Carrie Underwood to perform at Trump's inauguration: What she'll sing
What's the story
Country music star Carrie Underwood is set to perform at President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration, adding her voice to the historic event. Underwood will sing America the Beautiful during the ceremony on January 20, as confirmed by a spokesperson for the inaugural committee and an official program copy obtained by CNN. Sharing her excitement, Underwood reportedly said, "I love our country and am honored to have been asked to sing at the Inauguration."
Inauguration details
Underwood aside, other performers at Trump's inauguration
Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts will administer the swearing-in ceremony, while Justice Brett Kavanaugh will oversee the oath of office for Vice President-elect JD Vance. The event is part of a four-day schedule released by the committee planning Trump's inaugural ceremonies. The inauguration will also see performances by country singer Lee Greenwood and opera singer Christopher Macchio. While Greenwood will perform as Trump takes the oath, Macchio has been selected by Trump to sing the National Anthem.
Career highlights
Underwood's career and political stance
Underwood, a Grammy Award-winning artist with many platinum hits, is also known as the face of Sunday Night Football. She will make her debut as a judge on ABC's American Idol in March, the same show that catapulted her career when she won in 2005. Despite this high-profile alignment with Trump, Underwood has largely kept her political views private throughout her career.
First inauguration
Who took the stage at Trump's 2017 inauguration?
To recall, Trump's 2017 inauguration saw performances by America's Got Talent runner-up Jackie Evancho, country star Toby Keith, and rock band 3 Doors Down, who faced backlash from fans. Guitarist Chris Henderson defended their decision, calling it "a once-in-a-lifetime chance to do something for your country." In contrast, several stars, including Moby, Kiss, Idina Menzel, and Charlotte Church, publicly declined to participate. Meanwhile, Joe Biden's 2021 ceremony featured a star-studded lineup, including Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, and Katy Perry.