“Carrie Underwood Faces Fierce Backlash Over Trump Inauguration Performance!”
Carrie Underwood is facing intense backlash after announcing she will perform at Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20. The 41-year-old country star is set to sing “America the Beautiful,” sparking outrage among fans on social media.
Critics have accused Underwood of aligning with Trump, with one Instagram user commenting, “So gross that you’re supporting Trump! History won’t forget.” Another fan on X announced they were boycotting her music, saying, “Carrie Underwood is at Trump’s inauguration, so I’m blocking her on all apps.” LGBTQ fans also expressed disappointment, accusing her of betraying her previous support for gay rights.
In a statement, Underwood said, “I love our country and am honored to have been asked to sing at the Inauguration… at a time when we must all come together in the spirit of unity.”
Underwood, who did not endorse any candidate in the 2024 election, previously made headlines in 2017 for a Trump parody performance at the CMAs that mocked his social media habits. Despite her efforts to stay politically neutral, her inauguration appearance has reignited debates about her stance.
In a 2017 parody performance at the Country Music Awards, Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley humorously mocked Donald Trump’s Twitter habits, singing lines like, “Right now, he’s probably in his PJs, reaching for his cellphone… asking Siri, ‘How in the hell do you spell Pocahontas?’” They also referenced Trump’s infamous “covfefe” tweet and his feuds with politicians and public figures, closing with a warning about the risks of impulsive tweets sparking global tensions.
Underwood later sparked controversy in 2021 after “liking” a video of blogger Matt Walsh opposing school mask mandates during a Covid-19 meeting in Nashville. Fans expressed disappointment, accusing her of supporting anti-mask and anti-vaccine sentiments. “Dolly Parton helped fund the Moderna vaccine. Carrie Underwood is helping spread anti-mask & antivaxx misinformation,” one fan tweeted. Others contrasted her actions with fellow American Idol alum Kelly Clarkson, dubbing Clarkson the “forever best winner.”
Underwood, who rose to fame after winning American Idol in 2005, returned to the show last year as a guest judge. Despite her efforts to avoid overt political statements, her actions have repeatedly sparked debates among fans.
Country music star Carrie Underwood is set to perform “America the Beautiful” at President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20, according to the inaugural committee.
“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,” said Underwood, who has largely avoided political commentary during her career. “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.”
Underwood, a Grammy-winning artist and 2005 American Idol winner, joins a lineup of performers marking Trump’s return to the White House after defeating Vice President Kamala Harris in the Nov. 5 election.
The lead-up to the 2024 election saw artists like Beyoncé, Celine Dion, Neil Young, and Guns N’ Roses request Trump stop using their music, a continuation of disputes from his 2016 campaign. However, he has received vocal support from rapper Waka Flocka Flame and country singers Kid Rock and Billy Ray Cyrus.
(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington and Helen Coster in New York; Writing by Jasper Ward; Editing by David Gregorio)