Since 1997, the Dallas Cowboys' annual Thanksgiving Day game has doubled as the kickoff of the Salvation Army's Red Kettle Campaign. Over the past 26 years, the NFL and Salvation Army's partnership has raised over $3 billion. This year's campaign is off to a good start with Thursday's (Nov. 23) halftime performer, Dolly Parton, dropping a $1 million check in the kettle.
"[The Cowboys have partnered with the Salvation Army] for 27 years and we finally have Dolly Parton, the most iconic performer on the planet. We are so excited to help her launch her Rockstar album. We get to hear some of her old favorites and some of her new ones," Charlotte Jones, executive vice president and chief brand officer of the Cowboys, said (as quoted by NBC 5).
"To have Dolly Parton, the Queen, join us in this effort is just a dream come true because we know that it's going to help us help even more people across the country," Kenneth G. Hooder, national commander of the Salvation Army, said (as quoted by "Inside Edition").
The Cowboys will host division rivals the Washington Commanders at 4:30 p.m. ET. It'll be broadcast on CBS.
"I'll have to do a couple of the songs people know best. And then I'll add something from my new Rockstar album," Parton said (as quoted by "Inside Edition").
A 30-song collection filled with classic rock covers and superstar collaborators, Rockstar was released on Nov. 17. It follows Parton's Nov. 5, 2022 Rock Hall induction.
"If I'm going to be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, I better do something to earn it," Parton said during a January appearance on "The View". "So I'm doing a rock 'n' roll album, and I'm having a lot of the rock stars that I met that night be on the album with me."