Carrie Underwood‘s performance of “America the Beautiful” at Donald Trump‘s Monday inauguration was awkwardly interrupted by an audio error, prompting the Grammy winner and accompanying chorus to sing the patriotic tune a cappella.
After Trump delivered his inauguration speech, Underwood and the Armed Force Chorus were introduced into the rotunda. “America the Beautiful” began to play as Underwood took her place, but the audio suddenly cut out mere seconds into the song. After a long awkward pause, a White House official appeared to prompt Underwood to sing without the music. Underwood then said to the crowd, “You know the words, help me out here,” before singing the tune a cappella.
The “American Idol” winner has faced heavy backlash since she announced her inauguration performance on Jan. 13. However, she isn’t without her supporters. In a surprise turn, Whoopi Goldberg, who has been an outspoken critic of Trump for years, backed Underwood’s decision to perform on a recent episode of “The View.”
“I stand behind [Underwood],” Goldberg said. “If I believe I have the right to make up my mind to go perform some place, I believe [she has] the same right. I have to support. It doesn’t mean I’m particularly interested. I won’t be watching, but that’s just me.”
The EGOT winner emphasized that “art is art and you have a right to perform where you want to perform.”
Upon Underwood’s announcement of her inauguration performance, she issued this 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.”
