Carrie Underwood to Perform at Trump Inauguration

Country star Carrie Underwood is scheduled to perform at the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump next week — marking one of the first times the Trump administration has secured a performance by such a high-profile star.

Trump will be inaugurated as the 47th president of the United States on January 20 at the US Capitol. In a statement to CNN, Underwood noted, “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 the time when we must all come together in the spirit of unity and looking to the future,” Underwood said.

She is slated to perform “America the Beautiful” shortly before he takes oath of office.

Underwood’s appearance at the inauguration is big news for the Trump administration; throughout his career, Trump has been unable to receive support from big-name stars. Multiple artists objected or threatened to sue the administration for using their music at rallies without their consent, including The Black Keys, Rihanna, Beyonce, and Foo Fighters.

Additionally, during the Republican National Convention last year, Trump was seen onstage with only two notable stars: musician Kid Rock — who is known specifically for his conservative views — and retired WWE wrestler Hulk Hogan.

Underwood, who rose to fame in the early 2000s after winning season four of “American Idol” in 2005, has gone on to be a superstar in the country music scene. To-date, she’s released albums, garnering attention with smash-hits like “Before He Cheats,” “Church Bells,” and “Jesus, Take the Wheel.”

Currently, Underwood is the face of Sunday Night Football and is set to make her debut as a judge on ABC’s “American Idol” this March. While she has kept her political views quiet over the years, country stars have been known to align with the Republican party — aside from newcomers like Mickey Guyton and Maren Morris.

Alongside Underwood, Village People will perform at multiple pre-inauguration events; Trump has been known to use the group’s “Y.M.C.A.” at various rallies and presidential campaigns over the years. Other acts reportedly scheduled to perform include country stars Jason Aldean, Rascal Flatts, Kid Rock, and Billy Ray Cyrus.