Snoop Dogg Delivers Star-Studded Christmas Halftime Show at Lions–Vikings Game
Snoop Dogg brought a distinctly eclectic brand of holiday celebration to the Minnesota Vikings–Detroit Lions halftime show during Netflix’s Christmas Day NFL broadcast, anchoring a performance that blended hip-hop, pop, country, opera, and holiday standards into a tightly produced spectacle.
The performance, billed as Snoop’s Holiday Halftime Party, took place at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis and aired during Netflix’s inaugural Christmas Day football slate. It featured appearances from Martha Stewart, Lainey Wilson, Andrea Bocelli, and the vocal trio behind Netflix’s animated hit KPop Demon Hunters, reflecting both the platform’s cross-promotional ambitions and Snoop’s longstanding reputation as a cultural connector.
The show opened with Martha Stewart, who read a whimsical, Snoop-themed Christmas story to a group of Dobermans before introducing the rapper. Snoop emerged wearing a red coat, backed by a full orchestra and holiday-themed dancers, launching into his verse from “The Next Episode,” the 1999 collaboration with Dr. Dre that remains one of the defining songs of his career.
Declaring, “It’s Christmas, and we are about to do some of my favorite Christmas songs,” Snoop transitioned into a G-funk reinterpretation of “My Favorite Things,” supported by a choir. The performance then shifted seamlessly into “Nuthin’ but a ‘G’ Thang,” another early-career classic, reworked with orchestral backing that softened its edges without dulling its impact.
One of the show’s more unexpected moments came with the appearance of Audrey Nuna, EJA, and Rei Ami, the vocal performers behind HUNTR/X, the fictional trio from Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters. The group delivered an 808-driven rendition of “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” inserting a melodic reference to their breakout song “Golden” during the familiar “five golden rings” refrain, a moment that underscored Netflix’s strategy of integrating its original programming into major live events.
Snoop returned center stage with “Drop It Like It’s Hot,” followed by “Who Am I (What’s My Name)?,” accompanied by choreographed dancers and a visual motif that leaned into holiday iconography without overwhelming the performance.
Country singer Lainey Wilson followed, arriving on the field in a white sleigh for a twang-inflected take on “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town.” The segment served as a tonal pivot ahead of the finale, which featured Andrea Bocelli and his son Matteo delivering a traditional rendition of Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas” as artificial snow fell across the stadium.
The closing tableau brought Wilson, Snoop, and HUNTR/X back to the stage alongside the Bocellis, concluding the performance with a message of seasonal goodwill. “From our family to your family, merry Christmas,” Snoop told the audience.
The halftime show continued a growing tradition of headline musical performances tied to Netflix’s sports programming. Last year, Beyoncé headlined the platform’s Christmas broadcast with her Beyoncé Bowl performance, while Kelly Clarkson opened this year’s coverage earlier in the day.
