PRESS RELEASE
Kelly Clarkson to Kickoff Christmas Campaign During Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving Day Game
October 4, 2007 – Two-time Grammy Award winner Kelly Clarkson will perform live during the nationally televised halftime of the annual Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving Day game to officially launch the 2007 Salvation Army Red Kettle Christmas campaign. Clarkson will also serve as honorary chairperson of the campaign, which will run nationally from Friday, November 23rd through Christmas Eve, December 24th. The Red Kettle campaign, the oldest annual charitable fundraiser of its kind in the United States helps raise money for those who need it most in communities nationwide – providing toys for kids, coats for the homeless, food for the hungry and countless social service programs year-round.
“As a native Texan, I can’t think of a bigger thrill than performing during the Cowboys Thanksgiving Day game,” said Ms. Clarkson. “This is the time of year when people should be thinking about giving back, so it’s a perfect fit for me to be supporting the Red Kettle campaign, which helps so many people at Christmas and throughout the year.”
The Red Kettle campaign will be launched this year as part of a special live concert at Texas Stadium during the Cowboy’s traditional Thanksgiving Day game. The nationally televised event will be broadcast by CBS during halftime of the Cowboys match-up against the New York Jets. Game coverage will begin at 3:15 CST on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 22.
Clarkson, who sang the National Anthem at last year’s Cowboys Thanksgiving Day game, will perform songs from her latest album, My December. She will also serve as honorary chairperson for the campaign and will be involved in various events to raise awareness of the Red Kettle throughout the holiday season, including being featured in a nationally distributed public service announcement and hosting a “virtual” red kettle on her website, www.kellyclarkson.com. Since winning the first American Idol competition in 2002, Clarkson has released three albums, including the 5X platinum selling album Breakaway, which won Best Pop Vocal Album at the 2006 Grammy Awards. Additionally, Clarkson won the Grammy for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for the Billboard #1 single “Since U Been Gone.”
“Kelly Clarkson is one of the most dynamic performers out there today – and we couldn’t be more proud that she’s from Dallas ” said Jones, Cowboys owner and general manager. “We are happy to continue this American holiday tradition at Texas Stadium by kicking off The Salvation Army’s annual Red Kettle Christmas campaign with what I’m sure will be a terrific halftime show set on a national stage to be shared with millions of families as a reminder to give to a Red Kettle this holiday season.”
In what has become a holiday tradition, for the past 10 years the Cowboys Thanksgiving Day game halftime show has officially launched the Red Kettle Christmas Campaign at the national level. Last year, the overall Red Kettle campaign raised a record $117 million, crossing the $1 billion mark of funds raised since the halftime show partnership began. Previous halftime performers have included Carrie Underwood, Sheryl Crow, Destiny’s Child, Toby Keith, LeAnn Rimes, Creed, Jessica Simpson, Billy Gillman, Clint Black, Randy Travis and Reba McEntire.
“Year in and year out, the Jones family and the Cowboys help us highlight the need to give back. We’re happy that Kelly will help us continue the tradition this year at the Kettle Kickoff and as our national chairperson for the campaign,” said Major George Hood, national community relations and development secretary for The Salvation Army. “Demand for Salvation Army services – from disaster relief to adult rehabilitation to providing a happy Christmas for families in need – never seems to wane. The continued public support of the Red Kettle campaign is a major reason why we are able to provide these and other critical services in more than 5,000 communities nationwide.”
The Salvation Army serves more than 200,000 people in the Twin Cities and is a safety net for those with no place to turn. To volunteer with The Salvation Army or to make a credit card donation, call 651-746-3400 or 1-800-SAL-ARMY. Checks made out to The Salvation Army may be sent to 2445 Prior Ave., Roseville, MN 55113. Click below to make an online donation.
