(NEXSTAR) — It wasn’t planned, necessarily, but country singer Carrie Underwood briefly stole the show at the second inauguration of President Donald Trump on Monday when an apparent technical issue led her to sign “America the Beautiful” a cappella.
Underwood was introduced after Trump’s speech — technically out of order — to perform the song with the Armed Forces Chorus.
She arrived beside the podium and appeared to be waiting for her accompanying music. The music played briefly, then cut off. Underwood could be seen chuckling and watching on.
After roughly a minute of silence and additional quiet laughter from some in the crowd, Underwood spoke into the microphone, saying, “If you know the words, help me out here.”
Underwood then began singing “America the Beautiful,” with the crowd slowly joining in.
The crowd then grows louder. Among those singing appeared to be the Armed Forces Chorus. It’s unclear, however, what caused the apparent issue that prompted Underwood to sing a cappella.
You can watch the full moment in the video player above.
Carrie Underwood performs during the 60th Presidential Inauguration in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (Kevin Lamarque/Pool Photo via AP)
As the crowd applauded Underwood, she returned the favor. She then shook hands with outgoing President Joe Biden, Trump, and incoming Vice President JD Vance before being led off stage.
Underwood was initially scheduled to perform after Vance took the oath of office and before Trump did the same.
In a statement last week, Underwood said she was “honored to have been asked to sing at the Inauguration” and “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 has otherwise avoided discussing politics across her career, in 2019 telling The Guardian, “I feel like more people try to pin me places politically. I try to stay far out of politics if possible, at least in public, because nobody wins. It’s crazy. Everybody tries to sum everything up and put a bow on it, like it’s black and white. And it’s not like that.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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