One year after Dolly Parton went viral with her Red Kettle Kickoff halftime performance, Lainey Wilson was tasked with the honor.
The Red Kettle Kickoff marks the start of the Salvation Army’s annual Red Kettle Campaign ahead of the holiday season. The kickoff has taken place during halftime of the Dallas Cowboys’ Thanksgiving Day football game each year since 1997.
Reba McEntire was the first artist to perform for the event. Some of music’s biggest acts, such as Randy Travis, The Jonas Brothers, Clint Black, Carrie Underwood, LeAnn Rimes, Toby Keith, Kelly Clarkson, and many more, are among the performers over the last 27 years.
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Lainey Wilson Kicks Off The 2024 Red Kettle Campaign
Reigning ACM Entertainer of the Year, Lainey Wilson, took the field during halftime of Thursday’s game (November 28) between the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants held at AT&T Stadium.
Unlike Dolly Parton who made headlines by wearing a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader outfit during her halftime performance last year, Lainey chose to wear a classy white and silver bedazzled outfit with her signature bell bottoms and a white cowboy hat.
Prior to her performance, it was announced that Wilson would be performing hits from her latest album, Whirlwind. She also teased a special appearance from a surprise guest.
She started her set with her award-winning hit, “Heart Like A Truck.” The Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders then joined her on stage to dance while she sang “Hang Tight Honey” and “4x4xU” before a surprise guest joined her.
The surprise guest was none other than JELLY ROLL! The crowd erupted when Jelly Roll joined Lainey on stage to sing their collab “Save Me.”
Lainey then went solo once again to conclude her set with “Wildflowers and Wild Horses.”
About The Red Kettle Campaign
The Dallas Cowboys and the Salvation Army partnered in 1997 to create an event to bring awareness to the Salvation Army’s annual Red Kettle Campaign. Over the course of the fundraiser’s 27-year history, more than $3 billion has been raised!
83 cents of every dollar raised through the campaign goes to help “those who need it most in communities nationwide – providing toys for kids, coats for the homeless, food for the hungry and countless social service programs year-round.”
FUN FACT!
Artists who perform during the annual Red Kettle Kickoff halftime show reportedly don’t earn a salary. And during the 2023 show, Dolly Parton donated $1 million from her own bank account to support the fundraising efforts.
If would like to contribute to the Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign, make a donation anywhere you see a bell ringer with a red kettle this holiday season. Or, click HERE to donate online.
