Jason Aldean Praises Carrie Underwood’s Impromptu “America the Beautiful” Performance at Trump’s Inauguration
Country star Jason Aldean had high praise for Carrie Underwood after her unplanned a cappella rendition of “America the Beautiful” during Donald Trump’s inauguration on Monday. “First of all, it’s a hard song to do anyway,” Aldean, 47, said on Fox & Friends. “You’re supposed to be singing to a track that helps you with pitch reference. To not have that and just say, ‘Alright, I’ll do it,’ is a big deal—very professional on her part. I thought it was great.”
Underwood, 41, was set to perform with music, but technical issues forced her to sing without accompaniment. The “American Idol” alum stood poised at the microphone as a crew member informed her of the problem. “Just sing?” she asked. “I can just sing it.” Addressing the room, Underwood said, “You know the words—help me out here,” before launching into the patriotic anthem.
Before the event, Underwood told The Post, “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 the spirit of unity and looking to the future.”
Meanwhile, Aldean performed later that night at the Liberty Ball, an event honoring Trump’s supporters. “Every time I think I’ve done it all… this was a whole different ball game,” Aldean said. “It was a huge honor to be there. It just felt electric—everyone’s excited for this new chapter of where we’re headed.” Aldean’s wife, Brittany, 36, echoed his excitement on Instagram: “Today has made all the scrutiny worth it. Wouldn’t change a thing.”
Underwood’s decision to perform at the inauguration sparked controversy from some critics, including “The View” co-hosts. While Whoopi Goldberg said, “I stand behind her,” Sunny Hostin noted that she’d have given a “hard no.” Alyssa Farah Griffin speculated that Underwood’s appearance was “a business decision” that could lead to “a lot of money.”
Singer Lee Greenwood, who performed “God Bless the USA” at the event, defended Underwood: “I pity those people that think they have to reach out to a star like her and run some negativity past her when all you have to do is say, ‘Thank you for performing for our next president.’ He is the next president. Come on—stop the negative crap.”
Underwood has generally kept her political views private. “There is someone I do support, but I don’t support publicly,” she said in 2008, explaining that she loses respect for celebrities who publicly back a candidate. “It’s saying that the American public isn’t smart enough to make their own decisions,” Underwood said. “I would never want anybody to vote for anything or anybody just because I told them to.”
