Dolly Parton Dominates, Steve Aoki Overlooked, and Jack Harlow's Mishap: Unveiling the 2023 Thanksgiving Halftime Spectacles

Jack Harlow, Steve Aoki and Dolly Parton. Getty Images (3)

Dolly Parton stole the show with her halftime performance on Thanksgiving, dressed as a Cowboys cheerleader and wowing the audience with her star power at 77 years old. As expected, viewers were blown away by her performance and hailed her as a national treasure.

Unfortunately, Jack Harlow's performance did not measure up. The 25-year-old rapper's efforts to entertain the audience during the Green Bay Packers versus Detroit Lions game were criticized for its lackluster igloo-themed set, with some fans even comparing it to "the live-action production of Club Penguin."

On the other hand, Steve Aoki experienced complete rejection, much like the addition of raisins to potato salad at a Thanksgiving meal. Despite being scheduled to perform the halftime show for the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers game, the broadcast cut to commercials, resulting in only those at Lumen Field being able to witness his performance.

Continue reading for a rundown of the highlights (and lowlights) of the 2023 Thanksgiving Halftime Shows.

Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton takes the stage for a halftime performance at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas during the game between the Washington Commanders and the Dallas Cowboys on November 23, 2023. Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images

Parton's halftime show at AT&T Stadium showcased her beloved status as a performer. Dressed in a sparkling Cowboys cheerleader outfit, she performed a six-minute set that included hits like "Jolene" and "9 to 5." She closed with an abbreviated rendition of Queen's "We Will Rock You/We Are The Champions." The NFL shared the full performance on YouTube, garnering accolades from fans who hailed Parton as an inspiration and a national treasure.

Jack Harlow

Jack Harlow performed at the halftime show of the Detroit Lions’ home game against the Green Bay Packers at Ford Field on November 23, 2023 in Detroit, Michigan. Many viewers criticized Harlow's performance, with some comparing his appearance and set to a child's playset and making unfavorable remarks about his outfit and overall look.

One fan joked that Jack Harlow really took the VBS decorations from his church for the Thanksgiving halftime show. Harlow performed his songs "Tyler Herro," "WHATS POPPIN," "INDUSTRY BABY" (his collaboration with Lil Nas X), "First Class," and "Lovin On Me" but the performance did not win over fans. Another fan suggested that if Jack Harlow was smart, he should come on and just tweet, "Miss Dolly really outperformed me during halftime, didn't she?"

Steve Aoki

Steve Aoki Romain Maurice/Getty Images

Aoki's halftime performance during the Thanksgiving game between the 49ers and the Seahawks was not aired to NFL fans. Just as Aoki was about to perform, NBC opted to show commercials, completely excluding Aoki's set from the broadcast. One fan shared a brief clip of Aoki hyping up the crowd before the commercials aired, commenting that Aoki's halftime show was only around 30 seconds long. Unfortunately, viewers missed Aoki throwing a sheet cake into the face of Seattle's mascot, Blitz.

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