Kelly Clarkson Will Open NFL Christmas Gameday With ‘Underneath the Tree’

Netflix is building its own holiday traditions with its NFL Christmas Gameday stream. Last year, the show opened with Mariah Carey’s pre-recorded performance of “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” Keeping it going in 2025, Kelly Clarkson has been invited to perform her own holiday hit, “Underneath the Tree.”

“This year I’m kicking off NFL Christmas Gameday, live on Netflix,” Clarkson shared in a promotional video. “Two great football games on Christmas Day? That’s a present we can all enjoy.” On Dec. 25, the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Commanders will face off at 1 p.m. EST at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland, while the Detroit Lions versus Minnesota Vikings game is scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m. EST at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Netflix has yet to announce a headliner for the 2025 NFL Christmas Gameday halftime show. Last year, Beyoncé turned the show into the Beyoncé Bowl, performing music from her album Cowboy Carter at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. The streaming giant reports having brought in over 30 million viewers globally during the stream.

In November, Clarkson returned to the stage for the first time since the death of her ex-husband, Brandon Blackstock, with whom she shared two children. In the new year, the singer will continue her Studio Sessions residency at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. She announced the series of shows earlier this year, but abruptly postponed the run’s first few shows hours before opening night on July 4.

In an Instagram post, Clarkson said preparing for the shows had “taken a toll” on her voice, and that she needed to rest to prevent “doing serious damage.” She returned the following weekend, but ultimately postponed additional shows in order to support her children as Blackstock battled melanoma, a type of skin cancer.

Earlier this week, Clarkson performed her holiday single “You For Christmas” on The Kelly Clarkson Show.