Jason Aldean has broken his silence on Carrie Underwood’s performance at Donald Trump’s inauguration in the U.S. Capitol.
Underwood’s scheduled rendition of America The Beautiful was hit by shock technical difficulties on Monday, leading the chart-topper to perform a cappella due to issues with the backing track.
Meanwhile Aldean, 47, performed later that night at the inaugural Liberty Ball amid a lineup that included the Village People, Snoop Dogg, Billy Ray Cyrus and Nelly.
Aldean, who released the smash hit duet If I Didn’t Love You with Underwood in 2021, has now given his take on his old colleague’s ‘big move.’
He hailed Underwood for handling the hurdles she encountered like a ‘pro,’ observing that America The Beautiful is already ‘hard’ to sing.
The Dirty Road Anthem hitmaker, who is a vocal supporter of the president, added that it was a ‘big move’ for Underwood to sing a cappella, on Fox And Friends.
Jason Aldean has broken his silence on Carrie Underwood’s performance at Donald Trump’s inauguration in the U.S. Capitol, in an interview on Fox And Friends this Tuesday (pictured)
Underwood’s scheduled rendition of America The Beautiful was hit by shock technical difficulties on Monday, leading the chart-topper to perform a cappella
‘First of all, it’s a hard song to do anyway, and you know, when you’re supposed to be singing to a track and that’s what gives you pitch reference for the song,’ he noted.
‘And to not have that, for her to just kinda say: “All right, listen, we’ll go.” That’s a big move and that’s a pro move on her part, so I thought it was great,’ he said.
The remarks come amid claims Underwood felt she had not been ‘afforded the same level of respect’ as the likes of Beyoncé and Lady Gaga for her performance at Donald Trump’s 2025 Presidential Inauguration, sources have revealed.
Following the performance, an insider exclusively revealed to DailyMail.com that the singer, 41, was furious over the fact she wasn’t given a ‘stage or platform even’ like previous performers.
This was presumably because the event was moved inside at the last minute on Friday as extreme cold weather was predicted for the capital on Monday.
However, the insider explained that this had a large impact on the singer’s performance, revealing: ‘Carrie was dissatisfied with her performance at the event, primarily due to the limited space she was given, which left her feeling cramped and uncomfortable.’
The source added: ‘Her anxiety was high throughout the performance, and she felt that she was not afforded the same level of respect or admiration that previous performers, such as Beyoncé and Lady Gaga, had received.
‘She felt as if she was ushered in and out and had a mini hissy fit afterwards.’
Meanwhile Aldean, 47, performed later that night at the inaugural Liberty Ball (pictured) amid a lineup that included the Village People, Snoop Dogg, Billy Ray Cyrus and Nelly
The remarks come amid claims Underwood felt she had not been ‘afforded the same level of respect’ as the likes of Beyoncé and Lady Gaga
The insider continued: ‘She is used to playing at massive venues with a stage to herself. She was not given a stage or a platform even.
‘She felt like she was literally just in a room with people all around her and a microphone. This threw off the acoustics.’
DailyMail.com has reached out for comment.
In reference to Carrie’s reaction, a second source has since added: ‘Though her performance wasn’t ideal, nor was it what she wanted it to be as she wanted it to go down without a hitch, the fact that there was some awkwardness getting things going just added to the unique nature of it all.
‘She will eventually laugh about it and take it for what it was, but she is disappointed that it wasn’t more of a moment as the moment she was searching for got altered with the technical difficulties.’
They continued to add that the star was still ‘proud of herself’ that she was ‘able to save it from being a total disaster.’
They concluded: ‘Though it isn’t her day, and she just wanted to add to the day and not upstage anything, she was annoyed of how it turned out.’
Indeed, Underwood and the President, 78, were left grimacing when the backing track began playing and then skidded to a halt.
An insider exclusively revealed to DailyMail.com that the singer was furious over the fact she wasn’t given a ‘stage or platform even’ like previous performers
Beyoncé and Lady Gaga had far more room to perform when they sang at Inauguration ceremonies in 2013 and 2021, respectively
As well as the backing track issues, the source noted: ‘She felt as if she was ushered in and out and had a mini hissy fit afterwards’
The source added: ‘She felt like she was literally just in a room with people all around her and a microphone. This threw off the acoustics’
An unsettling silence descended over the crowd as the music failed to play, with a baffled Underwood clutching onto her microphone.
Amidst the silence, an increasingly irate Underwood pulled a face and decided to perform a cappella.
She said: ‘If you know the words, help me out here!’ before singing the song.
Fans quickly took to social media to react, with one quipping: ‘Trump will have that technical crew fired as his actual first act as Prez.’
Others praised Underwood for pulling off the performance, saying: ‘Alternatively, Carrie Underwood had one of the most amazing moments ever. In the face of adversity, she decided to do the hymn a capella, and include everyone in the audience.
‘It was beautiful to see. It was so powerful, a cappella as everyone joined it. Simply, wonderfully perfect.’
The live performance issues came after Underwood had faced criticism for agreeing to perform at the ceremony, and said in a previous statement: ‘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.’
The Before He Cheats vocalist is looking to kickstart ‘a big year’ for her professionally as she joins the judges’ panel for American Idol, sources told Dailymail.com of her decision to perform.
‘This is something that she is very proud of, and the spin she is putting on it is that she is doing it for America, not specifically for Trump,’ an insider said.
The insider said that Underwood wasn’t focused on the politics of the situation, but embracing the large platform.
‘She does her music for everyone, and she also knows many of her fans will be watching the inauguration,’ the source said, ‘so this was a no-brainer as she feels there is more good that will come from it besides those that will bash her for what it looks like supporting Trump.
Fans both praised the singer for stepping up, while others joked that the issue was karma for her decision to perform
After her performance, Underwood was seen shaking hands with new VP JD Vance and Trump
‘She knows that it will all pass and again she is spinning it for herself and those close to her that she is doing it for America.’
The source noted that Underwood was hoping to bring people together with her genre: ‘She wants to unite the country, and music is her way to do that, she is looking broader than any controversies that have come up and will come up.’
In regard to her return to the Fox musical competition, the source said Underwood ‘is a former American Idol and America made her dreams come true, this is her giving back to the country she loves and which has supported her forever.’
Underwood was among a number of artists slated to perform as Trump begins his second term.
Others who took stage in the nation’s capital include the Village People, opera singer Christopher Macchio and God Bless The U.S.A. singer Lee Greenwood.
Rascal Flatts, Jason Aldean, Kid Rock, Parker McCollum, Billy Ray Cyrus, Gavin DeGraw and Liberty University’s Praise Choir were also booked to perform.
At During Trump’s 2017 inauguration, entertainers to take the stage included America’s Got Talent alum Jackie Evancho, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the Rockettes.
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