The city of Detroit was buzzing with excitement on Thanksgiving Day 2025, as two of its most celebrated musical sons, Eminem and Jack White, delivered a surprise collaboration that electrified Ford Field and captivated a national television audience. The occasion? The Detroit Lions’ annual Thanksgiving halftime show, a tradition steeped in history but rarely as memorable as this year’s performance.
Jack White, fresh off his induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with The White Stripes earlier in November, was the official headliner for the event. As White powered through his high-energy set, few expected what came next: Eminem, the city’s iconic rapper and newly appointed executive producer of the halftime show, strode onto the stage. The crowd erupted as the duo launched into “Til I Collapse,” one of Eminem’s most anthemic tracks from his 2002 album. According to the Detroit Free Press, the chemistry between the two Detroit natives was undeniable, creating a moment that instantly entered the annals of Lions Thanksgiving lore.
The surprise appearance was more than just a crowd-pleaser—it was a carefully orchestrated move by Eminem, who, alongside his longtime manager Paul Rosenberg, had recently inked a deal to serve as executive producers for the Lions’ Thanksgiving halftime show through the 2027 NFL season. This new role gives Eminem significant creative control, including authority over performer selection and show production. As Sporting News reported, Eminem’s lifelong passion for the Lions and his influence in the music industry now intersect, with the aim of elevating the holiday broadcast for fans everywhere.
For Jack White, the performance marked his first-ever appearance at Ford Field—a fitting venue for a hometown hero who has spent decades pushing musical boundaries. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect: just weeks prior, White was honored with induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, a career-defining achievement that the halftime show celebrated in grand fashion. According to iNews, the event was a “triumphant hometown celebration” of White’s storied career and a testament to Detroit’s enduring musical legacy.
This wasn’t the first time Eminem and Jack White had shared a stage. In June 2024, the two performed together at the Michigan Central Station reopening concert, a historic event that also featured Detroit legends like Diana Ross. But the Thanksgiving collaboration felt different—more spontaneous, more electric, and, perhaps, more symbolic of Detroit’s creative resurgence. As thousands of fans inside Ford Field and millions more watching from home can attest, the performance was one for the ages.
“Til I Collapse” was a particularly inspired choice for the occasion. The song’s relentless energy and message of perseverance resonated with the stadium crowd, already primed by the Lions’ performance on the field. The joint effort not only showcased the city’s diverse musical talent but also set a new standard for what the Thanksgiving halftime show could be. As iNews put it, “The historic Eminem Jack White halftime show has reset expectations for Detroit’s Thanksgiving tradition, proving the city’s musical power is stronger than ever.”
While the spotlight shone brightly on Eminem and White, the ripple effects of the performance are expected to be felt for years to come. With Eminem and Rosenberg at the production helm, anticipation is already building for future halftime shows. Although the headliner for next year’s event has not yet been announced, fans are eagerly awaiting news, confident that the bar has been raised.
Meanwhile, the world of rock and heavy metal was abuzz with another headline in 2025, this one from Metallica’s James Hetfield. In a candid interview for the Metallica Report podcast, Hetfield revealed his pick for the best song ever written: Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven.” As transcribed by Rock and Roll Garage, Hetfield explained, “There is a (best) song for every mood, every day, every action. You know, when I’m driving ‘Ace of Spades’ (Motörhead) is the best song. But the best song written… I mean, as far as songwriting goes there’s so many avenues to go down. As stupid and simple as it sounds, I think ‘Stairway to Heaven’ (Led Zeppelin) is just one of those songs that so many bands have tried to emulate. You start off light and end up heavy. (Lynyrd Skynyrd) ‘Free Bird is that (way), ‘One’ (Metallica). There’s so many songs that have emulated that.”
Hetfield’s admiration for Led Zeppelin is well documented. In a 2004 interview with Rolling Stone, he recalled learning the opening fingerings of “Stairway to Heaven” as a young guitarist and proudly showing off to his family—only to be asked, “Where’s the rest of the song?” Years later, as a member of his school band Obsession, Hetfield covered many Zeppelin songs, cementing the band’s influence on his musical development.
When it comes to vocalists, Hetfield holds Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant in high regard. In a 2008 Rolling Stone interview, Hetfield ranked Plant as the tenth greatest singer of all time, placing him above luminaries like Johnny Cash and Freddie Mercury, but behind icons such as Ozzy Osbourne and Ronnie James Dio. Hetfield’s admiration wasn’t limited to rankings; in 2015, he listed “meeting Robert Plant” as one of the best things that had happened to him that year. He’d previously shared the stage with Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page in 2009, during Metallica’s induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, where they jammed on “Train Kept A’ Rollin’.”
Hetfield’s appreciation for Led Zeppelin extends to their albums as well. He has singled out both the iconic fourth album (home to “Stairway to Heaven”) and the often-overlooked “Led Zeppelin III” as personal favorites. Speaking to Sun Media in 2008, Hetfield drew a parallel between the critical reception of Zeppelin’s third album and Metallica’s own “St. Anger,” noting, “Not to consider us like Led Zeppelin or anything. But the third ZEP album they were talking smack about, but now it’s one of my favorites.”
Both Metallica and Led Zeppelin remain titans of the music industry, with Metallica having sold an estimated 150 million records worldwide and Led Zeppelin surpassing 200 million. Their influence, along with that of Detroit’s own Eminem and Jack White, continues to shape the sound and spirit of rock and popular music.
As the curtain fell on Ford Field’s Thanksgiving spectacle and James Hetfield’s praise for Led Zeppelin echoed through the rock world, one thing became clear: music’s power to unite, inspire, and surprise is as strong as ever—especially when legends old and new take the stage.
