Jack Harlow named Detroit Lions' Thanksgiving Day halftime performer

Grammy Award-nominated hip-hop/pop rap artist Jack Harlow has been named as the Detroit Lions' Thanksgiving Day halftime show, according to an announcement prior to Monday night's home game against the Las Vegas Raiders.

Harlow, 25, was named as Variety's "Hitmaker of the Year" in 2021 and included in Forbes 30 Under 30. He is known for hit songs such as the Grammy-nominated 2020 single "Whats Poppin" and "Industry Baby," the latter of which made it to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Harlow said performing the halftime show is an honor in itself, but even more so because he'll perform in the hometown of one of his idols, Detroit native Eminem.

"I mean, it's insane. Just to be in the hometown of somebody I look up to and that paved so much of the way and made it OK in a certain sense," Harlow said. "It means the world. I mean, there's a little bit of weight to it. You show up and feel like the people in this town have a high standard, you know?"

Harlow said he's put extensive thought into what he wants the show to look like.

"If I'm being honest, I've kind of been racking my brain about how I want to do this halftime show, because it can't be run of the mill," Harlow said.

"It's an opportunity, and you can either do the bare minimum or you can seize it. So we're putting a lot of thought into it."

Detroit's most recent halftime performers include Bebe Rexha (2022) and Big Sean (2021). Other artists who have performed at halftime of the Lions' Thanksgiving Day game over the last two decades include Bon Jovi (2002), Mariah Carey (2005), John Fogerty (2006), the Goo Goo Dolls (2007), Nickelback (2011), Kid Rock (2012) and Mike Posner (2018).

Taylor Swift performed the national anthem before the Lions' Thanksgiving Day game in 2006.

nbianchi@detroitnews.com

Twitter/X: @nolanbianchi