New American Idol judge Carrie Underwood was recently announced to perform at President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration ceremony next week. The country star, who has previously avoided discussing politics, received backlash from fans on social media following the news.
Carrie Underwood to Perform at Donald Trump’s Inauguration
Trump’s inauguration ceremony, during which he will be sworn in for his second nonconsecutive term as President of the United States, is scheduled for January 20. Underwood will reportedly be on hand to perform “America the Beautiful,” accompanied by the Armed Forces Chorus and the United States Naval Academy Glee Club
“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 told E! News in a statement. “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.”
In the past, Underwood has avoided discussing her political views. In 2019, she told The Guardian that she tries to “stay far out of politics if possible, at least in public, because nobody wins,” adding, “It’s crazy. Everybody tries to sum everything up and put a bow on it, like it’s black and white. And it’s not like that.”
She also expressed frustration with people’s attempts to “pigeonhole or force me to pick a side or something,” using her 2018 song “The Bullet” (which addresses gun violence) as an example.
Following the news that Underwood will be performing at the inauguration, quite a few people took to social media to share their disappointment in the singer’s choice to seemingly support Trump. They shared their honest thoughts on X (formerly Twitter).
“Carrie Underwood Jesus is about to take the wheel and drive your career right into the toilet,” wrote one user. Another accused Underwood of being “another MAGA clown supporting sexual predators while praying to God.”
Others weren’t surprised that Underwood would choose to perform for Trump, with one user writing that “the signs were there.” Another wrote, “Apparently I’m the only one who remembers Carrie Underwood becoming some weird anti-vax person in 2020 and is completely not shocked at her performing at Trump’s inauguration.”
Some users even took the opportunity to praise Kelly Clarkson as “the best American Idol winner.” It remains to be seen whether Underwood’s inauguration performance will affect viewership for Idol when she joins the show as a judge in March.
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Jill O'Rourke Jill O’Rourke is a contributor at Talent Recap, writing news stories and recaps for shows like ‘AGT,’ ‘The Voice,’ and ‘American Idol.’ She graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in English and Film Studies, and has been writing about pop culture since 2012, with previous bylines at Crushable and A Plus. Jill spends her free time binge-watching sitcoms and daydreaming about life as a hobbit
