Fans React to Carrie Underwood Singing A Cappella After Technical Delay at Trump’s Inauguration

The show must go on! Carrie Underwood proved why she’s a country superstar during Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration on Monday (Jan. 20).

After an uncomfortable two-minute technical glitch, the 41-year-old American Idol alum took control of the situation, singing “America the Beautiful” a cappella at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., just as Trump was being sworn in as the 47th president.

“You know the words, help me out here,” Underwood told the crowd before delivering the patriotic anthem solo.

An earlier program indicated Underwood was scheduled to perform with the Armed Forces Chorus and the United States Naval Academy Glee Club, with her performance originally slated just before Trump’s swearing-in.

The country star’s fans quickly took notice of her professionalism and praised her stunning a cappella rendition on social media.

“Now that is a flex. Imagine being so talented that when technology fails, you just go, ‘Fine, I’ll do it live!’ and crush it a cappella in front of thousands,” one user on X observed. “Carrie Underwood doesn’t need auto-tune; auto-tune probably takes notes from her.”

Another wrote, “Carrie Underwood don’t need no band! That was bada–!”

“This is what a professional looks like,” a third commenter noted on X. “With grace, when the military band audio failed, she sang her song with the audience. All American and perfect.”

“I think the music cutting out for Carrie Underwood actually made that singing of America the Beautiful better,” a fan noted. “No matter what, you can’t accuse her of lip syncing.

Before the event, Underwood shared a statement expressing her gratitude and pride: “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.”

Underwood joined a roster of performers at the inauguration, including Lee Greenwood, the Village People, Nelly, Snoop Dogg, Rick Ross, Rascal Flatts, Kid Rock, Gavin DeGraw, Jason Aldean and Parker McCollum.