After delivering her 30-minute opening speech, Carrie Underwood marked the beginning of Donald J. Trump’s new administration as the first performer.
Standing before former President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, Underwood performed an a cappella rendition of “America the Beautiful.” Despite a technical issue with the background music, she sang with sparkling eyes and an expressive gesture of her left hand as she reached for the song’s powerful high notes.
Underwood, dressed in a sleeveless, draped, and elegant white gown, appeared flawless during the performance, a striking contrast to her usual glamorous and dazzling looks. Her voice resonated beautifully as many gathered in the Capitol Rotunda joined in the singing.
At the end of her performance, Biden warmly remarked, “Great job,” as Underwood shook hands with Trump and the new Vice President, J.D. Vance.
Underwood, who rose to fame after winning the TV talent show American Idol in 2005, faced criticism for her decision to perform at the event, particularly from opponents of Trump.
“I love my country, and I am honored to have been asked to sing at the inauguration and to be a small part of this historic event,” she said in a media statement last week. “I feel humbled to answer the call at a time when we all need to come together with a spirit of unity and look forward to the future.”
Underwood’s performance didn’t begin smoothly—a technical glitch disrupted the background music just as she was about to start.
“You know the words—help me out here,” she said after waiting a few moments for the music to return.
The crowd in the Rotunda joined her in singing an a cappella version of America the Beautiful, which concluded with applause.
It’s the kind of awkward moment every performer dreads, and that’s exactly what happened to Carrie Underwood when she stepped into the Capitol Rotunda this afternoon to sing America the Beautiful at President Trump’s inauguration. According to the program schedule, she was supposed to be joined by the Armed Forces Chorus and the United States Naval Academy Glee Club. But that didn’t happen.
There’s plenty one could say about the new president or the people he chose to be part of his inauguration. Underwood herself faced criticism for accepting the invitation to perform. In response, she released a statement saying she was “honored to be asked to sing at the inauguration and to play a small part in this historic event.”
However, none of that is as compelling as how she handled the situation in the moment. After what must have felt like the longest 30 seconds of her career, standing in silence as the technical issue unfolded, Underwood invited the audience to sing along with her. She then delivered an impromptu a cappella version of the song.
“We just have to acknowledge what was an unplanned moment in this event,” NBC’s Savannah Guthrie remarked afterward. “There was a pause before Carrie Underwood started singing. It seems there was some issue with the band that was supposed to accompany her. So yes, on the fly, she performed an a cappella version with some scattered voices joining in.”
Of course, Carrie Underwood is a professional. She doesn’t need music to deliver America the Beautiful. That’s what makes her Carrie Underwood. And the fact that, once it became clear the backing music wasn’t coming, she proceeded with a strong and heartfelt performance speaks volumes about her professionalism.
There were two key things Underwood did right in that moment.
First, she didn’t let the mishap stop her from doing what she came to do. She refused to let the awkwardness of the situation distract her from giving her best effort.
Second, she kept it simple. She didn’t overdo it or try to salvage the situation by singing the entire song. Instead, she sang just a few verses, understanding the moment and realizing there was no need to do more than that. In the end, it was a beautiful performance and a valuable lesson for all of us.
Sometimes, things don’t go as planned. Technical difficulties can derail even the most rehearsed performances. You’ve probably experienced something similar—perhaps realizing mid-presentation that you’re missing crucial notes or your slides aren’t loading. True professionalism is measured by how quickly and effectively you adapt when things go wrong.
Say what you will about the inauguration or even Underwood’s decision to perform, but you have to admit—she turned every performer’s worst nightmare into a masterclass on handling awkward moments with grace.
