Miranda Lambert To Headline 30th Annual Red Kettle Kickoff at Dallas Cowboys’ Thanksgiving Halftime Show
The country star will take the stage at AT&T Stadium for a live performance on Thanksgiving Day.
Miranda Lambert; Photo Courtesy of the Salvation Army
Miranda Lambert is set to headline the 30th consecutive Salvation Army Red Kettle Kickoff halftime show during the Dallas Cowboys’ Thanksgiving Day game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
The country star will take the stage at AT&T Stadium for a live performance on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26, as part of the nationally televised game airing on FOX at 3:30 p.m. CT. The performance will launch the Salvation Army’s 136th Red Kettle Campaign, which raises funds to support millions of individuals and families in need throughout the year, especially during the holiday season.
The announcement was made on Sunday, Oct. 25, with a video that found the Texas native riding into rehearsal for the performance on her longhorn. The video also featured a few Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders and the team’s mascot, who were all patiently awaiting Lambert’s arrival.
“There’s something special about how music brings people together, especially when it’s to spread joy and hope to families who need it most,” said Lambert. “The Salvation Army and the Dallas Cowboys have built an incredible tradition with the Red Kettle Kickoff, and I can’t wait to be back home in Texas this Thanksgiving to help carry it forward.”
The idea for the Red Kettle Kickoff came from Dallas Cowboys chief brand officer and co-owner Charlotte Jones and has continued to grow each year. Over the past three decades, the star-studded event has evolved into a holiday tradition that has raised more than $3.4 billion for the campaign.
“The Red Kettle Kickoff has become one of the Dallas Cowboys’ proudest traditions and one my family and our entire organization look forward to every Thanksgiving,” said Charlotte Jones, chief brand officer and co-owner of the Dallas Cowboys and former national advisory board chairman for The Salvation Army. “For 30 years, incredible artists have appeared on our halftime stage to help The Salvation Army bring hope to millions of people in need. We’re grateful to Miranda Lambert for joining that legacy and helping us continue this meaningful tradition.”
Jones developed the concept in the 1990s after her father, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, President and General Manager Jerry Jones, encouraged her to find ways to make a meaningful impact on Cowboys fans beyond the football field. She had an opportunity to partner with the Salvation Army and use the team’s nationally televised Thanksgiving halftime show to encourage viewers to give back.
Reba McEntire was tapped to deliver the first-ever Red Kettle Kickoff performance in 1997. Since then, the stage has welcomed artists including Destiny’s Child, Carrie Underwood, the Jonas Brothers, Selena Gomez, Dolly Parton, Lainey Wilson and Post Malone, who headlined the show in 2025.
“The Red Kettle Campaign gives people a simple way to spread joy and support their neighbors in need,” said Commissioner Merle Heatwole, national commander of The Salvation Army. “The Red Kettle Kickoff has brought that spirit of giving to a national audience for the last three decades. We’re grateful to the Dallas Cowboys, the Gene and Jerry Jones family, and Miranda Lambert for helping us kick off the season by bringing attention to the needs of neighbors throughout the nation.”
The upcoming halftime show will mark the start of the Red Kettle Campaign, inviting people nationwide to give back and support Salvation Army programs in their local communities. All donations stay in the areas where they are received and will help provide essential services and support to those facing hardship.
For more information about the campaign, to donate or to find local assistance, visit the Salvation Army’s official website, SalvationArmyUSA.org.
Madeleine O’Connell graduated from North Central College with a bachelors degree in Journalism and Broadcast Communications before deciding to pursue her studies further at DePaul University. There, she earned her masters degree in Digital Communication & Media Arts. O’Connell served as a freelance writer for over two years while also interning with the Academy of Country Music, SiriusXM and Circle Media and assisting with Amazon Music’s Country Heat Weekly podcast. In addition to Country Now, she has been published in American Songwriter, Music Mayhem, and Holler.Country. Madeleine O’Connell is a member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.
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