The Detroit Lions announced that their 86th annual Thanksgiving Day Classic on November 27 against the Green Bay Packers will feature an explosive halftime performance from multi-GRAMMY® Award-winning Detroit native Jack White, powered by Verizon. Gospel icon CeCe Winans will perform the national anthem.
The game, presented by Ford, will be broadcast nationally on FOX at 1 PM EST.
Detroit-born and newly inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (Nov. 8), Jack White rose to prominence in the early 2000s as the creative force behind The White Stripes and The Raconteurs. Known for his groundbreaking guitar work and distinctive vocal style, White has earned 12 GRAMMY® Awards and international acclaim across more than 25 years of artistry.
Returning to her hometown, gospel legend CeCe Winans—the most-awarded female gospel artist in history—will perform the national anthem. Winans’ remarkable career includes 17 GRAMMY® Awards, 33 Dove Awards, induction into both the Gospel Music Hall of Fame and the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and more than a billion U.S. streams on her landmark live album Believe For It.
Winans shared:
“I grew up in Detroit in a house with Mom, Dad, 7 brothers and 2 sisters. Every Thanksgiving was all about gratefulness to God, family, food, and football! The Lions games were on all the time in our home… I am so honored to come home and be part of such a special Thanksgiving tradition. It’s going to be awesome.”
For the first time, the Detroit Lions will partner with Feeding America® to invite fans across the country to join in fighting food insecurity. Viewers can donate by texting TACKLE to 97955 to receive a link to the donation form.
With nearly 50 million people—including 14 million children—experiencing food insecurity in the U.S., the Lions and Feeding America aim to help provide 10 million meals this holiday season.
A PARTNERSHIP BUILT ON CONNECTION
Verizon will host an interactive hunger-relief kit–packing activation outside Ford Field on gameday. Fans can race to pack donation bags at speeds rivaling Verizon’s ultra-fast network. The activation will run from 10 AM to 1 PM in the Detroit Lions pregame tailgate area, Pride Plaza on Brush Street.
ABOUT THE DETROIT LIONS
The Detroit Lions, based in downtown Detroit, are one of the NFL’s oldest franchises and members of the NFC North. The team plays at Ford Field and recently celebrated back-to-back NFC North titles and a franchise-record 15–2 season in 2024.
Learn more at detroitlions.com.
ABOUT CECE WINANS
CeCe Winans is the best-selling and most-awarded female gospel artist in history, with 17 GRAMMYs, 33 Dove Awards, and 19 Stellar Awards. She has been honored by the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and the Nashville Music City Walk of Fame. Her latest album, More Than This, features the acclaimed single “That’s My King” and supports her nearly sold-out More Than This Tour. Winans and her husband, Alvin Love, are founders of Nashville Life Church.
ABOUT JACK WHITE
Born in Detroit as the youngest of 10 siblings, Jack White is recognized for redefining modern rock through his minimalist, high-impact style. With The White Stripes, White reshaped alternative rock, earning global fame with hits like “Fell in Love With a Girl” and the stadium anthem “Seven Nation Army.” His solo work, production credits, and Third Man Records empire have solidified his legacy as one of music’s most dynamic creative forces.
The White Stripes were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2025.
ABOUT FEEDING AMERICA®
Feeding America is the nation’s largest hunger-relief organization, supporting tens of millions of people through a network of food banks, pantries, and meal programs. The organization works to ensure equitable access to nutritious food, advocate for policies that promote food security, and address systemic factors impacting hunger.
Learn more at FeedingAmerica.org.