The Dallas Cowboys are one of the NFL's classic Thanksgiving game hosts, annually staging one of the biggest games of the season. And there’s more to the day than just the matchup.
In 2025, alongside their game against the Kansas City Chiefs, the Cowboys will once again launch their Salvation Army "Red Kettle Campaign" on Thanksgiving. As part of the tradition, the team usually invites a star artist to perform at halftime — and this year’s performer is one of the most well-known rap/pop/country artists in the country.
Post Malone will take the stage during the break of Chiefs vs. Cowboys, and it won’t be much of a secret which team he’s rooting for.
Here’s why Post Malone is performing at halftime of the Cowboys vs. Chiefs game on Thanksgiving.
MORE: Why do the Cowboys always play on Thanksgiving?
Why is Post Malone performing during the Chiefs vs. Cowboys NFL Thanksgiving game?
The NFL has made halftime performances a staple of its Thanksgiving games. The Cowboys, who host a game nearly every year, have often showcased these performances in Dallas.
In 2023, Dolly Parton took the stage, followed by Lainey Wilson in 2024. This year, another artist with country influences will perform: Post Malone.
There are some clear reasons why Post Malone would have interest in doing the halftime show; for one, he's a huge Cowboys fan. According to Slam, the future artist moved to Dallas at the age of 9 with his family, and his father worked for the Cowboys as the Assistant Director of Food and Beverage.
Since then, Post Malone has made his affection for the Cowboys clear, from lyrics in his songs to his social media posts. When the Cowboys announced he would perform at halftime on Thanksgiving, the artist was in plenty of team gear.
"Let's make it a party Cowboys nation," he said.
ICYMI: @PostMalone is joining us at the Thanksgiving table this year 🍽️ pic.twitter.com/LJ0IXk4glo
— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) November 17, 2025
honored to be part of the @dallascowboys @salvationarmyus red kettle kickoff halftime show. See y’all on thanksgiving 🍻 pic.twitter.com/aXo02xj4xv
— Post Malone (@PostMalone) November 17, 2025
Add in the fact that Post Malone is among the best-selling music artists over the past decade, creating everything from hip-hop and pop music to country, and he was an obvious selection to be the Cowboys' halftime performer.
MORE: How John Madden started the NFL's Thanksgiving Turkey Leg tradition
What time is Chiefs vs. Cowboys halftime show?
Kickoff is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. ET from AT&T Stadium in Dallas. There is no official start time for the halftime show, as it will depend on how long the first half takes — but football games tend to last around three hours.
A reasonable estimate for the start of Post Malone's performance would be 6-6:15 p.m. ET on Thursday. The length of the first half, and how long it takes the Cowboys to set up the performance stage, could alter that timeline.
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NFL Thanksgiving schedule 2025
| Game | Kickoff Time | TV channel |
| Packers at Lions | 1 p.m. ET | Fox, Fubo |
| Chiefs at Cowboys | 4:30 p.m. ET | CBS, Fubo |
| Bengals at Ravens | 8:20 p.m. ET | NBC, Peacock, Fubo |