Dolly Parton wowed fans during the halftime show of the Dallas Cowboys' game against the Washington Commanders, and CBS announcer Tony Romo couldn't stop gushing over the country legend
Dolly Parton produced a spectacular show
Dolly Parton produced a spectacular show on Thanksgiving in 2023(Image: Getty)
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It's fair to say CBS NFL announcer Tony Romo was thoroughly entertained by Dolly Parton's halftime performance back on Thanksgiving Day 2023.
The Dallas Cowboys faced off against the Washington Commanders at AT&T Stadium, with the iconic singer delivering the mid-game entertainment. The 77-year old belted out a medley including her classic tracks 'Jolene' and '9 to 5' alongside Queen anthems 'We Are the Champions' and 'We Will Rock You.' The country music icon took center stage wearing a full Cowboys cheerleader uniform.
Following the spectacle, Romo couldn't resist asking his broadcasting partner Jim Nantz whether he'd anticipated Parton's wardrobe choice. "You said, 'I think she's going to go with a little cheerleading outfit tonight,' and I was like, 'Wow, pretty good'," Romo said, smiling.
Romo went on to praise Parton, calling her "amazing" and "wonderful," prompting Nantz to describe her as an "American Treasure".
Social media users were quick to react, with many hailing her as a "national treasure" and celebrating her bold choice to don the Cowboys cheerleading ensemble.
"Dolly Parton is one of those extremely rare public figures who is genuinely and universally beloved, which would be more than enough at this point to rest her laurels on, but instead, even now, she always gives it her all just for the sake of giving it her all," one fan wrote on X, garnering over 2,800 likes. While Parton's performance was undeniably spectacular, some social media users raised eyebrows at her choice to belt out "We Are the Champions" to the Cowboys faithful.
Tony Romo with a beaming smile
CBS NFL commentator Tony Romo was a big fan of Dolly Parton's halftime show(Image: CBS)
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After all, Dallas hasn't hoisted the Lombardi Trophy since 1995, when they triumphed over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XXX.
"Dolly Parton singing 'We Are the Champions' in a stadium or in front a fan base that hasn't seen a Super Bowl title in 25+ years is hilarious," one user commented. Another chimed in: "Dolly Parton singing 'We Are The Champions' at a Dallas Cowboys game when most of the players playing weren't alive the last time they won is certainly something,".
FOX Sports's Skip Bayless - a known Cowboys fan - also weighed in on X, praising Parton's stellar showing. "How bout that Dolly Parton. Talk about dressing for the occasion. Now that is impressive."
Despite Parton's Cowboys-themed wardrobe, she is perhaps most closely associated with another NFL franchise: the Tennessee Titans. Ahead of a Dec. 2020 game against the Cleveland Browns, Tennessee named Parton an 'honorary 12th Titan.'
The season prior, before facing the Kansas City Chiefs in a playoff game, the Titans wished Parton a happy birthday on social media.
The response to Parton's halftime spectacle in 2023 stood in stark contrast to the lukewarm reception Jack Harlow's halftime show between the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions received.
Social media critics pointed out that Harlow's setup appeared better suited for a venue other than a football stadium. Furthermore, some argued Harlow's halftime act lacked spark and desperately needed an injection of enthusiasm.
"5 seconds into Dolly's performance and Jack Harlow is in shambles," one user wrote. Fellow viewers flooded social media with memes and commentary drawing stark comparisons between the two acts, with many declaring that Parton's electrifying set left Harlow's performance in the dust.
Ultimately, it seemed that virtually everyone tuned in to watch the Cowboys-Commanders matchup walked away thoroughly impressed by Parton's show-stopping display. None more so than Romo, who appeared almost beside himself with excitement watching the country music icon take the stage — even as his Cowboys cruised to a dominant 45-10 victory over the Commanders.