Photo: AP
Country music superstar Carrie Underwood (pic) will perform America The Beautiful at US President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration on Jan 20, according to a copy of the programme shared by a spokesperson of the presidential inaugural committee.
"I love our country and am honoured to have been asked to sing at the Inauguration and to be a small part of this historic event," said Underwood who has mostly stayed out of politics during her career.
"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."
The Grammy-winning superstar won singing competition show American Idol in 2005.
Trump, the Republican former president, defeated Vice President Kamala Harris in the Nov 5 US election.
Artistes like Beyonce and Celine Dion asked Trump to stop using their songs in the lead up to the 2024 election. Neil Young and Guns N' Roses are among the performers who had asked him to stop using their music ahead of and after the 2016 election.
Trump has garnered the support of rapper Waka Flocka Flame and country singers Kid Rock and Billy Ray Cyrus, the father of Miley Cyrus, among others.
After Underwood's performance, Chief Justice John Roberts will administer the oath of office to Trump, according to the copy of inauguration plans.
More artistes on board
The Village People are also on board to perform at Trump’s inauguration celebrations next week. The disco-era band’s late 1970s hit YMCA — widely considered a gay anthem — was prominent on the 2024 presidential campaign trail. The song also spawned a signature dance by the president-elect.
The group’s longtime frontman Victor Willis (who plays the cop character) confirmed on social media Monday that they would appear at several parties in Washington, despite their difference in political ideologies.
“Our song YMCA is a global anthem that hopefully helps bring the country together after a tumultuous and divided campaign where our preferred candidate lost,” the 73-year-old crooner wrote on Facebook. “Therefore, we believe it’s now time to bring the country together with music.”
Grammy-winning country singer/songwriter Lee Greenwood and opera singer Christopher Macchio have also been confirmed as inauguration ceremony performers.
God Bless The U.S.A., which Greenwood released in 1984, has become a patriotic anthem and is frequently played at Trump rallies. – Agencies
