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American Idol winner Carrie Underwood sang at the second inauguration of Donald Trump. While she defended the reason behind her willingness to perform, fans unleashed backlash online. Additionally, Underwood’s performance didn’t go flawlessly, as technical mishaps plagued her. Here’s what an insider said about Underwood “wondering” whether her choice to perform was “worth” her efforts.

‘American Idol’ winner Carrie Underwood might be regretting her inauguration performance, a source says

Country sensation Carrie Underwood shocked some fans by agreeing to perform at the second inauguration of President Donald Trump. She sang “America the Beautiful” inside the Capitol Rotunda in Washington, D.C. Unfortunately, the performance didn’t go as flawlessly as she hoped. While the organizers originally had her set to perform outdoors, she moved indoors due to the cold. She then experienced technical difficulties at the start, prompting her to sing acapella and encourage the politicians to join.

Before Underwood took the stage, she gave a confident response to the backlash. “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 told People. “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.”

Now that the inauguration is over, a source told The U.S. Sun that Underwood had a “very different experience” than originally pitched.

“How the performance was pitched to her and how it ended up going were two very different experiences,” the insider revealed. “Most of that had to do with the event being moved indoors, which decreased the guest list and how many people she could bring with her — something she was not happy about. She’s proud of herself for how she handled such a chaotic situation, but I think she’s second-guessing this whole thing and wondering if it was worth it.”

Another source claimed Carrie Underwood wished she had a ‘stage or platform’ to perform on

Carrie Underwood holding a microphone to her mouth and singing with her left hand up amongst a crowd of politicians.
Carrie Underwood performs at the inauguration of Donald Trump | Kenny Holston/The New York Times
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Carrie Underwood sang “America the Beautiful” amongst the crowd gathered in the Capitol Rotunda. She stood on the same level as everyone else while belting out the notes acapella. A source revealed to DailyMail.com that the country superstar wished she had a “stage or platform, even” to perform on.

“Carrie was dissatisfied with her performance at the event, primarily due to the limited space she was given, which left her feeling cramped and uncomfortable,” the source alleged. “Her anxiety was high throughout the performance, and she felt that she was not afforded the same level of respect or admiration that previous performers, such as Beyoncé and Lady Gaga, had received.”

The insider added that Underwood felt she was “just in a room with people all around her and a microphone,” which “threw off the acoustics.”

Whoopi Goldberg supported the country singer’s choice

Some stars, like Ariana Grande and Mandy Moore, subtly shaded Carrie Underwood’s decision to perform at the inauguration. However, Whoopi Goldberg stood by the country star.

“I stand behind her,” Goldberg said on The View, according to USA Today. “If I believe I have the right to make up my mind to go perform someplace, I believe they have the same right. So I have to support (her). It doesn’t mean I’m particularly interested in watching. I won’t be watching. But that’s me.”

Co-hosts Joy Behar and Sunny Hostin were less understanding. They both said they would give a hard pass to the opportunity given Trump’s politics.

American Idol Season 23 premieres on ABC on March 9, 2025.

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