Country star Carrie Underwood has announced her participation in Donald Trump’s inauguration, prompting curiosity about her political stance.
The 41-year-old artist, hailing from Oklahoma, has generally refrained from sharing her political opinions. However, her scheduled performance in Washington D.C. on January 20 has led to speculation about her potential alignment with the Republican Party.
Underwood has maintained a level of secrecy regarding her political leanings but did release a statement regarding her inauguration appearance. She is set to perform ‘America The Beautiful’ at the event.
Talking to PEOPLE, she said: “I love our country and am honoured to have been asked to sing at the Inauguration and to be a small part of this historic event.
“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.”
The American Idol winner’s performance for the incoming president was confirmed on Monday by a Presidential Inaugural Committee spokesperson.
Underwood has previously spoken out about her political views, refusing to be aligned with one party despite a report in 2012 claiming she was a registered Republican.
“I feel like more people try to pin me places politically,” she told The Guardian in 2019.
“I try to stay far out of politics if possible, at least in public, because nobody wins. 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.”
“It does kind of bug me when people take a song or take something I said and try to pigeonhole or force me to pick a side or something” she added.
“It’s a discussion – a long discussion.”
The singer previously came under fire for her song The Bullet about the emotional turmoil caused when someone dies from being shot which many saw as a song about gun control.
But, Underwood argued that “it was more about the lives that were changed by something terrible happening.”
In 2017, she and fellow country star Brad Paisley mocked Trump by changing the lyrics to her best-known song “Before He Cheats” to “before he tweets.”
The upcoming 47th Presidential Inauguration is not the first ceremony she has performed at with appearances being made for both Democratic and Republican figures.
Carrie Underwood’s Family
The American Idol winner had relationships with Chace Crawford and Tony Romo but she ultimately walked down the aisle with Mike Fisher.
Mike is a Canadian retired hockey player from Peterborough, Ontario.
In October 1999, Fisher made his NHL debut with the Ottawa Senators.
He played for the Senators until he was traded to the Nashville Predators.
One of the reasons he agreed to the trade was so he could be close to his wife Carrie.
On December 20, 2009, Carrie and her former hockey captain hubby announced their engagement.
On July 10, 2010, Carrie Underwood and Mike tied the knot after almost two years of dating.
More than 250 people were in attendance at their wedding ceremony at The Ritz-Carlton Lodge in Greensboro, Georgia.
Carrie’s engagement ring from Mike features a yellow diamond and was valued at $150K.
In February 2015, the couple welcomed their first child; a son named Isaiah.
In January 2019, the singer and the pro athlete expanded their family further with the birth of their second son Jacob.
Underwood sang at the inaugurations of George W. Bush and Mike Huckabee as well as for Democrat Barack Obama.
She has long spoken about being a Christian and about her love for her country and community values and while she has urged people to go and vote, her political affiliations remain unclear.
Despite this, her decision to perform at the Capitol on Monday has left many unhappy including American Idol producers.
Back in 2008, she wrote on her website: “I lose all respect for celebrities when they back a candidate” and it seems some of her fans feel the same.
“So, to summarize: If a man cheats, Carrie Underwood will take a baseball bat to his car. But if a man cheats and rapes, she’ll sing at his inauguration,” one fan wrote on social media.
A second wrote: “Carrie Underwood, imagine the absolute tone-deafness of thinking that performing at the inauguration of a convicted felon and known adulterer (that’s 2 of 10, right???) would help heal the country.
“I think you’ve just damaged your own legacy and the future of American Idol.”
“REALLY, Carrie Underwood? You think Donald Trump stands for unity? Just say you don’t give a f*** about any minority group & move along,” a third fumed.
“Very disappointing. I honestly thought you stood for honesty and high standards,” another said.
Underwood’s American Idol colleagues Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, and Ryan Seacrest are said to have been taken aback by the news of her performance.
Meanwhile, disco group Village People is also set to perform at the inauguration after their hit “Y.M.C.A” became an anthem for Trump’s campaign.
