Thanksgiving is a time for celebration and, well, giving thanks. And since holidays can be stressful, we can at least take the music off your mind.
Whether you’re the chef for the meal, you’ve married into a Turkey Trot family, you plan on watching the parade, you’re a diehard football fan or you just want to hear some good tunes, there’s something for everyone’s taste or activities.
First off, the 5K, then breakfast and the parade, the dinner preparations, followed by cocktails, of course the meal and finally, the dessert. And we can’t forget about sports. Throughout Nov. 27, three football games take place — The Detroit Lions vs. the Green Bay Packers, the Dallas Cowboys vs. the Kansas City Chiefs and the Baltimore Ravens vs. the Cincinnati Bengals — and if you’re tired of listening to the announcers (or just don’t care about the games), we’ve got it covered.
With a few exceptions, the mostly 2025 releases from artists such as Taylor Swift, The Weeknd, Central Cee, Olivia Dean, Japanese Breakfast and Florence + the Machine make great choices as the year winds down and the family time speeds up.
Need more options? Here are 20 songs about giving thanks and a recipe for a Thanksgiving soundtrack. Plus, you tell us what your favorite song about saying thank you is, with our poll. And make sure you know the lineup for Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Keep reading for 10 albums to listen to for every part of the Thanksgiving festivities. And yes, Christmas music is included.
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For the Turkey Trot
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}If you run 3.1 miles in about 45 minutes, Taylor Swift’s The Life of a Showgirl will get you through in almost a perfect amount of time.
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During Breakfast
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}It’s going to be a long day, so press play on The Weeknd’s Hurry Up Tomorrow and brace yourself for the food, family, fun and hopefully no fights.
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The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
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}Don’t listen to music during this one. Just watch.
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While Cooking
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}It’s important to remember that you can’t rush greatness in the kitchen. And British rapper Central Cee has just the album for that – his 2025 debut full-length Can’t Rush Greatness.
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When You’re Watching Football
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}With three games, there are also three halftime performers. Jack White takes the field in Detroit, Post Malone in Dallas and Lil Jon in Baltimore. Throw on their albums – we suggest No Name, F-1 Trillion and Drunn City 3, respectively – to prepare for what’s to come.
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Cocktail Hour
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}Singer-songwriter Olivia Dean’s The Art of Loving provides a chill but soulful soundtrack that will please you and your guests.
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During Dinner
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}Thanksgiving is when it becomes acceptable to throw on Christmas music. Vince Guaraldi Trio’s A Charlie Brown Christmas marks a good starting point. Don’t celebrate Christmas? Try Japanese Breakfast’s alt-pop For Melancholy Brunettes (& sad women).
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Dessert Time
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}I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream – or pumpkin pie. End the night with Florence + the Machine’s gorgeously eerie Everybody Scream.
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