Lainey Wilson Turns an NFL Stadium Into a Holiday Spectacle With a Sleigh-Ride Entrance
Lainey Wilson brought high-energy holiday spirit to the NFL on Christmas Day, lighting up the Snoop Dogg–led halftime show during the Minnesota Vikings vs. Detroit Lions game.
About halfway through Snoop’s 11-minute performance, Wilson made a grand entrance onto the field riding in a Santa-worthy sleigh alongside her fiancé, former NFL quarterback Devlin “Duck” Hodges. The moment blended country charm, football flair, and Christmas cheer all in one.
Wilson delivered a lively, crowd-pleasing rendition of “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” as her sleigh circled the field. Backed by a choir and dancers, she brought her signature energy to the performance, with Snoop joining in—dancing alongside her and adding a few harmony vocals.
She wore a festive twist on her classic look, complete with a cowboy hat and bell-bottoms. When the song wrapped, Snoop helped her down from the sleigh, capping off the moment with a playful finish.
Why Was Duck Hodges Dressed as Santa?
No sleigh ride would be complete without Santa, and Duck Hodges happily filled the role. He appeared in a red Santa suit—minus the traditional beard—and topped it off with a cowboy hat for good measure.
After the show, Hodges joked on social media about being “recruited back to the NFL,” this time as Santa, sharing photos with Wilson and Snoop from the field.
Who Else Took Part in the Halftime Show?
The performance was billed as “Snoop Dogg and Friends,” and Wilson was one of several special guests. Martha Stewart kicked things off with an introduction, while K-pop group HUNTR/X also performed. The show closed on a dramatic note with opera legend Andrea Bocelli and his son Matteo Bocelli joining the lineup.
The Christmas Day matchup took place at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, turning the football game into a full-blown holiday celebration that blended hip-hop, country, pop, and classical music.
Country music and football have long shared a close connection, and Lainey Wilson’s festive halftime moment was another reminder of how naturally the two worlds come together.
{"post":94736,"page":1,"next":[{"id":94705,"title":"\u201cHow old are you, sweetheart?\u201d Bruce Springsteen asked it softly as he leaned down from the stage, eyes fixed on a tiny girl near the front row \u2014 no taller than his guitar, dancing like the music belonged only to her. The noise, the lights, the decades of rock history behind him all faded in that instant. Her parents answered, barely holding it together: \u201cShe\u2019s four.\u201d Bruce smiled, paused, then turned to the crowd with a glint of emotion in his eyes and said, \u201cWell folks\u2026 looks like the E Street Band just got its youngest member tonight.\u201d The arena erupted, but not in the usual way. This cheer carried warmth, surprise, and something close to tears. The concert transformed into something more than a show \u2014 a quiet passing of the torch wrapped in laughter and awe. It wasn\u2019t about the encore. It wasn\u2019t about the setlist. 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Fans were stunned not by who she married, but by how she loved \u2014 deeply, faithfully, and profoundly. \u201cShe\u2019s not replacing Ren\u00e9\u2026 she\u2019s carrying him with her,\u201d one comment brought millions to tears. This wasn\u2019t just a wedding \u2014 it was a moment where love, loss, and healing merged into one.","url":"https:\/\/new24.info\/94699"},{"id":94696,"title":"BAILEY ZIMMERMAN Didn\u2019t Just Buy Christmas Gifts, He BOUGHT His Mom a HOUSE and a BRAND-NEW ESCALADE","url":"https:\/\/new24.info\/94696"},{"id":94693,"title":"\u201cDON\u2019T TURN OFF THE LIGHTS\u2026 BECAUSE TONIGHT, WE NEED THEM MORE THAN EVER!\u201d \u2014 this unexpected statement echoed across the stage, silencing the entire audience the moment Carrie Underwood stepped out beside Papa Roach and transformed \u201cLeave A Light On\u201d into an unforeseen emotional earthquake. 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Within hours, the performance went viral with millions of views, dubbed a \u201cheart-touching collaboration.\u201d No fireworks, no gimmicks \u2014 just truth, emotion, and a gentle reminder: sometimes, a song is enough to save a life.","url":"https:\/\/new24.info\/94693"},{"id":94689,"title":"\u201cTHE ENTIRE AUDITORIUM FREEZED FOR 12 SECONDS \u2014 NO FIREWORKS, NO SHOUTING, JUST TWO VOICES THAT SILENTLY MOVED OVER 3 MILLION PEOPLE\u201d No flashing lights, no grand stage, just Keith Urban and Kelly Clarkson standing less than an arm\u2019s length apart \u2014 and the world seemed to stop. When the first note began, over 15,000 audience members held their breath, and social media exploded with over 3 million views in just a few hours. No one applauded, no one shouted \u2014 because the moment was too fragile to break. 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Over 12,000 audience members couldn\u2019t sit still \u2014 they rose, clapped, and swayed to the rhythm, as if drawn into an irresistible wave of emotion. At 15, Emma didn\u2019t just sing; she illuminated the space, making millions of hearts flutter in a rare moment of pure emotion. In just 24 hours, the video surpassed 5 million views, spreading across social media like a living Christmas miracle. No fireworks, no fancy effects \u2014 just a youthful voice powerful enough to bring tears to adults\u2019 eyes and make children believe in magic. And as the final melody faded into the air, everyone understood: they had just witnessed a once-in-a-lifetime moment \u2014 where music is not just for listening, but for feeling.","url":"https:\/\/new24.info\/94676"},{"id":94670,"title":"This One Sneaks Up On You \u2014 And Suddenly You\u2019re Smiling Without Realizing Why. It Doesn\u2019t Begin With Bells Or Lights Or Fanfare. 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