By duyen be 
“Scroll to the bottom of the article to watch the video.”
Introduction
The world watched as Carrie Underwood stood before the nation’s leaders at what the video’s source describes as “President Trump’s historic inauguration.” The decision to perform was fraught with controversy from the start, igniting a firestorm on social media from fans who felt betrayed by her presence at such a politically charged event.
Despite calls for a boycott, Underwood remained steadfast, framing her decision not as a political endorsement, but as an act of patriotism. In a statement that aimed to quell the dissent, she declared: “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.”
But unity was the last thing on the agenda that day.
A production insider who was present during the event, speaking on the condition of anonymity, described a scene of barely controlled chaos behind the curtain. “There was a moment of sheer panic in the control booth,” the source revealed exclusively to Rolling Stone. “The audio feed cut out. For a live broadcast of that magnitude, it’s a nightmare scenario. Everyone’s heart stopped. But Carrie, she didn’t even flinch. She just looked over, gave a nod like, ‘I’ve got this,’ and launched into this incredible a cappella rendition of ‘America the Beautiful.’ She saved the moment. It was pure, unshakeable professionalism.”
Her poise, however, did little to shield her from the political fallout. The performance drew a scathing on-air attack from Joy Behar on The View, who directly challenged Underwood’s professed love for her country. Behar questioned, “How do you love your country and… normalize somebody who… wants to destroy the country, in my opinion? I don’t understand how you say you love your country at the same time.”
The controversy reached a new peak when a different kind of critique emerged—not from a political pundit, but from one of music’s biggest stars.
Writer and pop culture commentator Evan Ross Katz posted a screenshot of the performance to his Instagram. The image featured Vice President Kamala Harris looking on as Underwood sang, with a caption that dripped with sarcasm: “Kamala Harris evoking Coco Montrese (‘Girl, find the note’) watching Carrie Underwood at today’s chilling Inauguration.”
The post, which implied Underwood was singing off-key, quickly went viral. But it was the “like” from a verified account that sent shockwaves through both fanbases: Ariana Grande.
For many, Grande’s simple double-tap was more than just a casual scroll; it was a quiet but potent co-sign of the critique, a subtle diss from a fellow artist with a massive global platform. A source close to Underwood’s team noted, “Of course, they saw it. In this industry, nothing goes unnoticed. To face attacks for your patriotism is one thing, but to have another artist subtly question your talent on a day like that… it’s a different kind of sting.”
Representatives for both Underwood and Grande have not yet responded to requests for comment.
The incident has left a trail of questions in its wake. Was it a calculated jab from Grande, a simple misunderstanding, or merely a reflection of the deep-seated divisions that now permeate every facet of American life—even a patriotic song? It serves as a stark reminder that in today’s hyper-connected world, a single tap on a screen can be as loud as a protest, and a melody meant to unite can become a battleground.