Whoopi Goldberg Defends Carrie Underwood Over Trump Inauguration Performance: ‘I Stand Behind Her’
Written by djfrosty on January 14, 2025
Whoopi Goldberg is sticking up for Carrie Underwood after the singer came under fire for accepting the invitation to perform at Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration.
While speaking to her The View cohosts Tuesday (Jan. 14), the Sister Act star acknowledged that though she personally doesn’t align with the president-elect’s policies, the American Idol alum has every right to perform wherever she sees fit. “People do what they do for whatever reasons,” Goldberg began. “I stand behind her.”
“If I believe I have the right to make up my mind to go perform some place, I believe they have the same right,” the actress continued, pushing back against the objections of cohosts Joy Behar and Sunny Hostin. “I have to support. It doesn’t mean I’m particularly interested in watching [the inauguration] — I won’t be watching. But that’s me.”
Goldberg’s remarks come just one day after Billboard confirmed that Underwood would take the stage at Trump’s fast-approaching presidential inauguration, a poignant move considering that the eight-time Grammy winner has refrained from sharing her political views throughout her career. Her decision sparked immediate backlash from people who oppose Trump, but the “Before He Cheats” singer explained in a 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,” she added.
Underwood is expected to perform “America the Beautiful” just before Trump is sworn in for the second time in eight years, with the ceremony set to take place Jan. 20 at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. Village People is also part of the lineup, with the “Y.M.C.A.” group announcing Monday (Jan. 13) that it had “accepted an invitation from President Elect Trump’s campaign to participate in inaugural activities, including at least one event with President Elect Trump.”
Watch Goldberg talk about Underwood’s inauguration decision below.