Thanksgiving Day has become synonymous with football in the United States, as families across the country come together to watch an NFL tripleheader throughout the day. That also means these three games will feature more pomp and circumstance than a typical Sunday game — including halftime shows.
As always, the opening game will take place at Ford Field in Detroit, where the Lions will host the Green Bay Packers. With the game growing in significance, the Lions recruited Eminem to help decide who would perform during halftime.
Eminem delivered a pretty significant rock star for this year’s show: Jack White will entertain viewers at halftime. His performance will be special for a variety of reasons, all of which make him an ideal choice.
Here’s a breakdown of why the Lions and Eminem chose Jack White.
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Why is Jack White performing during Packers vs. Lions?
Detroit tabbed rock star Jack White to perform during the halftime show of the Packers-Lions game on Thanksgiving Day.
This year, Eminem partnered with the Lions to help choose a performer, and they landed on a local star. White is best known as the lead singer and guitarist of The White Stripes, a duo fresh off being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
White, who was born Jack Gillis, met Meg White in high school. The two married in 1996, with Jack taking her last name. They formed The White Stripes in 1997 but marketed themselves as siblings rather than a married couple. White has been part of several bands and musical projects — including The Raconteurs and The Dead Weather — but none were more famous than his act with Meg.
Although the Whites divorced in 2000, they remained a band and even reached their peak popularity after the split. In 2011, The White Stripes announced they were breaking up as Meg retired from music altogether. Jack has remained an active touring musician as a solo artist.
White’s performance at Ford Field is the culmination of a few things. He was born and raised in Detroit and is one of the biggest music stars to come out of the city. This show gives him the chance to celebrate his Hall of Fame induction with his hometown during one of its annual traditions.
Eminem, also a Detroit native, likely wanted a local star to headline this year’s halftime show.
White has had a hand in creating many famous songs, none more iconic than “Seven Nation Army,” which has become one of the most recognizable chants in sports over the past two decades.
Some of White's other popular song inlcude "Fell in Love With a Girl" and "Hotel Yorba."
MORE: Why to the Lions play on Thanksgiving?
What time is Packers vs. Lions halftime show?
With Lions Packers set to kickoff at 1:00 p.m. ET, expect Jack White to perform at around 2:30 p.m. ET. One half of an NFL game usually lasts between 1-1.5 hours, depending on the pace of the game, with halftime coming around 75 minutes after kickoff.
Anyone who wants to watch the Jack White halftime show should start checking the game clock after 2:00 p.m., in case the game is going particularly quickly. Once the clock hits zero in the first half, there will be a few minutes between the game and the show as Ford Field prepares the field for White's performance.
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NFL Thanksgiving schedule 2025
| Game | Time (ET) | TV Channel |
| Packers @ Lions | 1:00 p.m. | Fox |
| Chiefs @ Cowboys | 4:30 p.m. | CBS |
| Bengals @ Ravens | 8:20 p.m. | NBC |