Carrie Underwood pivoted flawlessly and Christopher Macchio boomed resoundingly during their performances at the Monday afternoon inauguration of Donald Trump inside the Capitol Rotunda.
The country superstar paused for a few moments before her rendition of “America the Beautiful,” awaiting her music accompaniment. After a technical issue intervened, Underwood, a veteran performer, simply launched into an a capella performance of the song.
Shortly after Underwood’s smooth singing, classical-crossover opera singer Christopher Macchio, a friend of Trump’s for many years, uncorked a resounding version of the national anthem.
The ceremony, which had been moved inside to avoid the significant chill in the Washington area, also featured an appearance by Lee Greenwood, who offered his familiar anthem, “God Bless the U.S.A.” before the proceedings. Greenwood also made an appearance Sunday night to sing the song at a victory rally for Trump at nearby Capital One Arena.
Here are some highlights.
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Carrie Underwood calls an audible and sings a capella
Underwood marked the new regime of Donald J. Trump as the first performer following his 30-minute inaugural address.
Standing in front of former President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, Underwood pivoted when a technical issue with her background music occurred and sang “America the Beautiful” a capella.
In a sleeveless, draped and understated white dress in contrast to her usual glam and sparkly looks, Underwood sounded flawless on the song, her left hand gesturing as she reached for the big notes, with many gathered in the Capitol Rotunda singing along.
Biden mouthed “great job” as Underwood shook his hand at the end of her performance before also shaking hands with Trump and new vice president JD Vance.
Underwood’s version contrasted that of Jennifer Lopez at President Biden’s 2021 inauguration ceremony, who performed “This Land is Your Land” mixed with “America the Beautiful” before speaking a line of the Pledge of Allegiance in Spanish and belting out a part of her own hit “Let’s Get Loud” from her 1999 debut album “On the 6.”
National anthem singer Christopher Macchio belts with ease
The opera singer and favorite of President Trump Opera unleashed a booming version of the national anthem at the close of the inauguration ceremony.
Wearing a midnight blue velvet jacket, dark pants and a tie-less white shirt, Macchio belted “The Star-Spangled Banner,” clasping the microphone in his left hand as many assembled in the Capitol Rotunda stood with either hands over hearts or as Trump, in a salute stance.
Macchio handled the tricker parts of the storied song with ease, his voice booming over the instrumentation and his eyes scrunched during the song’s final notes.
Following his performance, Macchio immediately turned to Trump, shook his hand with a smile and raised a fist as he exited the area of the presidential lectern.
Lee Greenwood presents ‘God Bless the U.S.A’ inside Rotunda
Prior to the start of the inauguration ceremony, the country-folk singer offered a rendition of “God Bless The U.S.A.”
Greenwood, wearing a plaid navy suit and tie, sang his familiar flag-waving anthem to the political dignitaries as they began filing into the Capitol Rotunda.
Greenwood’s relationship with Trump was solidified when the now-president starting using his 1983 song – which Greenwood, 82, wrote in the back of a tour bus in 30 minutes – at his rallies.
But Greenwood’s affiliation with Trump stems from an association with Greenwood’s wife, Kimberly, who was the executive director of the Miss Tennessee USA pageant in the 1990s, when Trump co-owned the Miss Universe Organization. Greenwood and Trump became friendly during the years and the singer performed his signature anthem at Trump’s 2017 inauguration as well.
A lifelong Republican, Greenwood, who is from California but rooted in Franklin, Tennessee, has sung at six Republican National Conventions. This is his third inauguration appearance; along with his 2017 Trump performance, Greenwood sang “God Bless the U.S.A.” at the swearing-in of George H.W. Bush in 1989.