A Christmas-themed halftime show led by Snoop Dogg brought a mix of hip-hop, pop, country and classical music to U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Wednesday, during Netflix’s Christmas Day broadcast of the NFL matchup between the Detroit Lions and the Minnesota Vikings.
The performance, billed as “Snoop’s Holiday Halftime Party,” featured appearances by country singer Lainey Wilson, K-pop trio Huntr/x and Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, marking Netflix’s second consecutive year producing a high-profile musical segment for its Christmas Day NFL coverage.
The show unfolded midway through a nationally streamed game that formed part of Netflix’s expanding push into live sports programming, a space traditionally dominated by broadcast and cable television networks.
A festive opening anchored by Snoop Dogg
The segment opened with lifestyle entrepreneur and television personality Martha Stewart, who introduced the performance with a holiday monologue loosely adapted from “’Twas the Night Before Christmas,” rewritten with a playful nod to Snoop Dogg’s persona and music.
Snoop Dogg entered the field wearing a red double-breasted suit and a long coat trimmed with faux fur, setting a festive tone as he moved through a medley of his best-known songs. The performance blended “The One and Only” with holiday standards such as “My Favorite Things,” before transitioning into his 1990s hit “Nuthin’ But a ‘G’ Thang.”
A small orchestra assembled on the field accompanied the performance, joined by dancers in red-and-white outfits evoking candy cane stripes. A marching band and drumline added to the sound, giving the set the feel of a traditional stadium spectacle adapted for a Christmas broadcast.
Some viewers commenting on social media noted inconsistent audio levels during Snoop Dogg’s vocals, an issue often associated with live outdoor performances that involve constant movement across a large performance area. Netflix did not comment on the audio quality during the live broadcast.
Huntr/x and Lainey Wilson add pop and country flair
Snoop Dogg was soon joined by Huntr/x, the trio behind Netflix’s animated “Kpop Demon Hunters” franchise, for a brightly staged rendition of “The 12 Days of Christmas.” The performance leaned into pop choreography and high-energy visuals, offering a contrast to the hip-hop opening.
Country singer Lainey Wilson followed, arriving on the field in a white sleigh for a spirited take on “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town.” Wilson, who has gained prominence in recent years through chart-topping country releases and television appearances, brought a traditional holiday sound to the otherwise genre-blending show.
The sequence reflected Netflix’s apparent strategy of appealing to a wide demographic, combining established artists with newer acts and spanning multiple musical styles within a short halftime window.
Andrea Bocelli closes with a classic holiday standard
The show concluded with a more restrained and traditional moment as Andrea Bocelli appeared alongside his son, Matteo Bocelli. The pair performed “White Christmas,” delivering a duet that contrasted sharply with the high-energy staging earlier in the segment.
As the song reached its close, Snoop Dogg, Wilson and Huntr/x returned to the field, joining the Bocellis in a final ensemble moment typical of network television holiday specials. The broadcast ended the halftime segment on a unifying note, emphasizing seasonal familiarity over spectacle.
Netflix builds on its Christmas Day NFL experiment
The Lions–Vikings game was one of two NFL matchups carried by Netflix on Christmas Day. Earlier in the day, the streaming platform broadcast a game in Washington, where the Dallas Cowboys defeated the Washington Commanders 30–23.
Netflix first entered Christmas Day NFL broadcasting last year, pairing its debut with a halftime appearance by Beyoncé. That performance helped draw attention to the company’s initial foray into live professional football, a space where streaming platforms are increasingly competing with traditional broadcasters for rights and audiences.
While Netflix has not released viewership data for this year’s games, the company has framed its Christmas Day NFL coverage as part of a broader strategy to expand its live programming offerings, particularly around major cultural moments.
The halftime show closed with a family-oriented visual, showing Snoop Dogg surrounded by his children and grandchildren dressed in holiday pajamas, reinforcing the event’s emphasis on seasonal celebration rather than competition or promotion.
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