Carrie Underwood is Only Female Celebrity Scheduled to Perform on Inauguration Day: Full Lineup
Carrie Underwood is the only woman among the many celebrities performing at Donald Trump's 2025 inauguration ceremony and celebrations.
As Donald Trump returns to the White House as the 47th U.S. president on January 20, 2025, a wide array of country, pop, and hip-hop artists are in Washington D.C. to perform at official inauguration events. Among them, new âAmerican Idolâ judge Carrie Underwood is the only female celebrity scheduled to perform.
The country superstar made headlines on January 13 when a Trump-Vance Inaugural Committee spokesperson confirmed to outlets including Fox News Digital that Underwood would perform âAmerica the Beautifulâ during the swearing-in ceremony, which has been moved indoors due to bitterly cold temperatures.
Underwoodâs decision to perform has divided her fans, with some thrilled and others disappointed by her implied support of Trump. In response, she told Today.com in a statement, âI 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.â
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Carrie Underwood, Lee Greenwood
Trump will officially begin his second term in office after he is sworn in at noon Eastern time, per Forbes. The inauguration ceremony will begin after Trump and incoming First Lady Melania Trump meet for tea with outgoing President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden at the White House. All major broadcast TV networks will be broadcasting live throughout the morning.
The ceremony will start with a musical prelude by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Combined Choirs and âThe Presidentâs Ownâ U.S. Marine Band, according to CBS News. After Reverend Franklin Graham delivers the invocation, one of Trumpâs favorite artists, opera singer Christopher Macchio will sing âOh America!â
Underwoodâs performance of âAmerica the Beautifulâ will occur after Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh administers the vice presidential oath of office to JD Vance, and just before Trump is sworn in by Chief Justice John Roberts.
On January 15, Lee Greenwood told Fox News that heâll perform his patriotic anthem âGod Bless the U.S.A.â with the U.S. Marine Corps Band âjust before the president takes his oath.â Macchio, meanwhile, is expected to close the ceremony with the National Anthem.
In other celebrity sightings to watch for, there will be a billionaires club seated together at the ceremony, according to NBC News. Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos will sit on the platform alongside Trumpâs cabinet, per the outlet.
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There will be at least 17 inauguration balls held at different Washington D.C. venues, according to the Washingtonian, but only three official galas, with an appearance by the Trumps expected at each.
Country star Jason Aldean, fresh off performing at âIdolâ judge Luke Bryanâs Crash My Playa music festival, is scheduled to perform at the Liberty Ball, according to Treasure Coast Newspapers, as are The Village People, whose âY.M.C.Aâ was frequently played at Trumpâs campaign events. According to WUSA9, hip-hop star Nelly has also been confirmed as a performer at the Liberty Ball.
The Commander-in-Chief Ball, which will be streamed via the DVids website, will feature chart-topping country trio Rascal Flatts, per NPR, who recently reunited to kick off a 2025 tour. Country star Parker McCollum is also expected to perform his hits âBurn It Downâ and âPretty Heartâ at the ball, NPR reported.
Meanwhile, NPR said indie-pop star Gavin DeGraw, whose hits include âChariotâ and âI Donât Wanna Be,â will perform at the Starlight Ball, held for Trumpâs biggest donors.
On the eve of Trumpâs inauguration, he and other celebrities revved up supporters at the Make America Great Again Victory Rally, held at Capital One arena in Washington D.C.
Stars who performed, according to ABC News, included The Village People, Kid Rock, Billy Ray Cyrus, Lee Greenwood, and the Liberty Universityâs Praise Choir. Musk was also on hand to speak to the crowd, and Trump danced as The Village People performed.