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Country music superstar Carrie Underwood has confirmed she will perform "America the Beautiful" at President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration ceremony on January 20, 2025, marking a significant moment in her career and the nation's political landscape.
"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," Underwood stated to People magazine. "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 announcement represents a notable shift in the entertainment industry's relationship with Trump's presidency. While previous Trump events struggled to attract A-list performers, securing Underwood, a multi-Grammy winner and one of country music's most prominent stars, signals a potential change in the cultural landscape surrounding his second term.
The 41-year-old American Idol winner has historically maintained a careful distance from political discourse. In a 2019 interview with The Guardian, she expressed her preference to avoid political statements, noting, "I try to stay far out of politics if possible, at least in public, because nobody wins."
The inauguration ceremony, to be held at the U.S. Capitol, will feature Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts administering the presidential oath of office, while Justice Brett Kavanaugh will swear in Vice President-elect JD Vance, according to CNN's reporting of the inaugural program.
Underwood's participation is particularly noteworthy given her previous public interaction with Trump-related content. During the 2017 Country Music Association Awards, she and Brad Paisley performed a parody of her hit "Before He Cheats," modified to playfully critique Trump's Twitter habits with the line "before he tweets."
