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Three years ago, no one would have predicted that a ragtag group of NFL players would put out an album of music that didn’t just break into the Billboard charts but actually sounded good. Yet The Philly Specials — as Philadelphia Eagles offensive linemen Jason Kelce, Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata called themselves — did just that and much more. Over the course of three holiday albums, they’ve not only become unlikely chart stars, attracting luminaries from the actual pop music world to collaborate, but they’ve raised astounding sums for charity with each release.
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Their most recent, A Philly Special Christmas Party, is their biggest yet: with 32,000 copies sold in its first week out in November 2024 — including 22,000 vinyl pressings — its debut had the largest sales week for a holiday release on vinyl in the modern era. It hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Independent Albums chart, No. 2 on Holiday Albums, Vinyl and Top Album Sales, and No. 16 on the Billboard 200.
And in an unprecedented feat of philanthropic outreach, the proceeds benefited Operation Snowball, which delivered a gift to every student and teacher in the School District of Philadelphia (for a total of 1.1 million items) in partnership with the Fund for the School District of Philadelphia, with the players making in-person visits to spread holiday cheer.
Kait Pritivera
Like its two LP predecessors, A Philly Special Christmas features the unlikely vocal talents of Kelce (now retired from his legendary run as the Eagles’ cente,r but busy as ever hosting the New Heights podcast with his brother, Travis Kelce; ESPN’s Monday Night Countdown; and, now, the network’s new They Call It Late Night With Jason Kelce), Johnson and Mailata, along with high-profile musical guests (Stevie Nicks, Boyz II Men).
But the album wouldn’t have become a hit without two key behind-the-scenes forces: Connor Barwin – a longtime friend of Kelce’s, who is himself a former Eagle (and also now the organization’s head of development and strategy) – and Charlie Hall, drummer for alt-rock arena-fillers The War on Drugs and the Philly Specials’ producer and musical director.
Barwin and Hall spoke to Billboard as they recovered from the whirlwind release of A Philly Special Christmas and Operation Snowball about what football players and musicians can learn from each other, watching Jason Kelce and Stevie Nicks duet, and discovering Travis Kelce’s vocal talents.
Tell me a bit about your individual roles in getting the album together.
Connor Barwin: It started with being good friends with Jason, Lane and Jordan. I played with Jason from college [at University of Cincinnati] till Phill,; played with Lane in Philly for a long time — and then working for the team, obviously got to know Jordan really well. I heard Jason throw out this idea of making a Christmas record, and I knew all these guys were very talented musically.
I’m someone who really appreciates and loves music and had gotten to know quite a lot of people in the music industry through my [Make The World Better Foundation] that I started when I came to Philly. And one of the many wonderful benefit shows I’ve thrown was with Charlie and The War on Drugs. Jason knows Charlie as well – he’s one of the best musicians, he’s an Eagles fan, he’s local – so I immediately thought, “This is who we should call.”
We all got together and Charlie started asking the right questions: What songs are important to you? How do you think about Christmas music? We sort of left that meeting all very much committed to taking it seriously. My role from then on has been trying to keep it all together; there’s a lot of busy people, a lot of different stakeholders, so making sure we’re finding time to do this the right way, where it doesn’t intersect with their main career — which is playing football for the Eagles — but finding a balance, because this is very fun and fulfilling for them.
Kait Pritivera
Charlie Hall: I don’t think we had any idea when we started doing this what sort of shape or scope it would have. But from that first meeting, just seeing the way the guys were passing the guitar around, it was like wow, these guys are deeply connected, they’re doing this thing at the highest level in their “real” jobs but they also approach music with that same mindset of “we want to make this great.” And they did!
When you set out to make this third record, did you have in mind big goals in terms of people you wanted to get on it or songs that you wanted to take on?
Barwin: With how old we all are, and being in Philadelphia, it made sense, like — if we could ever get Boyz II Men on the record, that would be incredible. But at the end of the day, I never really had any goals other than making something we were proud of, having fun and raising money.
Who’s harder to convince to participate: high-profile musicians or football players?
Hall: It’s scary singing into a microphone, hearing yourself that closely and in headphones… There’s a lot of the guys’ friends [on the team] that can sing, but I would probably argue that it’s a little harder to get some of the players.
Barwin: Yeah, I agree. But it’s also been really fun watching these guys in the studio with professional musicians and seeing how they’re inspiring each other. As a former athlete that still works in the NFL, it’s really cool to just show everyone that these guys, who are some of the best football players in the world, are brave enough to try something that they’re not completely comfortable with. It’s an inspiring thing for a lot of people, whether they’re athletes or not, to see: that if you or the world is putting you in this one place, you can try something else. It’s cool for kids to see that…
Hall: And for their teammates to see that, for the musicians to see it. To see these guys out of their element just going for it and having the confidence to try and get better… I learned so much from every single person that came through that door, musically, interpersonally, professionally.
Kait Pritivera
Jeff Stoutland, aka Stout — the Eagles’ legendary run-game coordinator and offensive line coach — has a humorous feature on this album’s cover of “It’s Christmas Don’t Be Late,” better known as The Chipmunk Song. How did you get him involved?
Barwin: Stout is known as one of the most hardcore, best coaches in the world, and it’s no surprise to me that he understands how fun and important something like this is. But the Chipmunks thing was a Charlie/Jason idea that came out of the studio. You really love that song, and Jason thought, “You know, Stout would be perfect,” and he was game for it. People know how great of a coach he is, but he really looks at these guys like family, and he’s so proud of them to be doing something outside of football.
Hall: I think Stout gets a kick out of it – and [he likes] showing the guys that yeah, doing something off the field has impact.
The big reveal of Stevie Nicks on the record, duetting with Jason on Ron Sexsmith’s “Maybe This Christmas,” was huge. How did that happen, and what was it like seeing her and Jason working together?
Barwin: I mean, just seeing her was amazing, and then seeing her with Jason was very cool, the respect they had for each other and how happy they were to be together doing this. The backstory is, you know, as the Kelce family’s rise has happened, I think there was just some admiration [on Stevie’s part] for what a wonderful family they are. And I think Stevie had met Travis at a show before, and so their teams had sort of known each other, and Charlie had this song, so we said, you know, let’s ask Stevie if she wants to do it, she would be perfect for this. And she was game right from the beginning. When she came to the studio, she was so happy to be there, and she was awesome to be around.
Hall: I think it’s fair to say that sense of humor is part of the connective tissue here. You think of Stevie as this, like, magical creature who exists on like another plane, and yes, she kind of is, but then there’s this sense of humor that was at the forefront of her and Jason’s connection.
There was a very positive fan reaction to Travis’ first Philly Specials vocal appearance last year on A Philly Special Christmas Special, on “Fairytale of Philadelphia” with Jason, and he returns here on “It’s Christmas Time (In Cleveland Heights)” with Jason and Boyz II Men. He does a full-on ‘90s-style slow jam spoken intro and sings quite nicely. Were his vocals a surprise, or is he just naturally talented at singing, too?
Hall: Totally naturally talented. And kind of approaches things head-first, just scratch- scratching away, and then bam, it’s there. It was really, really awesome to watch both years the way he approached his stuff – he’d just jump in there and literally find his way. And his and Jason’s voices, they obviously share DNA, so there’s a quality that makes them blend really well.
Barwin: So here’s a story I can tell: Charlie went out to KC to record Travis both times. And the first time, Charlie gets back and tells me, “That’s one of the most wild things I’ve ever witnessed in my life.” Because they started working on the song and in the first like 10 minutes, Travis is singing, and Charlie was like, “Oh, I don’t know if this is a good idea…” And then Travis asked to hear it back, and then asked for some feedback, Charlie gave him some feedback – and then the dude just got in there, and in like 15 minutes, found it. It went from “this might not work” to “holy s–t, this guy is in it, we gotta keep going!” It speaks to just how much of a talent and a performer he is, and why he’s such a great athlete and been so successful.
It’s been so fun to discover some of the hidden vocal talents among the Eagles, like Jordan Davis last year. Are there any other hidden gems on the team who, if you were continuing the project, you’d want to get on wax?
Barwin: I need to find that out — I know there’s a few. I’m not going to put them out there on blast right now, because then people will be begging them.
Hall: And we know who is not, and we’re not going to say that either. [Laughs.]
The Philly Specials project has just become more and more successful – why stop now?
Barwin: I think it just feels like the right time, being the third one, to end. It’s just such a special thing that happened, and I think all of us don’t want to change that and overdo it. We just want to keep it as magical as it’s been. Who knows where we’ll all be come next summer — maybe there’s a song or two, a couple more Eagles who can sing, or special guests that that we end up doing something to sort of keep this tradition going. But right now, it feels like maybe stop while we’re in a good place.
Hall: It truly has become this kind of strange, giant family that’s definitely connected for life. So who knows?
Barwin: What we were able to scale up and do this year has never been done before, and there are really big partners that want to find a way to do it in maybe other cities and with other teams, other players. So you know, who knows where this will end up. At the end of the day, there’s still such a big opportunity to continue to merge [the sports and music] worlds together for the benefit of everybody, for both athletes and musicians. We don’t quite have it figured out, but we’ve met a lot of people and know how to keep the artists and the athletes in the front position and make sure the music is at the forefront. And when you do that, you’ll make something that people connect to. Hopefully we can be helpful in facilitating more stuff like this.
If Beyoncé is performing for halftime, you know you’re in for a very special treat. From her landmark two previous Super Bowl halftime show appearances (2013 and 2016) to her landmark Coachella headlining performance (2018) and record-breaking Renaissance World Tour (2023), Beyoncé has consistently delivered jaw-dropping performances that showcase her vocal virtuosity, dance skills and […]
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New York Giants fans are lost even after a surprise win. Big Blue ended their losing streak but seemingly lost out on getting the No. 1 draft pick.
As reported on ESPN, the East Rutherford, N.J.,-based organization played their last game of the 2024-2025 NFL season. On Sunday (Dec. 29), they faced the Indianapolis Colts and beat them 45-33. While this ended the team’s very challenging season on a bright note, this cost the New York Giants what seemed to be a lock at the No. 1 spot for the forthcoming NFL Draft. As a result of their victory and the Oakland Raiders and Jacksonville Jaguars also winning their final games, there is a major shake up with the order of the draft.
With the close of the season, the New England Patriots now have the first pick with the Tennessee Titans at two, the Cleveland Browns at three, the New York Giants at four and the Jacksonville Jaguars at five. According to several football analysts and insiders, Travis Hunter is expected to be the No.1 draft pick by the New England Patriots. The 2024 Heisman Trophy winner had a spectacular college season by playing over 1,400 snaps on both sides of the ball. Other notable college players hitting the draft include Cam Ward, Shedeur Sanders and Ashton Jenty.
You can see the draft order as it stands below.
Post Malone expressed his gratitude to Beyoncé after joining her stunning NFL Halftime Show performance during the Texans-Ravens game at Houston’s NRG Stadium on Christmas Day. On Saturday (Dec. 28), the 29-year-old singer shared a heartfelt message to Queen Bey, 43, on X (formerly Twitter). “thank you @Beyonce so much for havin me out in […]
Beyoncé turned NRG Stadium into the Beyoncé Bowl on Christmas Day, and Billboard was there to watch history in the making.
From the moment fans drove into the stadium’s parking lot, it was clear this wasn’t just any NFL game — it was the Beymas of our dreams. Even though the Houston Texans and Baltimore Ravens were battling for a spot in the AFC Championship, the real anticipation was for the mid-game Beyoncé concert.
The stadium felt like something out of a holiday movie. Holiday decorations were everywhere — Christmas trees, glowing lights and even the Grinch made a few appearances. Each concourse was a true seasonal scene, even featuring photo setups throughout for fans to snap pictures in their Cowboy Carter getups.
And the crowd? Outfits were split 50% NFL gear and 50% Cowboy Carter/Beyoncé merch. Rhinestone cowboy hats, custom denim jeans, fringe jackets, and lots of cowboy boots took over.
Music was everywhere. DJs posted across different levels of the stadium kept the Texans fans turnt up before, during and after the game. And let’s talk about the food: Bun B’s Trill Burgers were being served in custom Beymas and Trillmas boxes that felt more like collectibles than packaging. And on every seat, a Cowboy Carter-themed light-up wristband sat waiting, ready for what was to come at halftime.
The celebration of Houston pride extended beyond the performers. Throughout the day, some of Houston’s brightest stars were spotted in the crowd, including Liza Koshy, Tobe Nwigwe and Mo Amer.
Pentatonix kicked off the performances of the day with their stunning version of the national anthem. The Texas-born a cappella group nailed every note, giving the stadium a powerful and emotional moment. What made it even more special was that three of the group’s members — Kirstin Maldonado, Mitch Grassi and Scott Hoying — have their roots in Arlington, Texas, showcasing how the great state produces artists.
But when the lights dimmed for the halftime show, you could feel every single person freeze in place. The big screens came alive as Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Reyna Roberts and Tiera Kennedy performed “Blackbiird” together. Their voices were soft and enchanting, echoing through the stadium as well as the big screens, but the crowd was anxious, looking around — scanning the field, all thinking the same thing: Where’s Beyoncé?
And then — BANG! — she appeared. The second she hit the field, the stadium erupted, Texas style. It wasn’t just loud; it was visceral. We get chills just thinking about it.
For 13 minutes, nobody moved. Sure, people screamed, clapped, maybe even cried, but mostly, everyone just stared. It felt like time had stopped. Beyoncé wasn’t just performing; she was commanding. Every look, every step, every note — it was all sharp, deliberate and locked in. It felt bigger than a halftime show. This wasn’t just another stadium stop. It wasn’t another performance to check off a list. It was home.
And then came Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s daughter Blue Ivy. The second the crowd noticed her on the field, the vibe shifted from excitement to being in awe. At age 12, she walked onto that field with purpose. Her focus was sharp, her steps confident and her presence undeniable. It was special because of how she carried herself. There wasn’t an ounce of hesitation in her movements. No nervous glances, no second-guessing, just confidence. Blue Ivy didn’t step onto that field to prove anything; she stepped onto it because she belonged there.
And this wasn’t about Beyoncé passing the torch because Blue Ivy is the torch. She’s not waiting for her moment; she’s already living it. Holding her own next to one of the greatest performers of all time, she isn’t following her mother; she’s walking alongside her, carving her own path. Blue Ivy isn’t next. She’s now.
One of the most powerful parts of the night came from the Texas Southern University’s Ocean of Soul Marching Band, one of the most respected HBCU bands in the country — and it’s Houston’s band. For Beyoncé to feature TSU on this stage, in this moment, in this city, wasn’t just meaningful. It was intentional. It felt like a tribute to her roots, to her community and to the legacy of HBCUs and the role they play in culture and music.
Then Shaboozey hit the stage, and it felt like the energy shifted again. His voice was deep and steady as it rolled through the stadium. Their collaborations on Cowboy Carter — “Spaghettii” and “Sweet Honey Buckiin” — are timeless at this point. And seeing him up there, standing next to Beyoncé, solidified that this wasn’t just an artist who got a lucky break. He is someone who deserves to be here.
The biggest Texas surprise was Post Malone coming out to perform “Levii’s Jeans,” and the crowd lost it all over again. Two Texas Titans — Beyoncé from Houston and Posty from Dallas-Fort Worth — standing side by side together. To be in Houston, it wasn’t like they were just performing together. They were representing being Texans in a way that couldn’t have happened anywhere else but here.
As “Texas Hold ’Em” marked the finale, Beyoncé rose above the stage on a platform before a massive “BANG!” banner dropped, and the wristbands across the stadium lit up in perfect unison.
As the show ended and the platform lowered, Beyoncé raised her fists in the air. She didn’t need to say anything. That moment said it all — pride, triumph and gratitude were written all over her face and the stadium did nothing but clap and cheer, unbelievably thinking about what they had just witnessed.
Beyoncé is more than just the greatest pop star of the 21st century. She creates experiences. And on Christmas night, in her hometown, she delivered what will go down as one of the greatest performances of her career.
Beyoncé may have wrapped her Christmas Day Halftime Show performance, but famous fans such as Serena Williams and Reneé Rapp still aren’t over it.
Following the 32-time Grammy winner’s high-production showcase midway through the Houston Texans vs. Baltimore Ravens game Wednesday (Dec. 25), the tennis legend took to X to gush about Bey’s star power. “Honestly can’t get enough of you,” Williams wrote moments after Bey exited the field.
A certain Mean Girls star had paragraphs’ worth of praise to share about Bey’s performance on Instagram Stories. “I’m not f—ing kidding ya’ll don’t GET IT!!!!!,” Rapp wrote over a black background. “WHY AM I CRYING DURING A DRUMLINE?? SHE’S BEEN IT SHE’S STILL IT SHE WILL ALWAYS BE IT!! BEYONCÉ TILL I DIE.”
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“like this is the worlds most beautiful person alive,” the “Snow Angel” singer continued in a second post. “you wanna talk about being a FAN?! SHE MADE A FAN OUT OF ME YOUNG AND KEPT IT THAT WAY HOW ARE YOU STILL THAT FINE AND PERFORMING LIKE THAT!!! full body chills.”
The “Break My Soul” vocalist’s halftime offering was certainly one for the history books, with the show marking the first time Bey performed any songs from her Billboard 200-topping album Cowboy Carter. Shaboozey, Post Malone, Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy and Reyna Roberts all joined her to help sing their respective collaborations from the Grammy-nominated LP — including “Sweet Honey Buckiin,’” “Levii’s Jeans” and “Blackbiird” — while Bey’s eldest daughter, Blue Ivy, accompanied her mom on the field for a few dance numbers.
During and after the show, Bey also received support from both of her Destiny’s Child bandmates. Michelle Williams was on hand at NRG Stadium to cheer the Ivy Park founder on, sharing an on-site photo on Instagram Stories during the performance, while Kelly Rowland reposted a clip on her Story of the “Irreplaceable” musician and Blue Ivy dancing together during “Texas Hold ‘Em” and wrote, “SHUT IT DOWN!!!!”
Luckily for Williams, Rapp, the Destiny’s Child women and every other person in the Beyhive who loved the musician’s showcase, Netflix will soon drop a Beyoncé Bowl special featuring footage from the 12-plus-minute set. The streamer aired the performance — plus the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Pittsburgh Steelers and Texans-Ravens games — live on Christmas Day.
Shortly after the show, Bey also teased that she has a new project coming in 2025, dropping a cryptic video of her riding a horse and swinging an American flag. “1.14.25,” reads a message at the end of the clip, which Live Nation reposted on socials — a move that has many fans convinced the star is planning to embark on a tour next year.
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LeBron James made it a point to declare Christmas Day a day for the NBA, as the NFL played games on the holiday through the Netflix streaming platform.
The battle between the National Football League and the National Basketball Association for ratings dominance took center stage on Christmas Day (Dec. 25). Superstar LeBron James made it plain that the holiday belongs to the NBA during an interview after the Los Angeles Lakers’ thrilling 115-113 win on the road against the Golden State Warriors. “Merry Christmas to my family back home, I’m coming home,” James said to ESPN’s Lisa Salters afterward at Chase Center. “And I love the NFL. I love the NFL. But Christmas is our day.” James made it a point to look directly into the camera as he added that last statement.
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James’ comments came hours after Netflix livestreamed two climatic games – the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 29-10, and the Baltimore Ravens soundly beat the Houston Texans 31-2 in the later contest. The second game also featured a dynamic halftime performance by Beyoncé, who performed songs from her Cowboy Carter album. The show also featured country star Shaboozey and the singer/rapper Post Malone, in addition to her daughter Blue Ivy joining her. The day was expected to boost ratings for the streaming platform’s further expansion into live sports, with a deal reportedly worth $150 million.
The NBA has been criticized for its performance recently, with a report showing a drop in ratings. But Christmas Day has traditionally been a strong showcase for the league. This Christmas Day was no exception, as the NBA had five games nationally aired between ESPN and ABC, beginning with the San Antonio Spurs taking on the New York Knicks, which featured a simulcast on Disney+, featuring animated players from both teams along with Disney favorites such as Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and Minnie Mouse. Kevin Durant of the Phoenix Suns echoed James’ statements after his team’s victory over the Denver Nuggets. “Today was a step in the right direction to get people excited again for the game of basketball,” he said.
Christmas may be over, but the NFL keeps delivering gifts. After the must-see Cowboy Carter Christmas games, football fans have three more reasons to celebrate before the New Year. On Dec. 28, get your favorite jersey ready, order some wings, and kick your feet up, because an all-day NFL triple header is on the way. And one of the best, most affordable ways to watch is on Sling TV.
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Signing up for Sling TV, fans won’t miss any of the action as the Denver Broncos and the Cincinnati Bengals face off to keep their playoff chances alive, the Los Angeles Rams look to improve on their win streak with a victory against the Arizona Cardinals, and the Los Angeles Chargers fight to maintain their playoff spot against the New England Patriots.
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You can catch all three NFL games streaming on Sling TV. Not subscribed? Here’s everything you need to know to watch football on the streaming platform below.
How to Watch NFL Triple Header on Sling TV
Want to catch the NFL triple header on Dec. 28? Subscribing to Sling TV Orange + Blue grants you access to ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, TNT and Fox, as well as live TV and local cable channels so you’ll never miss another NFL or college football game again. Compared to other platforms like YouTube TV — which just announced a price hike for their streaming service — plus DirecTV Stream, Fubo and Hulu + Live TV, Sling offers affordable options and discounts for first-time subscribers. For Sling TV Orange + Blue plan, get 50% off your first month, starting at $30/month (it increases to $60/month afterwards).
You’ll not only have access to more local networks like NBC, but many cable networks, including NFL Network, FS1, Lifetime, FX, AMC, A&E, Bravo, BET, Cartoon Network, Fuse, CNN, Food Network and many others.
Sling lets you livestream the NFL games on your phone, tablet, laptop or smart TV (via the Sling app). It’s the easiest way to watch this week’s MFL triple header online without cable.
Ring in the new year with more NFL football on Sling TV. See full details here.
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It was a foregone conclusion that Beyoncé was going to slay. On Christmas Day 2024, Bey held down an exciting halftime show during the Houston Texans versus Baltimore Ravens at NRG Stadium game that aired on Netflix.
It was the second game of a double header of NFL games that aired on Netflix, a first for the streamer. As touted, Bey performed hits from her Cowboy Carter album, the stadium-worthy show in her Houston hometown also featured guests Shaboozey and Post Malone. We would have gladly taken Dolly Parton over the latter, though. Respectfully. And yeah, that was Blue Ivy dancing next to he Ma Dukes.
“Merry Christmas, God bless y’all, thank you so much,” is how Bey ended her performance. But you already know the reactions on social media are just starting.
See for yourself in the gallery.
EVERYBODY SAY THANK YOU BEYONCÉ #BEYONCEBOWL #NFLonNetflix
— Netflix (@netflix) December 25, 2024
1. Umm, that was not the assignment.
LOL.