Dolly Parton rocks Thanksgiving Halftime show in Dallas Cowboys cheerleader attire

In a carefully orchestrated promotional blitz for her latest album, Rockstar, country music legend Dolly Parton took the spotlight at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, during the halftime show of the Dallas Cowboys – Washington Commanders NFL game on Thanksgiving Day. The 77-year-old icon surprised the audience by donning the familiar blue-and-white vest and short shorts of the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders, delivering a memorable performance that showcased her latest rock-influenced album.

Rockstar, released on November 17, features a star-studded lineup of collaborators, including Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Lizzo, Elton John, Chris Stapleton, Pink, and Brandi Carlile. Parton, surrounded by the Cowboys cheerleaders, entertained the crowd with renditions of her classics "Jolene" and "9 to 5," along with a cover of Queen’s “We Are the Champions” and “We Will Rock You.”



While Parton is no stranger to commanding large stages, she recently disclosed to The Hollywood Reporter that she had turned down multiple offers to perform at the Super Bowl halftime show. She explained, “I’ve been offered that many times. I couldn’t do it because of other things, or I just didn’t think I was big enough to do it — to do that big of a production…. I’ve never done anything with that big of a production. I don’t know if I could have. I think at the time that’s what I was thinking.”

A member of both the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Parton continues to make waves in the industry. To add to the excitement, she recently released two bonus tracks for Rockstar: a revamped version of her classic “Jolene” featuring Måneskin and a cover of Eddie Money's 1977 hit, "Two Tickets to Paradise." As Parton's Rockstar journey unfolds, her unexpected halftime performance cements her status as an enduring force in the world of music.