Dallas Cowboys Reveal How Dolly Parton Was Hired for Thanksgiving

Dallas Cowboys Exec Charlotte Jones Shares How They Hired the Iconic Dolly Parton As the Thanksgiving Halftime Performer

As they always say, good things take time.

That is the case for the Dallas Cowboys as they will got a star-studded Thanksgiving Day Game at AT&T Stadium.

Since 1997, the Cowboys have used their holiday halftime concert as a national showcase to start The Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign.

The Salvation Army is a Christian-based organization whose purpose is to reach people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ while also meeting human needs.

Some of these needs that The Salvation Army meets include clothes, food, shoes, and toys. 

The Cowboys' chief brand officer and executive vice president Charlotte Jones began this annual halftime show as a labor of love.

Jones is the first woman to serve as chair of The Salvation Army’s National Advisory Board and is the one who came up with the idea of turning the team’s Thanksgiving halftime into a full-blown event.

This year's performer was announced as country music legend Dolly Parton. ... and she was a hit here at AT&T Stadium singing "Jolene'' and "9 to 5'' before launching into the rock anthems "We Will Rock You'' and "We Are The Champions'' as if they were love ballads. And it all worked!

Parton’s career has spanned over 50 years and in that she has been involved in many different endeavors such as country music singer-songwriter, actress, philanthropist, and businesswoman.

She has sold more than 100 million records worldwide, making her one of the best-selling female artists of all time.

The Tennessee native has received 11 Grammy Awards and in 1999, was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Performing alongside Parton were the legendary Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.

Parton will now be able to join the list of Cowboys Thanksgiving performs such as the Jonas brothers, LeAnn Rimes, Selena Gomez, and the first performer back in 1997 Reba McEntire. 

Yes. #DollyParton age 77, is wearing #Cowboys Cheerleaders outfit. Works for her! pic.twitter.com/ybFjzUaWv1

— fishsports ✭ (@fishsports) November 23, 2023

Jones mentioned Parton has been a performer they have wanted for many years and it just never worked out … but they finally landed her.

The first conversations regarding Parton's performance took place at the ACM Awards that was at The Star in Frisco in which Parton co-hosted with Garth Brooks.

While being a part of something as iconic as the Cowboy's Thanksgiving performance is huge, Parton is launching her new alumni in November so the timing worked in favor of both Jones and Parton.

Jones commented that she does not know who is more excited about Dolly - the Cheerleaders, or her dad, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.

The 25th Thanksgiving halftime show - as the Cowboys faced the Washington Commanders - was a hit ... for Dolly and fans and for The Salvation Army, too.