American Idol’s current showrunner is reflecting on Carrie Underwood’s performance at Donald Trump’s second presidential inauguration.
“That was her decision,” Megan Michaels Wolflick shared with The Wrap in an interview published Sunday, March 9. “Katy Perry, who was a judge on our show, sang at the last inauguration as well, so isn’t that great that two American Idol judges sang at the last two inaugurations?”
Back in 2021, Perry, 40, performed her hit single “Firework” at President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris’ inauguration.
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As for Underwood, 42, she sang “America the Beautiful” alongside the Armed Forces Chorus and the United States Naval Academy Glee Club for Trump, 78, and Vice President J.D. Vance on January 13.
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During her performance, Underwood experienced technical difficulties that forced the singer to make a quick decision to sing a capella.
“She held her own, and she remained cool, calm and collected,” Michaels Wolflick said of the viral moment. “I think a lot of that has to do with Idol and all of her live experience, starting at a young age, being on live television for Idol.”
Before becoming a judge for season 23 of American Idol, Underwood won season 4 of the singing competition series in 2005.
Although some fans initially questioned the country singer’s decision to perform at the inauguration, Underwood explained why she wanted to be part of the event. (She would later get support from fellow country singer Jason Aldean.)
“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,” Underwood said in a statement shortly after her performance was announced, per a CNN correspondent. “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.”
As viewers begin to see Underwood behind the judges’ table, Michaels Wolflick is hopeful that fans will get to see a new side of the “Jesus, Take the Wheel” singer.
“It’s going to be an amazing discovery for people when they watch Carrie and see how warm and kind and funny she is,” Idol’s showrunner explained. “People might have an opinion about her, of what kind of personality that she is and what her interests are, and it’s like an onion — you discover so many layers throughout the season.”
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While Michaels Wolflick acknowledged that you “can never replace” Perry as a judge, she’s hopeful Underwood will provide a new perspective alongside returning judges Lionel Richie and Luke Byran.
“It just made so much sense to put [Carrie] in there, because she was bringing something new to the table that we never had before,” she explained. “That firsthand experience is something that any other judge who’s ever been on the show can talk for years about what it’s like to stand on the oval, though they don’t know.”
American Idol airs on ABC Sundays at 8 p.m. ET.
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