Fans React To News That Carrie Underwood Will Perform At Trump Inauguration
on Jan 13, 2025
Table of Contents
- The schedule of events for Donald Trump’s inauguration was released Monday (January 13), and Carrie Underwood was listed as a performer.
- News of Carrie Underwood’s participation in Donald Trump’s inauguration events was met with mixed reactions from fans.
- Other country stars have performed at inauguration ceremonies for presidents that didn’t line up with their political views.
The schedule of events for Donald Trump’s inauguration was released Monday (January 13), and Carrie Underwood was listed as a performer.
Donald Trump will be sworn in as the 47th president of the United States on January 20, and among the performers for the historical event are country legend Lee Greenwood, ’70s hitmakers The Village People, and American Idol winner Carrie Underwood.
Fans weren’t surprised by news of Greenwood’s involvement as he has been an outspoken supporter of Trump throughout his campaign. Greenwood made numerous appearances to perform his patriotic hit “God Bless The U.S.A.” on the campaign trail and during the Republican National Convention.
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The Village People’s involvement also doesn’t come as a surprise, as Trump used their song “Y.M.C.A.” during campaign stops. Fun fact: “Y.M.C.A.” didn’t top the charts upon its release in 1978, but reached No. 1 for the first time in 2024 after Donald Trump played it. It spent five weeks at the top of the Billboard Dance/Electronic Digital Song Sales chart.
The legendary group issued a statement making it clear that Trump was not their “preferred candidate,” but that they “believe music is to be performed without regard to politics.”
News of Carrie Underwood’s participation in Donald Trump’s inauguration events was met with mixed reactions from fans.
In a surprise move, Carrie Underwood accepted an invitation to sing “America the Beautiful” at the inaugural ceremony. Over the course of her career, Underwood has avoided political statements and affiliations, so news of her appearance with Trump came as a shock to her fans.
In a statement released Monday, the “Jesus, Take The Wheel” singer said she was honored and humbled to be asked to sing.
“I love our country and am honored to have been asked to sing at the Inauguration and to be a small part of this historic event,” Underwood’s statement read. “I am humbled to answer the call at a time when we must all come together in the spirit of unity and looking to the future.”
Fans immediately reacted to the news, some threatening to boycott her music while others praised her for her willingness to appear, knowing that she would likely face backlash.
Carrie’s performance at the upcoming inauguration doesn’t necessarily reveal her party affiliation or suggest that she supports Donald Trump.
Other country stars have performed at inauguration ceremonies for presidents that didn’t line up with their political views.
In 2021, Toby Keith, a vocal right-wing conservative, sang for President Joe Biden’s swearing-in ceremony. Garth Brooks also performed at the event, singing “Amazing Grace” despite being of a different party affiliation than Biden.
“I might be the only Republican at this place, but it’s about reaching across and loving one another,” Brooks told ABC News at the time, saying that he’s “so tired of being divided.”
Other country artists who have performed at the historical event include Brad Paisley, who was tapped to sing at an event for Barack Obama’s second inaugural ceremony, and Brooks & Dunn, who performed at George W. Bush’s swearing-in in 2001.
Watch Toby Keith perform at Donald Trump’s 2017 inauguration in the video below. Watch Carrie Underwood sing “America The Beautiful” at Trump’s second inauguration on Monday, January 20, at 11 a.m. CST.
