One of the most searched questions ahead of the 2025 NFL Christmas Day games has finally been answered. Netflix has officially clarified the timing for global music superstar Kelly Clarkson's highly anticipated opening performance, setting the stage for a festive sports entertainment spectacle.
Kelly Clarkson's Opening Act: Time and Significance
Netflix has confirmed that Kelly Clarkson will kick off the NFL Christmas Gameday 2025 with a live performance. This show is scheduled to air between approximately 12:45 p.m. and 12:55 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on Wednesday, December 25, 2025. For viewers in India, this translates to a late-night broadcast, starting around 11:15 PM IST.
This performance is strategically placed just minutes before the kickoff of the first Christmas Day game. It will serve as the official start of Netflix's exclusive holiday sports coverage. Clarkson is set to perform her popular holiday track "Underneath the Tree," ensuring a festive start to the broadcast.
The timing is critical. The performance falls within Netflix's opening broadcast window, meaning fans who tune in exactly at the 1:00 PM ET kickoff for the first game will miss Clarkson's show entirely. In a promotional video, Clarkson expressed her excitement, stating she is thrilled to kick off the NFL Christmas Gameday live on Netflix and celebrating two great games as a gift for all.
Full 2025 NFL Christmas Day Schedule and Broadcast Structure
Marking a continued shift towards streaming, Netflix will exclusively stream two NFL games on Christmas Day 2025. A third game will be available on a different platform. The complete schedule is as follows (all times Eastern Time):
Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington Commanders
Time: 1:00 p.m. ET
Venue: Northwest Stadium, Landover, Maryland
Streaming: Netflix and NFL+
Detroit Lions vs. Minnesota Vikings
Time: 4:30 p.m. ET
Venue: U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Streaming: Netflix and NFL+
Denver Broncos vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Time: 8:20 p.m. ET
Venue: Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
Streaming: Prime Video and NFL+
The production for the two Netflix games will be handled by CBS Sports. Meanwhile, NFL Media will produce the pregame, halftime, and postgame shows. Netflix's coverage will begin even earlier, with a dedicated pregame show starting at 11:00 a.m. ET, building up to Clarkson's performance as the main opening entertainment segment.
Adding to the star power, reports from USA Today Network and The Providence Journal confirm that Snoop Dogg will headline the halftime show during the Detroit Lions vs. Minnesota Vikings matchup. As of now, Netflix has not announced any other standalone musical acts beyond Clarkson and Snoop Dogg.
Why This Opening Show Timing is a Strategic Move for Netflix
Netflix's approach to live sports broadcasting relies heavily on capturing and retaining viewer attention from the very beginning. Unlike traditional TV where audiences might channel surf, streaming requires intentional logins. By positioning a major star like Kelly Clarkson right before kickoff, Netflix aims to pull viewers into its stream early and encourage them to stay for the entire doubleheader.
The placement also adds a layer of narrative, as Clarkson is a well-known Dallas Cowboys fan and a Texas native, making her the perfect opener for the Cowboys vs. Commanders game. For fans across the globe, including India, who are searching for the show time, the message is clear: to catch the full experience, you need to be logged into Netflix well before the first game's kickoff at 1:00 PM ET (11:30 PM IST).
This 2025 NFL Christmas slate, headlined by Clarkson's opening act, represents the evolving landscape of sports entertainment, where premium streaming platforms are leveraging top-tier musical talent to create must-watch, appointment viewing for a global audience.
