DETROIT LIONS THANKSGIVING CLASSIC GAME TO FEATURE MUTLI- PLATINUM ARTIST ANDY GRAMMER AS HALFTIME SHOW
The Detroit Lions halftime show for the 77th Thanksgiving Day Classic November 24 against the Minnesota Vikings will be headlined by multi-platinum and international pop artist Andy Grammer. Legendary Motown singer Aretha Franklin will sing the national anthem.
The first male pop star in a decade since John Mayer to reach the Top 10 at Adult Pop Radio on his first two singles, Andy Grammer has taken the music world by storm with a succession of anthemic pop hits. His debut album featured the platinum singles “Keep Your Head Up” and “Fine By Me.” Andy’s second album, Magazines or Novels, featured the triple platinum infectious smash hit “Honey, I’m Good,” which was one of the best-selling songs of 2015, and the certified gold anthem “Good to be Alive (Hallelujah).” Andy’s latest single “Fresh Eyes” has become a streaming phenomenon. It is currently the #30 ranked song in the world on the Spotify Global Chart and has logged over 70 million total streams.
As a nod to Detroit’s great music legacy, 18-time Grammy Award winning artist Aretha Franklin will sing the national anthem. Growing up in Detroit, her talent was first showcased at the New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit, where her father C.L. Franklin was Reverend. Franklin has been in the music industry for six decades and recorded a dozen No. 1 singles, including iconic tracks: “Respect” and “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.” The “Queen of Soul” is one of the most decorated artists of all time – including the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1994. She was presented the Presidential Medal of Freedom award, the highest civilian award in the United States, by George W. Bush in 2005. Franklin was the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1987).
In the spirit of the NFL’s ‘Football is Family,’ campaign, halftime will kick off with a video vignette telling the story of CB Darius Slay inviting Detroit P.A.L. athlete Chlik Hamilton and his single-mom to be his guest for the Thanksgiving Classic Game. Slay surprised Hamilton at an October practice after Slay learned of Hamilton’s work ethic and his mother’s sacrifices to allow him to play football. Slay is providing Thanksgiving dinner to 23 single-parent families through his foundation.