NFL football and Thanksgiving have become synonymous in the United States, as have the musical performances that go along with that pairing.
While the halftime shows tend to get most of the headlines — Jack Harlow, Dolly Parton and Steve Aoki will do the honors this year — the pregame "Star-Spangled Banner" performers also get their turn in the spotlight.
The three NFL Thanksgiving games for 2023 will feature both local and national stars performing the national anthem, including one who is as much a fixture as his team.
MORE: Everything to know about 2023 Thanksgiving halftime shows
Get to know each performer below.
NFL Thanksgiving national anthem singers 2023
Lions vs. Packers: The War and Treaty
The War and Treaty will get the NFL Thanksgiving slate started by performing the national anthem in Detroit.
Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter form a husband-and-wife country singing duo, as The War and Treaty are "one of the most electrifying new acts in American music," as written in the Lions' official press release about performances on the holiday.
Love has gotten us through every hard moment. Every twist & turn. Every struggle. Love is the center piece to perseverance. It is the key to everything we do & the reason we are here today. We cannot wait to spend Thanksgiving with you at the Lions game on Thursday!! pic.twitter.com/MPe9uhAC6M
— The War And Treaty (@warandtreaty) November 21, 2023
They have been recognized by the Academy of Country Music, Country Music Association, Country Music Hall of Fame, and Grand Ole Opry. The Americana Music Association recently awarded them with "Duo/Group of the Year" for the second straight year.
The War and Treaty have toured all over the world and have worked alongside some greats in the music space, such as Chris Stapleton, John Legend and Van Morrison.
MORE: Why is Jack Harlow performing at Packers vs. Lions game?
Cowboys vs. Commanders: Freddie Jones
Cowboys fans know that home games do not get started until Jones has played the national anthem on his trumpet.
Jones has been Dallas' national anthem artist for every single home game since 2013.
A beautiful National Anthem from Freddie Jones on the trumpet.
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) December 5, 2022
17 Medal of Honor recipients joined the #DallasCowboys on the field. pic.twitter.com/sw8N2YMgoZ
The jazz trumpet player and music composer has played all around the world, from the Dallas/Fort Worth area all the way to Paris. He headlines his own band, the Freddie Jones Jazz Group, and has been playing the trumpet at the professional level since he was 15, according to an interview from the Dallas Observer.
The Memphis, Tenn. native loves performing on national TV at Cowboys games because his family back home gets to watch him from afar.
"I enjoy it more because all my family lives in Memphis. So that Monday night game that they did, you know, everybody in my family could see me play, which was cool," Jones said in a 2014 interview. "How many does a stadium hold, 80,000? Something like that? So you know, that's kind of cool, because it was packed."
MORE: Dolly Parton explains why she has never performed Super Bowl halftime show
Seahawks vs. 49ers: Tinashe
Tinashe will handle the final national anthem duties for the day, performing ahead of the Seahawks vs. 49ers game in Seattle on Thursday night.
Tinashe is a multi-platinum and award-winning R&B, pop and hip-hop singer, songwriter and dancer who has a global following of over 13 million people on social media. She has headlined two world tours and has over 1.5 billion global streams all-time. She has worked with renowned artists like Rihanna, Madonna, Drake and Travis Scott, and has even served as an opening act on Justin Bieber's world tour.
