Snoop Dogg’s Historic Christmas Halftime Show: The 2025 NFL Netflix Performance Explained
Introduction: A Legendary Christmas Performance
On December 25, 2025, hip hop icon Snoop Dogg delivered one of the most talked about halftime shows in NFL history during the Detroit Lions vs Minnesota Vikings game on Netflix. Dubbed Snoop’s Holiday Halftime Party this performance marked a significant moment in sports entertainment, combining hiphop, country, classical music and K-pop into a single memorable spectacle.
The Snoop Dogg halftime show wasn’t just another musical performance. It represented the second time the NFL had ever created a full halftime concert for Christmas. Following Beyoncé’s acclaimed performance in 2024. What made this Snoop halftime show unique was its unexpected blend of musical genres, surprising guest appearances and the sheer ambition of bringing multiple worlds of music together on one stage.
Who Is Snoop Dogg? A Brief Biography
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr known professionally as Snoop Dogg was born on October 20, 1971 in Long Beach California. Growing up in one of Los Angeles’s most challenging neighborhoods. Snoop found his voice through music and hip hop culture. His real name carries weight in the industry but the world knows him simply as Snoop. A figure who transcended rap to become a cultural phenomenon.
Snoop’s early career began in the early 1990s. When he was discovered by Dr Dre one of rap’s most influential producers. This partnership produced Doggystyle Snoop’s debut album released in 1993. Which became one of hip hop’s most important records. The album showcased his smooth laid back delivery and production style that would define West Coast hip hop for generations.
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Rise to Fame and Cultural Icon Status
Throughout the 1990s and 2000s. Snoop Dogg became more than just a rapper. He crossed into acting, appearing in films and television shows. He hosted award shows, launched businesses and cultivated friendships with celebrities across industries. His persona cool, approachable and funny made him relatable to audiences far beyond music fans.
By the 2020s, Snoop had reinvented himself multiple times while maintaining his original credibility. He worked with artists from every genre, appeared on reality television and built a reputation as a lifestyle brand. His friendship with Martha Stewart, highlighted during the Christmas halftime show. Exemplified his ability to bridge unexpected cultural gaps.
Current Role and Influence
Today, Snoop Dogg is recognized as a tastemaker, entrepreneur and ambassador for hip hop culture. He owns professional football teams, invests in cannabis companies and maintains an enormous social media presence. His involvement in the NFL Christmas Gameday halftime show represented Netflix and the league’s confidence in his ability to attract massive audiences.
The 2025 Christmas Halftime Show: What Happened
Event Overview and Location
The Snoop Dogg Christmas halftime show took place on December 25, 2025 at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, during the Lions vs Vikings matchup. This location held special significance it was Snoop’s hometown in a way. And he even released a single called Christmas in Minnesota specifically for the event. The game itself resulted in a 23-10 Vikings victory but all eyes were on what happened between the halves.
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Martha Stewart’s Magical Introduction
The halftime show began with an unexpected guest, Martha Stewart. The homemaking icon and longtime friend of Snoop Dogg opened the performance with a festive playful reading. She performed a creative twist on the classic poem Twas the Night Before Christmas introducing Snoop with charm and wit.
Stewart’s appearance immediately set the tone for the show’s genre blending approach. Seeing the sophisticated Martha Stewart introducing hip hop’s coolest figure created a surreal television moment that had viewers talking instantly. The partnership between these two cultural icons made possible by their real-life friendship showed how entertainment can transcend traditional boundaries.
The Performance Sequence
Opening Hits and Classic Snoop
Snoop took the stage wearing a striking red suit with a fur trimmed jacket his own take on Santa Claus attire. He opened with The Next Episode one of his most recognizable tracks immediately establishing his presence as the show’s dominant force. Backed by a 30 person choir, drummer boys and 30 Snoopette dancers. Snoop commanded the stage with the confidence of a legend.
He followed up with other iconic tracks including Nuthin but a G Thang. Who Am I (What’s My Name)? and Drop It Like It’s Hot. These opening minutes felt quintessentially Snoop smooth, confident and undeniably him. The choreography was tight, the backup dancers were sharp and the live orchestra provided sophisticated accompaniment to his classic hip hop beats.
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The K-pop Demon Hunters Moment
Then came a sharp genre shift that surprised many viewers. HUNTR/X consisting of EJAE, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami. The voices behind Netflix’s animated film K-pop Demon Hunters took the stage for a bass heavy, sped up rendition of The Twelve Days of Christmas. The performance featured elaborate choreography with ballerinas and created one of the most visually striking segments of the show.
This moment divided viewers. Some appreciated the ambitious genre blending and the inclusion of Kpop talent. Others felt the shift was too jarring and disrupted the show’s flow. The segment lasted several minutes and represented Netflix’s attempt to hit multiple demographic targets simultaneously.
Lainey Wilson’s Country Christmas
Country superstar Lainey Wilson arrived on an illuminated sleigh wearing an all white winter jumpsuit and cowboy hat, bringing country music into the mix. She performed Santa Claus is Coming to Town with Snoop Dogg, creating a surreal hip hop meets country moment.
Wilson’s 2025 had been historic she became the biggest winner at the CMA Awards in November. Achieving unprecedented recognition in country music. Her appearance on the Christmas halftime show represented another high point in her remarkable year. The performance was undeniably family friendly, appealing to viewers who might not typically watch a Snoop Dogg show.
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Andrea Bocelli’s Grand Finale
The show concluded with perhaps its most unexpected moment. Italian classical tenor Andrea Bocelli and his son Matteo took the stage to perform White Christmas standing alongside Snoop, Lainey Wilson and HUNTR/X. As they sang, artificial snow fell from the stadium ceiling, creating a visually stunning conclusion.
Bocelli’s presence added legitimacy and grandeur to the proceedings. The combination of classical music with hip hop and country represented television’s boldest attempt yet at unified entertainment. It was simultaneously jarring and beautiful exactly what the halftime show seemed to aim for.
Guest Performers and Collaborators
| Performer | Role | Genre | Notable Achievement |
| Snoop Dogg | Headliner | Hip-Hop | Legendary rapper, cultural icon |
| Martha Stewart | Opening Act | Entertainment | Decades-long friendship with Snoop |
| Lainey Wilson | Guest Artist | Country | 2025 CMA Awards biggest winner |
| HUNTR/X (EJAE, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami) | Guest Performers | K-pop | Netflix’s “K-pop Demon Hunters” |
| Andrea Bocelli | Closing Artist | Classical | Grammy-winning tenor |
| Matteo Bocelli | Guest Performer | Classical | Andrea’s son, accomplished vocalist |
Production Details and Technical Execution
Behind the Scenes
The Snoop Dogg halftime show was produced by Jesse Collins Entertainment. With the games themselves produced by CBS Sports and NFL Media. Netflix, which exclusively streamed the event globally partnered with EverWonder Studio to executive produce NFL Christmas Gameday.
The production scale was enormous. The show featured a 30 person choir, backup dancers, live orchestration, elaborate choreography and special effects including the artificial snow during the finale. The technical coordination required to bring together performers from different musical worlds hip hop, K pop, country and classical represented a significant production challenge.
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Streaming Reach and Viewership
The 2025 NFL Christmas games marked Netflix’s second year of exclusive streaming rights to Christmas Day NFL games. The previous year’s games, featuring Beyoncé’s performance, averaged over 26.5 million viewers in the United States alone with more than 30 million viewers globally. The halftime show’s unusual genre combination likely generated significant viewership and social media discussion.
Fan and Critic Reactions
Mixed Critical Reception
The Snoop Dogg Christmas halftime show generated significant discussion though opinions were divided. Some critics and viewers praised the ambition and the effort to create something unique and memorable. Others felt the performance lacked cohesion and unity. One notable review gave it 3 out of 5 stars describing it as memorable for all the wrong reasons.
Common Criticisms
Several themes emerged from critical analysis:
Positive Aspects Noted
Supporters highlighted:
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Snoop Dogg’s Christmas in Minnesota Single
Ahead of the halftime show. Snoop released a new song specifically for the occasion: Christmas in Minnesota. The single referenced Minnesota culture including basketball player Anthony Edwards, Target Center, Minnesota nice and the state’s famous 10,000 lakes.
The song showcased Snoop’s playful side and his willingness to create locally relevant content. It demonstrated his preparation for the event and his respect for the Minneapolis audience. While the track included the classic regional detail of calling carbonated beverages soda (rather than the Midwestern pop). It captured Snoop’s fun approach to the Christmas performance.
Historical Context: NFL Christmas Halftime Shows
The Beyoncé Bowl (2024)
The previous year’s NFL Christmas Game featured Beyoncé. Who performed music from her album Cowboy Carter. Her show included collaborators Post Malone, Shaboozey, Reyna Roberts and her daughter Blue Ivy Carter. It also featured rodeo legends and over two hundred members of Texas Southern University’s Ocean of Soul Marching Band. Beyoncé’s performance was Emmy-nominated and considered a cultural moment.
Why Netflix Invested in Christmas Programming
Netflix’s investment in NFL Christmas content represents the broader streaming wars and the competition for exclusive sports rights. By securing Christmas games. Netflix guaranteed massive audiences on a major holiday. The halftime shows serve as centerpieces, attracting casual viewers who might not watch regular NFL games.
The streaming service’s strategy includes bringing prominent artists into the equation. Beyoncé’s 2024 performance proved the concept worked. Snoop Dogg’s 2025 performance, despite mixed reviews, continued the tradition of celebrity driven halftime entertainment.
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The Future of NFL Christmas Entertainment
What’s Next?
The success of the 2025 halftime show in terms of viewership and cultural conversation suggests Netflix will continue developing Christmas Game Day as an annual event. The Snoop Dogg performance, while polarizing, definitely achieved its goal of generating discussion and attracting diverse audiences.
Future Christmas halftime shows will likely continue the tradition of bringing multiple performers and genres together. The formula of combining unexpected collaborations seems to be Netflix’s approach. Whether future productions will refine the balance better than the 2025 show remains to be seen.
Final Thoughts
The Snoop Dogg Christmas halftime show will be remembered as one of the most ambitious and unusual halftime performances in NFL history. Whether viewers loved or criticized it. The show achieved what Netflix likely intended: it generated massive conversation and attracted millions of viewers on Christmas Day.
Snoop Dogg himself seems unbothered by the mixed reception. Before the show, he said he was there to serve music, love and good vibes for the whole world to enjoy. In that mission he certainly succeeded—the world was talking about the halftime show for hours afterward.
As streaming services continue investing in live sports and entertainment. The evolution of halftime shows will continue. Netflix’s Christmas game strategy puts pressure on other platforms to develop similar events. The focus will increasingly shift toward attracting diverse audiences through unexpected collaborations and genre blending performances.
The question for future events isn’t whether they should be ambitious and genre diverse. But whether they can achieve that ambition while maintaining artistic coherence. The 2025 Snoop Dogg halftime show provided valuable lessons about what works and what doesn’t when combining completely different musical worlds on one stage.
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FAQ Section
Who performed at the 2025 NFL Christmas halftime show?
Snoop Dogg headlined the show with guest appearances from Martha Stewart, Lainey Wilson, HUNTR/X (from K pop Demon Hunters) and Andrea and Matteo Bocelli.
Where did the Snoop Dogg Christmas halftime show take place?
The performance happened at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, during the Lions vs Vikings game on December 25, 2025.
How can I watch the Snoop Dogg halftime show?
The performance was streamed live on Netflix as part of NFL Christmas Gameday 2025. Netflix subscribers can likely access the recording through their platform.
What was the game result?
The Minnesota Vikings defeated the Detroit Lions 23-10 in the Christmas Day matchup.
Did Snoop Dogg release any new music for the show?
Yes, he released Christmas in Minnesota a song specifically created for the occasion that references Minnesota culture and landmarks.
How did the halftime show compare to Beyoncé’s 2024 performance?
Beyoncé’s 2024 Beyoncé Bowl was generally considered more cohesive and critically acclaimed. Snoop’s 2025 show was more genre diverse but received more mixed reviews.
