The NFL has completely taken over Christmas Day in recent years, and the league doesn't see any reason to take its foot off the gas.
Not only will three games be played on Christmas this year, but the festivities will include a performance by Kelly Clarkson in the lead-up to Netflix's broadcast of the matchup between the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Commanders.
Clarkson will set the stage for the Christmas tripleheader, and she happens to have a close connection to one of the teams playing.
Here's what you need to know about Clarkson's Christmas Day performance as part of the NFL's Netflix coverage.
MORE: Breaking down the NFL's Christmas Day schedule
Why is Kelly Clarkson performing before Cowboys vs. Commanders on Christmas?
Clarkson is Netflix's follow-up to Mariah Carey's pregame performance from last year's Christmas Day slate of games.
With Netflix taking on Christmas games for the first time in 2024, the streaming service brought in Carey to do a pre-recorded performance of "All I Want for Christmas is You." While some were disappointed the performance wasn't live and looked more like a music video, Netflix is running it back with Clarkson and her Christmas hit "Underneath The Tree."
Here is Carey's complete performance from 2024:
ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS A MARIAH CAREY KICKOFF #NFLonNetflix pic.twitter.com/YWXbntRnyn
— Netflix (@netflix) December 25, 2024
Clarkson is also a lifelong Cowboys fan, so she has a close connection to one of the teams playing in Netflix's first game of the day. Netflix noted in its release on Dec. 11 that Clarkson was a Cowboys fan, so that might have been a factor in the platform's decision to have her perform.
The inaugural "American Idol" winner might be one of the highlights of Netflix's Christmas slate, as all four teams playing on the platform are outside the playoff picture and three are already eliminated.
MORE: How Netflix gained the rights to NFL games
What time is Kelly Clarkson performing on Christmas?
Cowboys vs. Commanders game will kick off at 1 p.m. ET on Christmas Day. Clarkson's performance will be before the game. If the timing of Carey's performance from 2024 is any indication, Clarkson's performance could air right about at 1 p.m. As the lead-in to the game.
MORE: Why is Post Malone a Cowboys fan?
NFL Christmas schedule 2025
| Game | Time (ET) | Live stream |
|---|---|---|
| Cowboys vs. Commanders | 1 p.m. | Netflix |
| Lions vs. Vikings | 4:30 p.m. | Netflix |
| Broncos vs. Chiefs | 8:15 p.m. | Amazon Prime Video |
Cowboys vs. Commanders is only the start of the NFL's Christmas slate, as the league put together a tripleheader for the holiday, much like Thanksgiving.
Rather than broadcast the games on traditional networks, all three games will air on streaming services. The Cowboys and Commanders will be followed by the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings on Netflix, while viewers will have to switch to Amazon Prime Video to watch the Kansas City Chiefs host the Denver Broncos in prime time.
The NFL's Christmas Day slate features only two teams still in playoff contention. The Broncos are looking to win the AFC West and secure the top seed in the conference, while the Lions are hoping to avoid elimination after losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. The remaining four teams playing on Christmas are all eliminated.