This year’s Thanksgiving games in the National Football League will feature live performances by A-list musicians during the three halftime shows, showcasing some of the world’s biggest artists.
Rap superstar Jack Harlow is set to perform at the Detroit Lions’ Thanksgiving Day Halftime Show sponsored by Verizon on Nov. 23, 2023. The Lions will be playing against the Green Bay Packers at 12:30 p.m. ET on FOX. Simultaneously, global icon Dolly Parton is scheduled to perform during the Dallas Cowboys game versus the Washington Commanders at 4:30 p.m. ET on CBS. Later that day, artist and dance music icon Steve Aoki will entertain the fans at the Seattle Seahawks game against the San Francisco 49ers at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC.
“Seth Dudowsky, NFL head of music, expressed excitement for the collaboration with NFL clubs and broadcast partners to bring renowned music artists to NFL stages on Thanksgiving.” He added, “Our Thanksgiving games are one of the most significant platforms in all of broadcast television, and these halftime shows continue to expand as premier platforms for artists from all genres. We anticipate creating special moments for fans throughout the day as they enjoy family, football, and great music.”
TV viewership mirrors the growth of holiday games. The previous season saw record-breaking viewership for Thanksgiving Day games, with a total of 138 million viewers across all three games, marking a 34% increase since 2021. The musical performances on this day also resonate well with fans. In the U.S., viewership of each Thanksgiving halftime show exceeds that of all major award shows and other sports and non-sports events. Apart from the Super Bowl’s halftime show, no other live musical performance attracts more viewers in the U.S.
