Carrie Underwoods performance of “America the Beautiful” at Donald TrumpMonday’s inauguration was awkwardly interrupted by an audio glitch, prompting the Grammy winner and accompanying chorus to sing the patriotic song a cappella.
After Trump delivered his inaugural address, Underwood and the Armed Forces Chorus were introduced in the rotunda. “America the Beautiful” began to play as Underwood took her place, but the sound suddenly broke just seconds into the song. After a long awkward pause, a White House official appeared to prompt Underwood to sing without music. Underwood then told the crowd, “You know the words, help me here,” before singing the song a cappella.
The “American Idol” winner has faced strong backlash since she announced her inaugural performance on January 13. However, she is not without her supporters. In a surprising twist, Whoopi Goldberg, who has been an outspoken critic of Trump for years, supported Underwood’s decision to appear on a recent episode of “The View.”
“I stand behind (Underwood),” Goldberg said. “If I think I have the right to decide to perform somewhere, I think (she has) the same right. I have to support. It doesn’t mean I’m particularly interested. I won’t watch, but that’s just me .”
The EGOT winner stressed that “art is art and you have the right to perform where you want to perform.”
Following Underwood’s announcement of her inauguration performance, she issued this statement: “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. I am humbled to answer the call at a time when we must all come together in a spirit of unity and look to the future.”
