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There is one question that has become synonymous with Thanksgiving for NFL fans: Can you take me higher?
There are plenty of traditions that take place on the holiday for the league. The Cowboys and Lions are always frequenting the Thanksgiving slate, a turducken is sure to be shown on the broadcast, and there is going to be a halftime show to entertain the viewers during the break.
However, there is no Thanksgiving performance more notable than the one that took place in 2001 during the Cowboys-Broncos game.
Creed's Thanksgiving halftime show is one of the most iconic spectacles ever to grace an NFL field. The band put together a production for the ages, featuring flying aerialists gracefully buzzing around Texas Stadium as Scott Stapp and his members rocked on to their hits.
There have been plenty of other show-stopping performances on a football field, whether that be Super Bowl halftime shows such as Prince at Super Bowl 41, or exceptional national anthems like Aretha Franklin at Thanksgiving in 2016. But none have cemented themselves in history quite like Creed's sensational showing in Dallas in 2001.
Here is more to know about the Creed and the band's infamous Thanksgiving halftime show at the Cowboys game.
MORE: Why do the Cowboys always play on Thanksgiving?
Creed Thanksgiving halftime show video
Creed Thanksgiving performance
Creed's halftime performance for the 2001 Thanksgiving game between the Cowboys and Broncos will go down as one of the most memorable shows seen during a football intermission.
The nearly-65,000 people in attendance for the special holiday game at Texas Stadium, the former home of the Cowboys, were treated to a spectacle that day. While the grunge band from Florida was the headliner, the focus during the performance was on the aerialists who twirled through the air on lengthy, white curtains, soaring through the stadium.
Lead singer Scott Stapp was sporting a No. 11 Cowboys jersey with his name on the back, another key component of the unforgettable production. The seven-minute set featured a medley between three of the band's biggest hits, "Higher," "My Sacrifice," and "Don't Stop Dancing."
MORE: How John Madden started NFL's Turkey Leg tradition
Has Creed performed at a Super Bowl?
No, Creed has never performed at a Super Bowl.
There has been some confusion about the game in which the rock band performed their iconic show at halftime. It took place during the 2001 Thanksgiving game, a rare occurrence where an NFL contest does include halftime entertainment.
MORE: Full list of Super Bowl halftime shows, from best to worst
Who is Creed's lead singer?
The lead singer of Creed is Scott Stapp.
Stapp is one of the founding members of the band, creating the group in Florida in 1994. He, along with guitarist Mark Tremonti and drummer Scott Phillips, are the only ones who have been with Creed throughout the band's entire period of activity.
MORE: Who invented the turducken?
Where is Creed from?
Creed was formed in Tallahassee, Fla. in 1994.
Stapp and Tremonti were classmates in high school and both attended Florida State University. It was there that the early edition of Creed was created, originally a group of five that was cut down to a quartet by 1995.
The band remained together until 2004 when it disbanded. That lasted five years before the group reunited in 2009.
In 2013, Creed went on another hiatus. The group remained inactive for a decade before getting back together once again in 2023.
MORE: How Creed songs became Texas Rangers' unofficial soundtrack for 2023 World Series
Creed halftime show memes
@spin Creed. Halftime. Thanksgiving. 'Nuff said. On this day in 2001, @Creed saved our souls with an unforgettable audio and visual medley during halftime of the Cowboys' annual Thanksgiving NFL game. Do you remember watching this live? (📹 via yt/JOSEERNESTOARUTIM) #creed #higher #throwback #thanksgiving #halftimeshow ♬ original sound - SPIN
@fernandosilveriosolis Gobbless you Creed #thanksgiving #wow #halftimeshow #thankful #cringe #creed #letsgothere #wow #feenandocult #ok ♬ original sound - Fernando
Give us the halftime show we deserve in Dallas, @NFL @ScottStapp pic.twitter.com/UWESEZ7kMx
— Jeff McDevitt (@JeffMcDev) November 22, 2018
However the US election shakes out, just know that the country will always have that Creed NFL halftime show when the band did the most American thing that American has ever America’d pic.twitter.com/VWXxXmteDq
— Trung Phan (@TrungTPhan) November 5, 2024
In 2001, At the height of their popularity, the popular American rock band ‘Creed’ performed one of the most electric halftime performances of all time.
The European mind can not comprehend this https://t.co/ZW7F95pPog
— Dudes Posting Their W’s (@DudespostingWs) August 10, 2024
The only halftime show that will ever matter. Creed shredding so fucking hard. They just don’t do it like this anymore pic.twitter.com/GIiNN4UZU5
— Rob Gucci (@heatdaddy69420) January 10, 2021
Her: he’s probably thinking about other girls
Me: thinking about Creed’s 2001 Thanksgiving halftime performance at the cowboys game pic.twitter.com/UWESEZ7kMx
— Jeff McDevitt (@JeffMcDev) July 12, 2020
Shakira and J-Lo were cool and all, but the world is desperate need of another Creed halftime performance at the Super Bowl next yearpic.twitter.com/f6usGwACSA
— Drewberz (@buddy_ferrara) February 3, 2020
I mean, who doesn’t think about Creed’s 2001 Thanksgiving halftime performance?
🎥 @ johnschauster/Instagram pic.twitter.com/OjuHEKxAud
— Jennifer (@LiLa__lee18) October 14, 2024
“The most iconic performances are all women” okay explain the Creed Thanksgiving halftime show then https://t.co/WVYOQ8NGD1 pic.twitter.com/as6G2VOhuY
— Lukie (@howsypartner) September 14, 2024
Hell yes Creed is getting back together.
Now we need them doing Thanksgiving halftime. I’m getting to work on this. pic.twitter.com/z7xDsn7Xnk
— Kyle Brandt (@KyleBrandt) July 19, 2023
This is @DRDavidray 's official audition for the next Creed halftime show 🎸👀 pic.twitter.com/LhoMYmVJPN
— Savannah Bananas (@TheSavBananas) March 3, 2024
MORE: Highest-scoring Thanksgiving games in NFL history
Creed 'Higher' lyrics
When dreaming I'm guided to another world
Time and time again
At sunrise I fight to stay asleep
'Cause I don't wanna leave the comfort of this place
'Cause there's a hunger, a longing to escape
From the life I live when I'm awake
So let's go there
Let's make our escape
Come on, let's go there
Let's ask, "Can we stay?"
Can you take me higher
To a place where blind men see?
Can you take me higher
To a place with golden streets?
Although I would like our world to change
It helps me to appreciate
Those nights and those dreams
But, my friend, I'd sacrifice all those nights
If I could make the Earth and my dreams the same
The only difference is
To let love replace all our hate
So let's go there
Let's make our escape
Come on, let's go there
Let's ask, "Can we stay?"
Can you take me higher
To a place where blind men see?
Can you take me higher
To a place with golden streets
So let's go there (Let's go there)
Let's go there (Let's go there)
Come on, let's go there (Go, go there)
Let's ask, "Can we stay?"
Up high I feel like I'm alive for the very first time
Set up high, I'm strong enough to take these dreams and make them mine
Set up high, I'm strong enough to take these dreams and make them mine
Can you take me higher
To a place where blind men see?
Can you take me higher
To a place with golden streets?
Can you take me higher
To a place where blind men see?
Can you take me higher
To a place with golden streets?
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