Thanksgiving falls late this year, but three NFL games are scheduled throughout the day. As they are every year on Turkey Day, the Cowboys will be in action, hosting the New York Giants for the day’s second game.
The Giants-Cowboys NFC East matchup will kick off at 4:30 p.m. ET on Fox. This annual Dallas Thanksgiving game also marks the launch of that year’s Salvation Army “Red Kettle Campaign.” To help raise awareness — and to entertain fans — the Cowboys tend to invite a notable artist for the halftime show.
This year’s halftime performer for Giants-Cowboys is 2023 Country Music Entertainer of the Year, Lainey Wilson. Here’s why she was chosen for the coveted Thanksgiving performance slot.
NFL HQ: Live NFL scores | Updated NFL standings | Full NFL schedule
Why is Lainey Wilson performing during the Giants vs. Cowboys NFL Thanksgiving game?
Wilson recently hosted the 2024 CMAs alongside Luke Bryan and NFL Hall of Famer Peyton Manning. She was named the 2024 Female Vocalist of the Year and had the Music Video of the Year for “Wildflowers and Wild Horses.”
The reason why Wilson is doing the halftime show is simple. She wanted to and is one of the biggest names in country music today. Wilson is also dating former NFL quarterback Duck Hodges. Her family is from Louisiana, so they are Saints fans, but the country music star claims to be a Steelers fan. This fandom likely began before she started dating Hodges, but surely it didn’t hurt.
Wilson is going to have pretty big shoes to fill. Last year, the halftime performer for the Cowboys game was legendary music icon Dolly Parton. She put on a heck of a show that was estimated to be viewed in 44 million households.
What time is Giants vs. Cowboys halftime show?
Kickoff is set for 4:30 p.m. ET from AT&T Stadium in Dallas. Football games tend to last around three hours. Therefore, the halftime show is tentatively expected to start around 6-6:15 p.m. ET on Thursday. There will likely be pre-game festivities and celebrations, plus they will need to get Wilson’s stage setup, so this is just an estimate.
NFL Thanksgiving schedule 2024
| Game | Kickoff Time | TV channel |
| Bears at Lions | 12:30 p.m. ET | CBS, Fubo |
| Giants at Cowboys | 4:30 p.m. ET | Fox, Fubo |
| Dolphins at Packers | 8:20 p.m. ET | NBC, Peacock, Fubo |
If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Learn more >
