What was meant to be a friendly NFL Thanksgiving match quickly morphed into the last thing fans expected, a full-blown concert, capped off by an incredible surprise cameo.
Forget the turkey and the touchdowns for a moment. This year’s Detroit Lions vs. Green Bay Packers Thanksgiving game in Detroit, Michigan, served up a musical main course that had the internet absolutely buzzing. And no, it’s not even Super Bowl.
Rock icon Jack White, one half of the legendary rock duo The White Stripes, was the scheduled halftime entertainment. He kicked off the show with his hit track, That’s How I’m Feeling, before delivering a joint performance of Hello Operator. All standard fare for a major sporting event.
Then came the moment that sent shockwaves through the stadium and across social media feeds globally.
@nfl he’s a cool grandpa 😎 #eminem #nfl #packerslions ♬ original sound – NFL
The Real Slim Shady Takes the Stage
Mid-set, White introduced a surprise guest, and the roar of the crowd said it all: Detroit’s very own, legendary rapper Eminem, stepped onto the field.
The duo, two titans from Detroit’s diverse music scene, then launched into a high-energy remix of Eminem’s powerful track, ‘Till I Collapse. It was an appearance that took the sporting crowd by complete surprise, instantly elevating the humble Thanksgiving halftime show into something truly spectacular.
Fans were quick to jump on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to express their awe, with many claiming it surpassed the efforts of the league’s much-hyped, multi-million-dollar Super Bowl productions.
“The best halftime show the NFL has had in a decade was during a Lions Thanksgiving game lmao,” one person shared, along with a clip of the performance.
“It was awesome,” echoed another fan, while the lucky ones in the crowd were the envy of everyone watching at home. “Imagine getting last minute tickets to this game and stumbling your way into an Eminem concert,” noted a delighted observer.
It might not have been the Super Bowl, but for many, it was certainly a victory for rock and rap collaboration.
