As if Detroit fans weren't thrilled enough to have hometown hero Jack White rock Ford Field for the Lions vs. Green Bay Packers Thanksgiving Day Game halftime show, they got an extra kick when Eminem joined the proceedings halfway through to freestyle on the White Stripe's classic "Hello Operator."
White, joined by his three-piece band, opened his three-song set with his 2024 solo hit "That's How I'm Feeling." He and his band were decked out in Lions gear as were the fans on the field, who were jumping up and down and shaking their fists as White and company tore through the song.
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Next up was "Hello Operator," a song White first released in 2000 back when he fronted recent Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees the White Stripes, which also featured White's one-time wife and make-believe sisterMeg White. White and his trio of musicians performed a faithful version of the song until the frontman made the surprise introduction of Eminem, who rose from the stage with a blast of smoke along with his hypeman.
The NFL's and Jack White's official Instagram accounts shared video of the moment White introduced Eminem and the rapper rose from the stage, decked out in Lions gear and a white hoodie, and began rapping.
Fans shared their enthusiasm for the historic performance in the comments on Instagram.
"Here for the legendary performance!" read a post from the Ludwig drum company.
"This was freaking awesome!!! I'm glad i tuned in for this game today," added one fan.
" This should have been the SUPERBOWL HALFTIME SHOW Button ➡️," added another.
"Seven Nation Army was meant to be played in a stadium. SO GOOD," a third fan posted.
White and Eminem are two of the most significant musicians to arise from Detroit since Iggy Pop and the Stooges in the late 1960s and early ‘70s, and the Motown stars of the 1960s, including Diana Ross and the Supremes, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder and the Temptations.
Wide shots revealed that the Detroit Lions cheerleaders were also on the field behind the fans dancing as White performed.
White ended his set with a blistering take of "Seven Nation Army," the White Stripes song that has become one of the most popular stadium anthems in the world since its release in 2003. Strapping on a different, well-worn guitar for the song, White led the crowd in its famous mid-song chant. "I love you Detroit," White yelled before he left the stage.
While Eminem's appearance was a surprise, it wasn't totally out of left field. Two weeks ago, the Lions announced that they entered into a multi-year partnership with the rapper, whose real name is Marshall Mathers, and his longtime manager and Shady Records president Paul Rosenberg, to consult the team on their talent selections and all aspects of the halftime production of the Lions Thanksgiving Classic through 2027.
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