Carrie Underwood has recently made a big decision to perform at President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration next week. For many, her choice is a sign of hope for unity—something we could all use more of these days.
The country star, known for her “American Idol” roots, announced she would be singing “America the Beautiful” before Trump takes the oath of office on January 20. She’ll be joined by the Armed Forces Chorus and the United States Naval Academy Glee Club. But not everyone is on board with her performance.
In an effort to address the potential backlash ahead of time, Carrie released a statement to several news outlets, including The New York Times and Variety. She shared her thoughts on why she took the offer: “I love our country and am honored to have been asked to sing at the Inauguration… 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.”
But will her message of unity be enough to calm the storm brewing online? One writer, Olivia Craighead, shared her feelings in The Cut, calling the news of Carrie’s performance “horrible” for fans who are torn between loving Underwood’s music and not supporting Trump. It seems some people are having a hard time reconciling the two.
And the reactions haven’t been limited to just news articles. Longtime fan account Carrie Underwood Charts made waves by announcing they were changing their name to “Megan Moroney Stats” in honor of rising country artist Megan Moroney. Though the account didn’t directly mention Carrie’s performance for Trump, many followers couldn’t help but notice the timing.
Carrie, for her part, has generally stayed away from talking politics. She’s publicly supported same-sex marriage in 2012 and has previously stated that she tries to stay out of politics to avoid unnecessary drama. In a 2019 interview with The Guardian, she explained, “Nobody wins. It’s crazy.” She also mentioned that political issues are rarely black and white, making them hard to sum up in simple terms.
Still, Carrie’s fans are paying attention to every move, especially after she liked a video in 2021 by right-wing podcaster Matt Walsh, who criticized COVID-19 mask mandates for children. Was that a hint of support for conservative views? The debate continues.
Carrie’s performance at the inauguration is sure to spark more conversations, but whether it brings people together or drives them further apart is something we’ll have to wait and see.
