DETROIT – The Detroit Lions announced today a multi-year partnership with global rap icon Marshall Mathers, professionally known as Eminem, and his long-time manager and president of Shady Records, Paul Rosenberg on the Detroit Lions Thanksgiving Halftime Show powered by Verizon. The Detroit natives will consult the club on talent selection and all aspects of halftime production through 2027 for the Detroit Lions Thanksgiving Classic presented by Ford.
“We’re thrilled to be working with Marshall and Paul, who are two of the most accomplished and respected names in the music industry, not to mention longtime Lions fans,” said Detroit Lions President & CEO Rod Wood. “Their reputation in the business will attract top-tier talent and help us solidify this annual performance as one of the most anticipated cultural moments on the NFL calendar.”
“It’s an honor for us to team up with the Lions and be a part of the greatest tradition in Detroit sports,” said Rosenberg. “We look forward to putting together unforgettable shows featuring world-class artists for the fans at Ford Field and the tens of millions watching around the country.”
The Lions also announced that they have hired Jesse Collins Entertainment (JCE) to produce the performance.
ABOUT EMINEM
Over the course of his career, Eminem has sold over 164 million albums and has over 110 billion streams globally. He was Nielsen SoundScan’s top-selling artist of the 2000s with 32.2 million albums sold in that decade in the U.S. alone. In addition, Eminem was also named Billboard’s Artist of the Decade for the same period, 2000 through 2009. Eminem has won 15 GRAMMY® Awards and an Academy Award®. His 2010 album, Recovery, was the first album in the U.S. to be certified platinum digitally. In March 2021 his greatest hits album, Curtain Call: The Hits, became the first hip-hop album to spend a full decade on the Billboard Top 200 albums chart. His latest album, The Death of Slim Shady, was released July 12, 2024, and was his eleventh straight studio album to debut at No.1 on the Billboard Top 200, selling over 281,000 units. Eminem is now the only rapper to have released a platinum certified album in four different decades (90s, 00s, 10s, 20s).
ABOUT PAUL ROSENBERG
Detroit native Paul Rosenberg is a veteran music executive, artist manager, and film and television producer with a career spanning more than two decades in the entertainment industry. He is the President of Shady Records, the label he co-founded with Eminem in 1999, and the CEO of NY-based Goliath Artists, where he manages Eminem and has helped guide the careers of artists including Action Bronson, Blink-182, Xzibit, Cypress Hill, DJ AM, and Danny Brown. Under his leadership, Rosenberg has overseen artistic efforts contributing to nearly 100 million albums sold worldwide. From 2018 to 2020, he served as Chairman and CEO of Def Jam Recordings, one of the most influential labels in hip-hop and contemporary music. His work also extends into film and television as a producer on projects such as 8 Mile, Southpaw, and the recent critically acclaimed documentary Stans, reflecting his long-standing commitment to authentic storytelling through music and culture. Known for his steady leadership, creative insight, and innovative approach to artist development and marketing, Rosenberg continues to bridge the worlds of music, film, and business—fostering talent and driving cultural impact across the entertainment industry.
ABOUT JESSE COLLINS ENTERTAINMENT
Founded in 2012, Jesse Collins Entertainment (JCE) is a full-service Emmy winning production company that has played an integral role in producing many of television’s most memorable moments in music entertainment. JCE’s award-winning and critically acclaimed television includes programming from its three divisions: scripted, unscripted and specials. From the specials division: award shows—The Emmy Awards, The American Music Awards, The 2022 Golden Globes, BET Awards, specials—Beyoncé Bowl at the Baltimore Ravens vs. Houston Texans NFL 2024 Christmas Game, The Super Bowl Halftime Show (Primetime Emmy Award winner), The 95th Major League Baseball All-Star Game Pre-Game Show, A GRAMMY Salute to 50 Years of Hip Hop and countless others. Emmy Award winner Jesse Collins is the Founder & CEO of Jesse Collins Entertainment and executive producer of all the JCE programming. He is also an executive producer for the annual GRAMMY Awards and produced the 2021 Oscars. Emmy winner Dionne Harmon is President.
ABOUT THE DETROIT LIONS
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference (NFC) in the National Football League (NFL) and play their home games at Ford Field in downtown Detroit. The team was located to Detroit in 1934 and is the NFL’s fifth oldest franchise. The Detroit Lions’ most recent NFL postseason appearance was the Divisional round after securing a back-to-back NFC North title following a franchise-high 15-2 record during the 2024 season. For more information, please visit www.detroitlions.com.
