Carrie Underwood’s performance of “America the Beautiful” at Donald Trump’s inauguration on Monday was awkwardly interrupted by an audio error, prompting the Grammy winner and accompanying choir to sing the patriotic tune a cappella.
After Trump delivered his inauguration speech, Underwood and the Armed Forces Choir were ushered into the rotunda. “America the Beautiful” began to play as Underwood took his place, but the sound suddenly cut out a few seconds into the song. After a long, awkward pause, a White House official appeared to prompt Underwood to sing without the music. Underwood then told the crowd, “You know the words, help me here,” before singing the tune a cappella.
The American Idol winner has faced strong backlash since announcing her January 13 nomination performance. However, she is not without her supporters. To everyone’s surprise, Whoopi Goldberg, who has been an outspoken critic of Trump for years, supported Underwood’s decision to perform on a recent episode of “The View.”
“I’m behind (Underwood),” Goldberg said. “If I believe I have the right to decide to go play somewhere, I believe she has the same right. I have to support. That doesn’t mean I’m particularly interested. I won’t watch, but that’s just me.
The EGOT winner emphasized that “art is art and you have the right to perform wherever you want.”
Upon Underwood’s announcement of her inauguration performance, she released this statement: “I love our country and am honored to have been invited to sing at the inauguration and take a small part in this historical event. I am honored to answer this call at a time when we must all come together in unity and look to the future.
