Meghan Trainor performs during half time of an NFL football game between the Washington Redskins and Dallas Cowboys in Arlington Thursday, Nov. 22, 2018. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)

ARLINGTON — Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter Meghan Trainor took the stage Thursday at AT&T Stadium to kick off The Salvation Army’s 128th annual Red Kettle Campaign.

Her live nationally televised halftime performance took place during the Dallas Cowboys’ Thanksgiving Day game against the Washington Redskins on Fox.

The 24-year-old performer sang a medley of her hits. 

She kicked things off with her signature hit “All About That Bass” while dressed in a blue sequined jumpsuit to match the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders behind her. She transitioned into “Someone Else” then finished off her three-song set with “Me Too.” At the end she showed the hometown crowd some love, saying “Let’s go, Cowboys.”

“Watching football together is a huge tradition for my family, even more so on Thanksgiving, so it’s surreal to be able to perform today,” Trainor said. “The fact that this is helping raise awareness for The Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign makes it even sweeter.”

The iconic campaign officially began with Trainor’s live halftime performance and the inaugural Red Kettle donation from the Gene and Jerry Jones family, owners of the Cowboys. Since teaming up in 1997, The Salvation Army and the Cowboys have collaborated to raise nearly $2.4 billion for the Red Kettle Campaign, which provides America’s most vulnerable with food, shelter and other support throughout the year.

Trainor joined a star-studded list of past halftime performers: Thomas Rhett, Eric Church, Luke Bryan, Selena Gomez, Kenny Chesney, Enrique Iglesias, Keith Urban, Daughtry, the Jonas Brothers, Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Sheryl Crow, Destiny’s Child, Toby Keith, LeAnn Rimes, Creed, Jessica Simpson, Billy Gilman, Clint Black, Randy Travis and Reba McEntire.

“Meghan’s energy is contagious, and I know she is going to put on a fantastic show and give this campaign the kickoff it deserves,” Charlotte Jones Anderson, executive vice president and chief brand officer for the Cowboys and former national advisory board chair for The Salvation Army, said prior to the performance. “We’ve been hosting this kickoff for more than 20 years, and each year it gives me such pride to watch the artist onstage and know how many lives are going to be impacted over the course of the season. It’s truly amazing what The Salvation Army is doing.”

The Red Kettle Kickoff begins a crucial fundraising holiday season for The Salvation Army, which has issued a call for supporters to join the Fight for Good. With a mission to combat hunger, homelessness and hopelessness, Fight for Good serves as the official theme of the 2018 Red Kettle Campaign.

“We look forward to this day each year for multiple reasons,” said Lt. Col. Ward Matthews, national community relations and development secretary for The Salvation Army. “Not only is it a day to celebrate Thanksgiving with family and friends, but we get to shine a light on some very crucial issues our own neighbors are facing. Nearly 40 million people in the United States are facing poverty, and it’s our mission to give them the support they need.”

To donate to the 128th Red Kettle Campaign:

• Ask Amazon Alexa to donate by saying, “Alexa, donate to The Salvation Army,” then specifying the amount (new this year).
• Visit give.SalvationArmyUSA.org.
• Americans can drop dollars and coins into the thousands of red kettles found in front of partner locations.
• Give any amount by texting “KETTLES” to 91999.
• Start a fundraiser at www.fundraiseforgood.org and bring your friends and family into the Fight for Good.