Carrie Underwood says her resolution to carry out at President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration subsequent week was motivated by a hope for “unity.”
The “American Idol” veteran and nation star left her followers divided Monday when she confirmed plans to carry out “America the Beautiful,” accompanied by the Armed Forces Refrain and america Naval Academy Glee Membership, earlier than Trump takes the oath of workplace on Jan. 20.
She appeared to preemptively tackle any criticisms of her efficiency in a press release issued to The New York Occasions and Selection, amongst different shops.
“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,” she mentioned. “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.”
Craig T Fruchtman through Getty Photos
Whether or not these remarks can be sufficient to quell the backlash stays to be seen. In an article for The Reduce revealed Monday, information author Olivia Craighead deemed Underwood’s inauguration efficiency “horrible news for those of us who hate [Trump] but love singing ‘Before He Cheats’ at karaoke,” referring to the musician’s smash 2006 single.
In the meantime, longtime fan account Carrie Underwood Charts mentioned Monday on X, previously referred to as Twitter, that it might rebrand itself as “Megan Moroney Stats” in honor of rising nation artist Megan Moroney. Although the account didn’t cite Underwood’s plans to carry out for Trump as the rationale for the identify change, the timing didn’t go unnoticed by the account’s followers.
We Want Your Assist
Already contributed? Log in to cover these messages.
Underwood, for her half, has averted discussing her political opinions in interviews ― although she did categorical her help for same-sex marriage in 2012.
“I try to stay far out of politics if possible, at least in public, because nobody wins. It’s crazy,” she advised The Guardian in 2019. “Everybody tries to sum everything up and put a bow on it, like it’s black and white. And it’s not like that.”
Nonetheless, she appeared to trace at supporting sure conservative beliefs in 2021, when she appreciated a video posted on X by right-wing podcaster Matt Walsh, wherein he denounced COVID-19 masks mandates for youngsters.
