When it was announced that Carrie Underwood would perform at Donald Trump’s inauguration, it stirred up a lot of reactions. Many people were upset about her decision, especially since the event was so controversial.
But even with all the attention and criticism, Carrie had to face even more challenges at the ceremony itself. What happened during the event was unexpected, but she handled it like a true professional.
The Performance at the Inauguration:
Carrie Underwood had the honor of being the first artist to sing after Donald Trump’s inaugural speech. The speech was about 30 minutes long, and it marked the beginning of his second term as President of the United States. When Carrie stepped up to perform “America the Beautiful,” she faced a big problem: the sound system stopped working.
She was standing in the Capitol Rotunda, facing a crowd that included former President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. But there was no background music to help her sing. The sound was totally off, and the technical glitch left her with no music to accompany her voice.
Instead of panicking, Carrie quickly made a decision. She decided to perform the song a cappella, which means she would sing without any music at all. Even though it was a tough situation, Carrie stayed calm and sang the song beautifully. She hit all the difficult notes and still made it sound incredible.
I mean…let’s just have one more conversation about what freaking class act @carrieunderwood was today. Not only did she wing it flawlessly, she invited the crowd, and she didn’t run away with the song or add anything crazy. It was a group project and she sounded like an angel pic.twitter.com/TPY9Oi8qVK
— Kira (@RealKiraDavis) January 20, 2025
Carrie was dressed in a gorgeous, sleeveless white gown, which flowed gracefully as she sang. The audience was so moved by her performance that many of them began to sing along with her. Her version of “America the Beautiful” touched many hearts, especially those who were there for the big moment.
A Warm Reception from Leaders:
After she finished singing, Carrie received praise from several important figures in the crowd. Former President Joe Biden shook her hand and appeared to say, “Great job” to her. Carrie also met President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, both of whom exchanged warm words with her. Despite the political tension, there seemed to be respect between the leaders and the singer.
Mixed Reactions to Her Decision:
Although many people in the crowd seemed to enjoy her performance, not everyone was happy with Carrie’s decision to perform at the inauguration. Some fans were upset, especially people in the LGBTQ+ community. These fans had supported Carrie because of her song “Love Wins,” released in 2017. The song speaks out against divisive politics and encourages people to be kind and inclusive. The lyrics include lines like:
“Politics and prejudice / How the hell’d it ever come to this?” and
“When everybody’s got to pick a side / It don’t matter if you’re wrong or right.”
These words made many fans believe Carrie was on their side, supporting things like same-sex marriage and equality. So when she agreed to perform at an event with Donald Trump, who was a divisive figure in politics, some fans felt hurt and disappointed. They didn’t understand how she could support him after promoting unity and love in her music.
Defending Her Choice:
Despite the criticism, there were also people who defended Carrie. One of her supporters, Whoopi Goldberg, spoke out about the situation on an episode of The View. She explained that while she herself wouldn’t be watching the inauguration, she believed Carrie had the right to make her own choice:
“If I believe I have the right to make up my mind to go perform somewhere, I believe she has the same right,” Goldberg said.
She reminded people that every artist has the freedom to decide where and when they perform, even if their choice isn’t popular with everyone. This message of personal freedom was important, especially in a time when people disagreed about so many things.
What Do You Think?
Carrie Underwood’s performance at the 2025 Presidential Inauguration was a moment that got people talking. Some admired her ability to stay calm and deliver such a powerful a cappella performance, even with all the technical issues. Others questioned why she chose to be part of an event that was so divisive.
What do you think about Carrie Underwood’s performance and her decision to participate in this historic day? Do you think she made the right choice? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!
