'American Idol' producer says it's 'great' Carrie Underwood performed at Trump inauguration
Showrunner Megan Michaels Wolflick noted former 'American Idol' judge Katy Perry had performed at Biden's inauguration
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"American Idol" producer Megan Michaels Wolflick praised musician Carrie Underwood, saying her performance at President Donald Trump’s inauguration in January demonstrated her talent on multiple levels.
Underwood sang "America the Beautiful" a cappella at Trump's second inauguration after some technical difficulties. "I can just sing it," she told the production team at the time, after the accompanying music did not play.
The country star, who won the "American Idol" singing competition in 2005, has returned to the show two decades later as a judge in its latest season.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}‘AMERICAN IDOL’ ALUM CARRIE UNDERWOOD REPLACING KATY PERRY AS JUDGE
Carrie Underwood performs "America the Beautiful" during the 60th Presidential Inauguration in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/Pool via REUTERS)
While some like "The View" co-host Joy Behar have criticized the singer for performing at the inauguration, others like Michaels Wolflick have offered praise.
"That was her decision," Michaels Wolflick told TheWrap of Underwood attending the inauguration. "Katy Perry, who was a judge on our show, sang at the last inauguration as well, so isn’t that great that two ‘American Idol’ judges sang at the last two inaugurations?"
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Jennifer Lopez, another former "American Idol" judge, also performed at former President Joe Biden’s inauguration in 2021.
Michaels Wolflick told TheWrap that Underwood did "very well" at the inauguration despite the technical difficulties, suggesting that her experience on "American Idol" trained her to improvise in such circumstances.
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Carrie Underwood performs "America the Beautiful" a capella after the accompanying music fail to play. "American Idol" showrunner Megan Michaels Wolflick suggested that Underwood's experience with live performance on her show helped give her the ability to be "cool, calm and collected" in such a scenario. (Kevin Lamarque/Pool Photo via AP)
"She held her own, and she remained cool, calm and collected, and I think a lot of that has to do with ‘Idol’ and all of her live experience, starting at a young age, being on live television for ‘Idol,’" Michaels Wolflick said.