By Lydia Jane Allison
Jack Harlow, Dolly Parton and Steve Aoki Will Perform Live During Three Holiday Games Celebrating Family, Food and Football
NEW YORK — Nov. 16, 2023 — The National Football League will spotlight A-list musical performances at this year’s Thanksgiving games, with some of the world’s biggest artists performing live during the three halftime shows.
On Nov. 23, 2023, rap superstar Jack Harlow will perform at the Detroit Lions Thanksgiving Day Halftime Show powered by Verizon, as the Lions take on the Green Bay Packers at 12:30 p.m. ET on FOX; global icon Dolly Parton will perform at the Dallas Cowboys versus the Washington Commanders at 4:30 p.m. ET on CBS; and artist and dance music icon Steve Aoki will perform at the Seattle Seahawks game against the San Francisco 49ers at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC.
“As fans come together for Thanksgiving, we’re excited to work with our clubs and broadcast partners to bring some of the biggest names in music to NFL stages throughout the day,” said Seth Dudowsky, NFL head of music. “Our Thanksgiving games are among the biggest platforms in all of broadcast television, and these halftime performances continue to grow as premiere showcases for artists from across the musical spectrum. We look forward to bringing fans special moments throughout the day, as they celebrate family, football and great music together.”
The growth of the holiday’s games is reflected in TV viewership. Last season featured the most-watched Thanksgiving Day games on record, with a total audience of 138 million across all three games, up +34% since 2021. The musical acts during this day have simultaneously resonated with fans. U.S. viewership for each Thanksgiving halftime show surpasses all major award shows, as well as other sporting and non-sporting events, and outside of the halftime show during Super Bowl, no other musical performance exists with more live U.S. viewers.
More details on each Thanksgiving Day halftime show can be found below.
JACK HARLOW FOR DETROIT LIONS VERSUS GREEN BAY PACKERS (12:30 P.M. ET)
The Detroit Lions’ 84th annual Thanksgiving Day Classic on Nov. 23 against the Green Bay Packers will feature 6x Grammy-nominated rap superstar Jack Harlow as part of the Thanksgiving Halftime Show powered by Verizon. Country music duo The War And Treaty, who was recently nominated for two Grammy Awards for Best New Artist and Best American Roots Song for “Blank Page,” will perform the national anthem. The Detroit Lions Thanksgiving Classic will be nationally televised on FOX at 12:30 p.m. ET.
Hailed as the “hitmaker of tomorrow” by Variety, multiple Grammy-nominated rapper/actor/entrepreneur/philanthropist Jack Harlow is one of music’s brightest stars. The Louisville, Kentucky native boasts six Grammy Award nominations, two number 1 singles, nearly 30 RIAA platinum certifications and over 10 billion career streams to date. Harlow released his critically acclaimed, RIAA platinum certified debut album, “Thats What They All Say,” in Dec. 2020, which featured the chart-topping, worldwide hit, “WHATS POPPIN,” which earned him his first Grammy nomination for Best Rap Performance, along with a wide array of other award nominations.
For more information, visit DetroitLions.com.
DOLLY PARTON FOR DALLAS COWBOYS VERSUS WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (4:30 P.M. ET)
Global icon, singer-songwriter, actor, “New York Times” best-selling author, businesswoman, philanthropist and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Dolly Parton will perform live at AT&T Stadium for The Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Kickoff Halftime Show during the Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving Day game against the Washington Commanders, airing on CBS. The Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving Day game has become the most-watched regular season game of the year, drawing 42 million viewers last year.
Parton’s performance at the Red Kettle Kickoff will spotlight her biggest hits paired with songs from her much-anticipated “Rockstar” album (releasing Nov. 17). The Thanksgiving Day game marks the official start of one of the largest and longest-running annual fundraisers of its kind. A Cowboys tradition for 27 years, the halftime show puts a national spotlight on the need of millions during the holiday season, issuing a rallying cry to donate to The Salvation Army’s iconic Red Kettle Campaign, which began in 1891.
For more information, visit DallasCowboys.com.
STEVE AOKI FOR SEATTLE SEAHAWKS VERSUS SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (8:20 P.M. ET)
The Seahawks will celebrate their first-ever Thanksgiving Day home game with a special halftime performance from two-time Grammy nominee, multi-platinum artist and dance music icon, Steve Aoki. The Seahawks will take on the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday, Nov. 23, in primetime under the lights at Lumen Field, with kickoff at 8:20 p.m. ET. Clips of Aoki’s live halftime set will be shown on NBC.
Known for his high-energy performances and chart-topping hits, Aoki is set to light up the stage during the Thanksgiving Halftime Show. Aoki has collaborated with artists like will.i.am, Linkin Park, Fall Out Boy and Lil Jon.
As part of the Thanksgiving Halftime Show, fans will experience an exhilarating light show that will take place as part of the performance. The show will incorporate the stadium’s new LED bowl lights, debuted earlier this season, as part of a choreographed light display. Fans will also receive light-up wristbands upon entry, allowing them to be a part of the show and other special moments throughout gameday.
For more information, visit SeattleSeahawks.com.
COURTESY NFL COMMUNICATIONS
