Creed's Thanksgiving Halftime Show

Overview

Creed's Thanksgiving Halftime Show is a memorable performance by the rock band Creed during a football game in Dallas, Texas on Thanksgiving day 2001. The performance, particularly of their song "Higher," has gone viral several times in the decades since the performance, thanks in large part to the aerialists gliding around Creed on the football field as they performed. The performance has been the subject of both ironic and sincere appreciation over the years since.

Background

On November 22nd, 2001, Creed performed the halftime show at the Dallas Cowboys' annual football game on Thanksgiving. They performed a medley of "Higher," "My Sacrifice," and "Don't Stop Dancing" (shown below).

In particular, the opening of Creed's performance in which they perform "Higher" while surrounded by flying aerialists has been reposted numerous times on social media in the years since the performance (2022 repost by Barstool shown below).

Developments

The performance has often been reposted on social media several times in the years since it aired, particularly around Thanksgiving as the Dallas Cowboys game approaches. On November 22nd, 2018, Twitter user @JeffMcDev^[1] posted the clip, which went on to gain over 16.7 million views in the following four years (shown below).

Give us the halftime show we deserve in Dallas, NFL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ScottStapp?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">ScottStapp pic.twitter.com/UWESEZ7kMx

— Jeff McDevitt (@JeffMcDev) November 22, 2018

The tweet was often reposted, usually with commentary on how over the top it is and words of appreciation, sometimes ironic and sometimes sincere. On November 22nd, 2022, Twitter user @MikeGolicJr^[2] posted the clip, joking "This is where we peaked as a nation." The tweet gained over 5,100 retweets and 38,000 likes in one day (shown below top). On November 20th, user @avatarrant^[3] tweeted that no halftime show could ever top Creed's performance (shown below, bottom).

this is where we peaked as a nation pic.twitter.com/sXomtRhR2L

— Mike Golic Jr (@mikegolicjr) November 22, 2022

sports leagues can try and try, but no halftime show will ever top this pic.twitter.com/SccDZGnUO5

— Ava (@avatarrant) November 21, 2022

The performance has been the subject of anniversary coverage numerous times. On November 22nd, 2022, Metalsucks^[4] joked that it was hilarious and derided Creed for lip-syncing. On the same day in 2021, Barstool Sports^[5] wrote a tongue-in-cheek anniversary post about the performance.

Search Interest

External References