Big Sean’s ‘Blessings’ for Lions halftime performance

Big Sean gave his “Blessings” during his halftime show at the Detroit Lions’ Thanksgiving day game, performing a pair of songs from his “Dark Sky Paradise” album.

The Detroit rapper opened the show by walking slowly from the players’ tunnel onto Ford Field, performing “One Man Can Change the World” while joining a few dozen children from the Detroit Police Athletic League who were already on the field. Sean’s charity, the Sean Anderson Foundation, made a $5,000 donation to the group this month.

Decked out in a Detroit Lions coat and a pair of black Yeezy snow boots, he made his way to a stage at center field, where he performed his verses from “Blessings” while a drummer, his DJ and a keyboard player played behind him in front of a series of LED screens. Fireworks and pyrotechnic showers exploded around him, and mid-song, Sean addressed the Ford Field audience.

“I’m from Detroit,” he told the crowd. “I used to watch this game every year!”

He clutched his microphone in his hands as if he was saying a Thanksgiving prayer and wished the crowd a happy Thanksgiving at the close of the performance.

It was all over in a matter of minutes, and as Sean ran off the field, he stopped to shake hands and take selfies with fans in the first row of the crowd.

“I hope it looked good!” he said as he walked back through the tunnel. “I feel good about it. I was nervous for sure, but it’s all good.”

Rather than heading home to his mom’s house for a Thanksgiving feast, Sean is on the move; he was headed straight from Ford Field to Detroit Metropolitan Airport for a flight to Abu Dhabi, where he’s scheduled to land at midnight Friday for a Saturday performance.

But before he leaves, he’ll be met by his parents and his brother for a Thanksgiving meal. “Turkey up in the suite!” he said.

While not slowing down, he clearly still has time for his blessings.

Sean joins a list of artists that includes Bon Jovi (2002), Mariah Carey (2005), John Fogerty (2006) the Goo Goo Dolls (2007), Nickelback (2011) and Kid Rock (2012) who have performed at halftime of the Lions Thanksgiving game over the years.

agraham@detroitnews.com

@grahamorama