Now We Know What Carrie Underwood Said When Music Wouldn't Play at Inauguration - She's the Ultimate Pro

If anyone needs a clearer example of how things have shifted now that Donald Trump is back in the Oval Office, just look at Carrie Underwood.
This isn’t solely about Underwood performing at Trump’s inauguration—though the celebrities who stepped up to perform in Washington serve as further evidence that the cultural barriers surrounding anything Trump-related have crumbled, much to the frustration of the left.
It’s more about how she handled her rendition of “America the Beautiful” at the Capitol on Monday, particularly in the face of a technical hiccup.
The performance followed Trump’s inaugural address. Underwood, accompanied by the Armed Forces Chorus, stepped forward to deliver the patriotic classic, as reported by Variety.
However, the audio suddenly failed.
For a moment, it seemed like the performance was doomed. Yet, Underwood not only salvaged it—she arguably elevated it.
First, she calmly mouthed, “I can just sing it.”
Then, she rallied support from the crowd.
“You know the words, help me out here,” she told the audience. With that, Underwood launched into an a cappella version of the song, joined by voices from across the Capitol rotunda.
*Music not playing*@carrieunderwood: “I can just sing it” pic.twitter.com/C8bu4laFNt
— Kit Maher (@KitMaherCNN) January 20, 2025
If that doesn’t bring a tear to your eye, maybe it’s time to retreat to your safe space.
It wasn’t just the stunning vocal delivery from the “American Idol” alum and “Jesus, Take the Wheel” singer. It was also her grace and composure in the moment.
It’s one thing to sing that well, it’s another to carry yourself that well. She turned a technical issue into a beautiful moment
— Benjamin (@Mister_D7) January 21, 2025
As one observer aptly pointed out, Underwood’s performance was a refreshing reminder that the meritocracy is back:
This is what happens when you hire based upon merit. No music, no problem.🍻
— QuillFire (@QuillFirePoetry) January 20, 2025
And if more proof is needed that merit hasn’t always been the standard at inauguration performances, recall that Beyoncé lip-synced the national anthem at Barack Obama’s second inauguration in 2013.
There was no lip-syncing here — any such attempt would have been glaringly obvious.
America and merit are back. If there’s a more apolitical yet powerful symbol of this truth than Underwood’s breathtaking performance, I challenge you to find it.