Music has long found a home at NFL grounds.
Whether it’s the haunting tones of Sam Spence’s NFL Films scores or the synth- and 808-backed chaos of Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl set, the league seems to enjoy the prospect of loud, distinct and sometimes abrasive sounds dancing atop its playing surfaces.
Regular-season contests aren’t exempt from that treatment. In fact, the NFL has invested large sums of money into producing musical spectacles during its holiday showcases — particularly on Thanksgiving.
Platinum-selling instrumentalists and critically acclaimed singers alike have basked in the Turkey Day spotlight at various NFL grounds over the years. But which performer proved the most dazzling?
Here’s an exhaustive look at the 10 best musical performances in Thanksgiving Day history.
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10. Meghan Trainor, Dallas, 2018
- Final score: Cowboys 31, Commanders 23
- Setlist: "All About That Bass", "No Excuses", "Me Too"
Outfitted in a sparkly blue jersey befitting of a Cowboys game, Meghan Trainor looked a pop star in every sense of the word when she traipsed onto the AT&T Stadium stage on Thanksgiving Day 2018.
Trainor scored some major hits in her prime, none more notable than "All About That Bass." Understandably, that was the centerpiece to her 2018 performance.
All told, the Grammy-winning artist put forth a display that teemed with vigor.
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9. Big Sean, Detroit, 2021
- Final score: Bears 16, Lions 14
- Setlist: "Bigger Than Me", "Bounce Back", "What a Life", "I Don't F— With You"
Big Sean has made plenty of eye-catching musical performances. That’s not necessarily a good thing. “Dance (A$$)” is an objectively below-average song, while some of his lyrics have left something to be desired.
Ultimately, he’s not everyone’s cup of tea. Some adore him; others can’t stand him. His polarizing nature was evident in his Thanksgiving Day showcase in 2021. Big Sean played “Bounce Back” and “I Don’t F— With You,” major hits that haven’t aged very gracefully.
The hometown kid got his chance to shine on the big stage in the Motor City. It didn’t quite deliver, though.
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8. Carrie Underwood, Dallas, 2006
- Final score: Cowboys 38, Buccaneers 10
- Setlist: "We're Young and Beautiful", "Before He Cheats"
Carrie Underwood was the talk of the town in 2006, parlaying her "American Idol" exploits into a high-profile professional career. Her meteoric rise came to a head with her performance during the Cowboys-Buccaneers Thanksgiving game in 2006. Underwood served up her most famous tune, "Before He Cheats", putting on for all of those scorned by an unfaithful lover.
We're more than grateful for her offering.
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7. Kid Rock, Detroit, 2012
- Final score: Texans 34, Lions 31
- Setlist: "Detroit, Michigan"
While Kid Rock's later career has seen him turn heel in the eyes of some onlookers, he certainly knows how to rock a crowd. His 2012 Thanksgiving showcase was a love letter to his hometown Detroit, replete with references to the city's rich musical history. He was accompanied by spirits from the Motor City's past, including the Supremes and Marvin Gaye, who famously tried out for the Lions.
The performance was capped off by a handful of wardrobe changes and a cameo appearance by the "Godfather of Funk" himself, George Clinton.
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6. Sheryl Crow, Dallas, 2005
- Final score: Broncos 24, Cowboys 21
- Setlist: "Good is Good", "If It Makes You Happy"
Sheryl Crow is a noted live performer, impressing with both her guitar and her stirring vocals. She employed both atop the Texas Stadium turf, reciting a pair of her most popular tunes in front of a raucous pro-Dallas crowd.
"If It Makes You Happy" is widely regarded as one of the best songs of the 1990s. It's easy to see why Crow received such plaudits with her Thanksgiving exploits. Her command of tone and inflection was on full display during the intermission period.
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5. Jonas Brothers, Dallas, 2008
Thomas P. Costello
- Final score: Cowboys 34, Seahawks 9
- Setlist: "Tonight", "Love Bug", "Burnin' Up"
On Thanksgiving Day 2008, the Jonas Brothers produced a halftime spectacle so epic it prompted the NFL to seek its services some 15 years later.
Nick, Kevin and Joe have been prolific performers at sporting events, serving up displays at the Grey Cup and, most recently, the World Series. This is where it all started, though; the-then youngsters attracted a younger audience with their showcase. Nearly 20 years later, the effects of the event are still being felt.
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4. Destiny's Child, Dallas, 2004
- Final score: Cowboys 21, Bears 7
- Setlist: "Lose My Breath", "Soldier"
Dallas fans were regaled by one of Texas' greatest musical acts during the Cowboys' 2004 Thanksgiving Day bout against the Bears. Destiny's Child anchored the match's halftime session, showing just why the group is considered one of the most important in modern music history.
The Beyonce-Kelly Rowland-Michelle Williams trident was arguably at the peak of its powers, having just released its wildly successful final studio album, "Destiny Fulfilled." Beyonce was a global superstar — so much so that some questioned why she would continue to perform with the group she co-founded.
Nevertheless, NFL fans were able to bear witness to the last hurrah of one of the late-1990s and early-2000s most-memorable acts. That alone makes it a worthy inclusion on this list.
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3. Dolly Parton, Dallas, 2023
- Final score: Cowboys 45, Commanders 10
- Setlist: "Jolene", "9 to 5", "We Are the Champions", "We Will Rock You"
What's better than Dolly Parton? How about Dolly Parton playing not only her hits like "Jolene" and "9 to 5", but also two of Queen's most iconic tracks — "We Are the Champions" and "We Will Rock You"?
Parton is the "Queen of Country." But she's also one of the genre's most versatile performers. She proved as much in 2023, showcasing her mastery of the craft with a number of different tunes. All that amounts to one of the greatest performances in Thanksgiving Day history.
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2. Mariah Carey, Detroit, 2005
- Final score: Falcons 27, Lions 7
- Setlist: "Shake It Off", "Don't Forget About Us"
In a game that featured superstars like Michael Vick, Joey Harrington and Dan Orlovsky, the biggest name to offer her services in the Lions and Falcons’ 2005 duel was the “Songbird Supreme” herself, Mariah Carey.
Carey has better songs than the ones she performed at Ford Field that fateful afternoon — “All I Want for Christmas Is You” is a classic, though it wouldn’t be appropriate for a Thanksgiving event, while “Say Somethin’” features bouncy N.E.R.D. Production and Snoop Dogg’s smooth delivery. Nevertheless, it’s not every day you get an international headliner to perform at a game. That’s especially notable for the Lions, who were in the midst of a lengthy playoff drought when Carey washed ashore.
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1. Creed, Dallas, 2001
- Final score: Broncos 26, Cowboys 24
- Setlist: "Higher", "My Sacrifice", "Don't Stop Dancing"
Armed with hoarse vocals and harrowing instrumentation, Creed made its mark during the Cowboys and Broncos' Thanksgiving fixture in 2001.
Their three-track offering was accompanied by a visual spectacle that saw aerialists take to the autumn sky.
Lead singer Scott Stapp was dressed to the nines, sporting a No. 11 Dallas jersey with his name emblazoned on the back. At just seven minutes, Creed wasn't presented with a lot of time to conjure wonderment. They did so anyways, producing a performance that will live on in Thanksgiving Day lore.
The only halftime show that will ever matter. Creed shredding so fucking hard. They just don’t do it like this anymore pic.twitter.com/GIiNN4UZU5
— Rob Gucci (@heatdaddy69420) January 10, 2021
Her: he’s probably thinking about other girls
— Jeff McDevitt (@JeffMcDev) July 12, 2020
Me: thinking about Creed’s 2001 Thanksgiving halftime performance at the cowboys game pic.twitter.com/UWESEZ7kMx
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