Only two other regular season games in the history of the NFL had more viewers than Thanksgiving’s 4:30 p.m. contest.
The Dallas Cowboys played host to their NFC East rivals the Washington Commanders on Thursday, and for the third-consecutive year, over 40 million tuned into the contest.
The clash averaged 41.438 million viewers during the 45-10 Dallas victory, while peaking at 44.265 million people tuned in.
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Dolly Parton performs during halftime in the game between the Washington Commanders and the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on November 23, 2023, in Arlington, Texas. (Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
Only last year’s Cowboys-Giants Thanksgiving game (42.1 million) and a 1990 match between the Giants and San Francisco 49ers (41.6 million) averaged more sets of eyeballs on the TV.
It also was the second-most watched television program this year, behind only the Super Bowl back in February.
But it wasn’t just football that people were tuned in for, as the game featured country music legend Dolly Parton performing at halftime.
Dressed in a bedazzled Cowboys cheerleader outfit, the 77-year-old performed at midfield and sang some of her hits.
The country music star performed “Jolene” and “9 to 5,” as well as her own rendition of “We Are the Champions” by Queen.
Dolly Parton performs during halftime of an NFL football game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Washington Commanders Thursday, November 23, 2023, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
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It was the second time in less than a week that Parton was seen on a football field, as she joined NFL great Peyton Manning for Tennessee’s game against top-ranked Georgia on Saturday.
Dallas extended its home winning streak to 13 with the victory over Washington.
Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott threw for 331 yards and four touchdowns as the Dallas offense scored 25 unanswered points in the fourth quarter.
Dak Prescott, #4 of the Dallas Cowboys, throws a pass in the game against the Washington Commanders during the first quarter at AT&T Stadium on November 23, 2023, in Arlington, Texas. (Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images)
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The Cowboys are now 8-3 on the season, while Washington dropped to 4-8.
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