Jack White surprised fans Thursday by bringing out Detroit rap icon Eminem during the halftime show of the NFL’s Thanksgiving Day game between the Detroit Lions and the Green Bay Packers at Ford Field.The unexpected performance marked a rare joint appearance for the two Michigan-born artists.
White, a longtime Detroit resident and avid baseball enthusiast who recently completed a “longtime mission” of visiting every Major League Baseball stadium, has consistently demonstrated a deep connection to his home state and its cultural landscape. This collaboration with Eminem underscores that commitment, offering a unique moment for both the city and the national audience tuning into the holiday game.
the performance followed a set by White, featuring songs from his solo work and The White Stripes catalog. Eminem then joined him onstage, performing a medley of his hits to a roaring crowd. This isn’t the first time White has intertwined his passions; in 2022, he performed the US national anthem before a Detroit Tigers game and has previously thrown the ceremonial first pitch at comerica Park.
White’s affinity for baseball extends beyond performance, having once donated $170,000 (£127,997) to restore a Detroit baseball park he used to play in and even invested in a baseball bat company. He’s also appeared on Topps baseball cards and participated in celebrity baseball matches. Prior to the halftime show, White attended a Cubs vs. Dodgers game with bill Murray, wearing a jersey gifted by Eddie Vedder. He’s even revealed a pre-stage ritual involving “working himself up into a frenzy” with a baseball bat, breaking things backstage.
