential People In The World at Jazz at Lincoln Center on April 24, 2012 in New York. AFP PHOTO / TIMOTHY A.CLARY (Photo credit should read TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images)
Mia Farrow and Isaiah Farrow
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 24: Mia Farrow and Isaiah Farrow attend the TIME 100 Gala celebrating TIME'S 100 Most Influential People In The World at Jazz at Lincoln Center on April 24, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Fernando Leon/Getty Images for TIME)
Sara Blakely
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 24: Spanx inventor Sara Blakely attends the TIME 100 Gala celebrating TIME'S 100 Most Influential People In The World at Jazz at Lincoln Center on April 24, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Fernando Leon/Getty Images for TIME)
Kristen Wiig
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 24: Actress Kristen Wiig attends the TIME 100 Gala celebrating TIME'S 100 Most Influential People In The World at Jazz at Lincoln Center on April 24, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Fernando Leon/Getty Images for TIME)
Aziz Ansari
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 24: Comedian Aziz Ansari attends the TIME 100 Gala celebrating TIME'S 100 Most Influential People In The World at Jazz at Lincoln Center on April 24, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Fernando Leon/Getty Images for TIME)
Ann Curry
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 24: Ann Curry attends the TIME 100 Gala celebrating TIME'S 100 Most Influential People In The World at Jazz at Lincoln Center on April 24, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Fernando Leon/Getty Images for TIME)
Yani Tseng, Jeremy Lin and Ann Curry
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 24: Pro golfer Yani Tseng, NBA player, Jeremy Lin and journalist Ann Curry attend the TIME 100 Gala celebrating TIME'S 100 Most Influential People In The World at Jazz at Lincoln Center on April 24, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Fernando Leon/Getty Images for TIME)
Freeman A. Hrabowski
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 24: (L) University of Maryland President Freeman A. Hrabowski attends the TIME 100 Gala celebrating TIME'S 100 Most Influential People In The World at Jazz at Lincoln Center on April 24, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Fernando Leon/Getty Images for TIME)
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The Huffington Post | By Crystal Bell Posted: 05/07/2012 9:39 am Updated: 05/08/2012 1:28 pm