Carrie Underwood is set to light up the stage in the President Donald Trump inaugural event on January 20, 2025, where she is expected to perform “America the Beautiful.” The news has drawn quite a wide attention considering the fact that the 2005 “American Idol” winner Carrie Underwood enjoys an immense name in country music and exudes a sound connection with American values. This performance would surely be a time of musical splendor and patriotic high.
Underwood’s performance will come shortly after Vice President-elect JD Vance is sworn in, but before Trump himself is sworn in for a second term. She will perform alongside two prestigious musical ensembles: the Armed Forces Choir and the United States Naval Academy Glee Club. Both of them will contribute a very special and solemn flavor to the event, against the grandeur of the U.S. Capitol. This moment will not only celebrate the swearing-in of the nation’s leader but will also honor the strength and unity of the American people.
“America the Beautiful,” one of those favorite hymns that has accompanied so many moments in American history, was aptly chosen for this very important day. The song, with its rousing lyrics and themes of national pride, deeply resonates with many Americans. Underwood’s version will more than likely be one of the defining moments of the inauguration and will showcase not only her vocals but also how she can make any song so relatable on an emotional level.
Underwood is from Oklahoma and has for years been the poster child for Middle America’s values. Having never been vocal about her political leanings, her involvement in this inauguration definitely suggests that she is willing to use her voice as part of a moment that will mean so much to the nation in its new political era. It will further be a sequel to her career habit of performing at landmark events in the nation. She has also sung at the Super Bowl and has appeared regularly for a range of charity events and festivals celebrating the work of American servicemen and women.
The decision to have Underwood perform is all the more striking in light of the deep political divisions within America. In the years since the election, celebrities have faced backlash for their political allegiances and actions, particularly when those actions involve performances at high-profile events such as presidential inaugurations. But Underwood’s choice suggests a larger push by the Trump campaign to involve influential cultural voices with a significant and diverse following who can represent a semblance of national unity.
While Underwood’s performance was a high point of the inauguration, it is also one of many talents in the musical program that seems to include other highly regarded artists and performers. The general theme of the inauguration seemed to focus on American pride, and that chosen musical pieces supported.
Underwood’s performance of “America the Beautiful” will be a key moment in the lead-up to the historic moment, capturing the spirit of the day and celebrating the resilience and diversity of the United States. With her powerful voice and the inclusion of the Armed Forces Choir and Naval Academy Glee Club, this will surely leave a mark and set the tone of respect and reverence for the transition into a new political era.
A performance like this one from Carrie Underwood reminds us that, in its myriad forms, music is central to the national consciousness, linking the people by their experiences and exaltation of all that American means.
