Multi-platinum country music star Miranda Lambert will headline the Dallas Cowboys' 30th annual Thanksgiving Day halftime show on November 26, 2026. The three-time Grammy Award winner is scheduled to take the stage at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, during the Cowboys' holiday matchup against the NFC East rival Philadelphia Eagles. The game and halftime performance will air nationally on Fox, with kickoff set for 3:30 p.m. CST, according to The Salvation Army USA.

The holiday showcase officially serves as the 30th consecutive Salvation Army Red Kettle Kickoff Halftime Show. Announced on October 25, the booking brings one of country music's most decorated vocalists back to her home state to launch the charitable organization's largest annual fundraising drive on one of the National Football League's most-watched regular-season stages.

A Homecoming Built on Country Momentum

For Lambert, the Thanksgiving Day booking represents a major hometown milestone. Born in Longview and raised in Lindale—an East Texas community located roughly an hour east of Dallas—the singer emphasized her personal connection to both the region and the annual football broadcast. In a promotional video released alongside the official announcement on Sunday, Lambert rode into AT&T Stadium to mark the occasion. "It's the 30th anniversary. You've gotta take the bull by the horns," Lambert said in the spot, as reported by Billboard.

In a formal press statement shared by dallascowboys.com, Lambert highlighted the philanthropic weight of the broadcast. "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," she stated. "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 high-profile television appearance arrives on the heels of Lambert's latest studio release. She dropped her 10th solo studio album, Crisco, on October 2, 2026. The record debuted at No. 4 on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart, extending the singer's unbroken streak of 11 top 10 appearances on the tally. Earlier in the year, Lambert performed the album's title track during the 61st annual Academy of Country Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on May 17. As noted by The Dallas Morning News, Lambert's trophy cabinet includes three Grammy Awards, 14 Country Music Association Awards, the 2022 ACM Entertainer of the Year title, and nine consecutive ACM Female Vocalist of the Year wins from 2010 through 2018.

Three Decades of the Red Kettle Kickoff

The 2026 performance coincides with The Salvation Army's 136th Red Kettle Campaign. The partnership between the NFL franchise and the charitable organization began in the 1990s when Cowboys Owner, President, and General Manager Jerry Jones challenged his daughter, Charlotte Jones, to make the team's off-field community impact match its on-field visibility. Charlotte Jones—who serves as the Cowboys' chief brand officer and co-owner, and formerly chaired The Salvation Army's national advisory board—conceived the idea of utilizing the nationally televised Thanksgiving halftime segment to launch the holiday fundraising drive, pitching the concept directly to television network executives.

Since its inaugural staging at Texas Stadium in 1997 featuring Reba McEntire, the Red Kettle Campaign and the nationally televised halftime showcase have helped raise more than $3.4 billion for individuals and families in need, according to FOX 4 News Dallas-Fort Worth. According to WFAA, The Salvation Army notes that money collected through the Red Kettle drive stays within the local communities where it is donated, funding year-round initiatives such as food assistance, shelter, eviction prevention, and disaster relief.

"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," Charlotte Jones said in the announcement release. "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."

Commissioner Merle Heatwole, national commander of The Salvation Army, echoed that sentiment in the organization's press release, noting that the broadcast has brought the spirit of giving to a national audience for three decades while providing viewers a direct way to support their neighbors.

A Star-Studded Halftime Roster

By stepping onto the turf at AT&T Stadium, Lambert joins an expansive roster of A-list recording artists who have headlined the Cowboys' Thanksgiving showcase over the past three decades. While country music has consistently anchored the event, the booking history spans pop, rock, and Latin music.

Recent performers include Post Malone (2025), Lainey Wilson (2024), and the late Dolly Parton (2023), who famously took the field wearing a custom Dallas Cowboys cheerleader uniform. Earlier headliners across the 30-year run include the Jonas Brothers (who performed in both 2008 and 2022), Luke Combs (2021), Kane Brown (2020), Ellie Goulding (2019), Meghan Trainor (2018), Thomas Rhett (2017), Eric Church (2016), Luke Bryan (2015), Pitbull (2014), Selena Gomez (2013), Kenny Chesney (2012), Enrique Iglesias (2011), Keith Urban (2010), Daughtry (2009), Kelly Clarkson (2007), Carrie Underwood (2006), Sheryl Crow (2005), Destiny's Child (2004), Toby Keith (2003), LeAnn Rimes (2002), Creed (2001), Jessica Simpson with Billy Gillman (2000), Clint Black (1999), and Randy Travis (1998).

Lambert's booking is part of a broader expansion of holiday music programming across the NFL in 2026. Just a week prior to the Cowboys' announcement, the league confirmed that rock band U2 will perform during the NFL's first-ever Thanksgiving Eve football game, when the Los Angeles Rams host the Green Bay Packers at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

What Viewers Should Know Before Kickoff

As the November 26 broadcast approaches, fans and viewers have several practical questions regarding how the holiday event operates.

Which songs will Miranda Lambert perform during the halftime show?

Neither the Dallas Cowboys, Fox, nor Lambert's representatives have released an official setlist or confirmed the exact runtime for the halftime segment. However, given the October release of her top-five country album Crisco, viewers can expect a condensed medley blending her recent material with signature hits from her catalog.

How can viewers donate to the Red Kettle Campaign?

Viewers watching the Thanksgiving broadcast on Fox will see on-screen prompts directing them on how to contribute. Donations and requests for community assistance can be made directly online at SalvationArmyUSA.org, as well as at traditional physical Red Kettle locations stationed outside retailers nationwide throughout the holiday season. Funds contributed remain in the donor's local community.

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