In 2017, Donald Trump struggled to find big names to perform at his inauguration, and his team was reportedly spurned by stars including Elton John, Garth Brooks, et Celine Dion. For the second round, Trump’s outreach has been slightly more successful, and in addition to his usual group of favorites, the cases will include a previously apolitical pop country star.
Monday, in a statement to The Daily Beast, Carrie Underwood said his choice to sing at the inauguration was motivated by a desire for national unity. “I love our country and I am honored to have been invited to sing at the inauguration and to be a small part of this historic event,” she said. “I am honored to answer this call at a time when we must all come together in unity and look to the future. »
The president-elect’s transition team told The Daily Beast that the country star would sing “America the Beautiful.” She will be accompanied by the Armed Forces Choir and the United States Naval Academy Glee Club.
In 2019, the American idol former student said The guardian that she wanted to avoid publicly discussing her politics. “I try to stay away from politics if possible, at least in public, because no one wins,” she said, adding that she felt frustrated when certain songs were interpreted as political statements . “It’s crazy. Everyone’s trying to sum it all up and put a bow on it, like it’s black and white. And it’s not like that.
Underwood will be joined on stage by a classical singer Christopher D. Macchio, who sang the opera standard “Nessun Dorma” on the final night of the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. According to the AP, Trump is the favorite Lee Greenwood and the Village People will also perform at the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The Village People explained their decision to perform in a statement posted on their official Facebook page. “We know this won’t please some of you, but we believe music should be played without regard to politics,” it reads. “Our song ‘YMCA’ is a global anthem that will hopefully help bring the country together after a tumultuous and divided campaign in which our favorite candidate lost. That’s why we believe now is the time to bring the country together through music.”
