The forecast for the Thanksgiving nightcap between the Miami Dolphins and Green Bay Packers calls for quite cold weather and a chance for snow. The players can go inside to keep warm at halftime, but who will keep the fans rocking during the break?
Violinist and dancer Lindsey Stirling is set to bring her unique and choreographed violin performances to Lambeau Field to keep the stadium rocking at halftime. While it may seem a bit out there, let’s look at Stirling’s career to see how her unique skill set and genre earned her a chance to perform at an NFL Thanksgiving halftime show.
Who Is Lindsey Stirling?
Lindsey is the middle child of three daughters born to Stephen and Diane Stirling. With early aspirations of learning how to play the violin, her parents searched for a teacher. However, due to the family’s financial limitations, they could only afford half-lessons. Despite this, Stirling began learning and playing at five years old.
Born in Santa Ana, California, the family moved to Gilbert, Arizona, where she attended Mesquite High School. Stirling and four other friends formed a rock band called Stomp on Melvin. Stirling would write a solo violin rock song, and the performance would help her win the state title of Arizona’s Distinguished Young Women and the Spirit Award in America’s Distinguished Young Women Finals competition.
How Did Stirling’s Music Career Start?
Stirling was a contestant in season five of America’s Got Talent, making it to the quarterfinals. Labeled as a “hip-hop violinist,” she impressed judges with her ability to mix hip-hop, pop, and classical violin music while dancing. However, the move proved too much when she tried to step up the dancing in the quarterfinals, and she was disqualified.
Following her performance on the show, cinematographer Devin Graham contacted Stirling in hopes of working together on YouTube videos for her songs. They shot a video for her song “Spontaneous Me,” which boosted her popularity and caused her to create more content for her YouTube channel. As of 2024, her account has amassed 3.8 billion views and 14.2 million followers.
Stirling released her eponymous debut album in September 2012. In December of that year, YouTube announced her song “Crystallize” was the No. 8 most-viewed video of 2012 with 42 million views.
How Many Albums Has Stirling Released?
Since her debut in 2012, Stirling has released seven albums and one EP and recorded 67 music videos. Twenty more videos were posted to YouTube before she released her self-titled album. Her latest album, Duality, was released in June 2024. She has seen every album reach No. 1 on the Billboard Classical Charts.
Has Stirling Won Any Awards?
Stirling’s first music award nominations came in 2014 from the Billboard Music Awards, where her self-titled album was up for Top Dance/Electronica Album of the Year. She would be nominated for two awards the following year, missing out on Top Dance/Electronic Artist but taking home Top Dance/Electronic Album for Shatter Me.
She was nominated in 2017 for Top Dance/Electonic Artist but fell short again. However, her third album, Brave Enough, would take home the Top Dance/Electronic Album.
She also has several nominations related to her videos, as she took home Best Choreography in 2013 and Best Musical Artist in 2014 at the Streamy Awards. She was awarded Artist of the Year in 2015 at the YouTube Music Awards and Best YouTube Musician in 2016 at the Shorty Awards.
Is Stirling a Football Fan?
While she may be performing at a Packers/Dolphins game, Stirling has made an allegiance to a football team known for a video collaboration earlier this year.
We rise 😈 pic.twitter.com/Q3YVZrjA9O
— Lindsey Stirling (@LindseyStirling) September 5, 2024
Stirling, a Baltimore Ravens fan, posted this promo just before the start of the 2024 regular season. It included funny lines like “Experience: One season of Flag Football” and “Strengths: A Winning Attitude.” While she may not have a favorite on the field tonight when the Dolphins and Packers face off on Thanksgiving, she supports the NFL.