A year into Donald Trump's first presidential term, many fans heard Carrie Underwood's song "Love Wins" denouncing an ugly, divisive politics. The single, co-written by Underwood, is cathartic in every verse, with the first asking: "Politics and bigotry/How the hell did it come to this?" Since Underwood accepted the invitation to speak at Trump's upcoming event Since performing at , the country musician's queer fans have been asking the same question.
"Carrie Underwood was the beginning of my gay awakening," wrote X (former Twitter) user Kitty Armistead, who started listening to the singer when she was 17. "She was one of the first mainstream country stars to express support for marriage equality. I knew that meant a lot to me, but I didn't realize how important it was until now." This group of fans of Underwood for more than a decade Lai always believed the singer had their backs because she told them she had their backs. Now, they're unpacking what it means to be suddenly shocked by a reality that doesn't fit them.
There is often a projected element that plays a role in the perception of a popular fan base. When an artist's music makes their audience feel seen and understood, these fans will continue to view their actions through this lens. After the U.S. Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage in June 2015, the term "Love Wins" became synonymous with the LBGTQ+ community. So when Underwood released the song of the same name three years later, the connection was already made.
It’s not an explicit endorsement of the queer community—Underwood’s “Love Wins” lyrics address gun violence more directly in the first verse—but it’s welcomed for that reason. Her actions at the time seemed consistent with the audience's perception of her. In 2012, the singer faced backlash from US conservatives for supporting marriage equality. She stood her ground. "I don't know what it feels like to be told that I can't marry the person I love but want to," she told the outlet independent. "I can't imagine what that feels like." It's no small thing to have one of country music's biggest stars advocate for the freedom she already has.
"I've been a fan of @carrieunderwood for 20 years since I was 8," another X user wrote. "I play a drag character named after the brand Calia founded and support every cause she's involved in, but as a queer person I'm deeply hurt by her choices. Her music is a guide, a guide , encouragement, and my way of comforting myself during dark times. I really appreciate her independent ideology, but it seems like the tide has turned in recent years and now I'm just struggling with this news and I feel like I'm crazy. ”
When Underwood released a statement agreeing to perform at the inauguration on January 20, she said: "I love our country and am honored to be asked to sing at the inauguration and to be a small part of this historic event. I'm honored to answer that call at a time when we must look to the future in a spirit of unity." Although Whoopi Goldberg defended the singer, criticism was quick to come. this viewsaid, "If I believe I have the right to decide to go to a show somewhere, I believe they have the same right." (She also said she wouldn't watch.)
Underwood's statement evoked similar sentiments expressed in "Love Wins" — only they failed to get her LGBTQ+ fans on her side. It ties into her call for unity in the song, where she laments: "When everybody has to choose a side/It doesn't matter if you're wrong or you're right." To them, it absolutely mattered—and she chose Wrong side. There is no force of solidarity between members of communities that continue to be targeted and those who oppose their right to exist.
Underwood's performance of "America the Beautiful" will take place after Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh administers the oath of office to Vice President J.D. Vance at the inauguration ceremony. When Trump nominated Kavanaugh in 2018, LGBTQ Americans expected to have to return to fight a battle they thought they had already won. At the time, GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis said: “With the world watching, Kavanaugh refuses to tell LGBTQ Americans that we deserve equal protection under the law and that Congress should By taking action before appointing him to a tenured position, there is no doubt that he will work to undermine our fundamental rights to liberty and justice.”
Since then, LGBTQ policies have been relentlessly attacked by Republicans. The Trump campaign spent millions of dollars during the election season spreading lies about the transgender community. Even before he was re-elected, the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, began pushing to limit workplace protections for LGBTQ Americans by trying to block the Biden administration's anti-discrimination actions. Just as Underwood urges people to "come together in a spirit of unity and look toward the future," she must understand what the future looks like. Where she saw optimism, many others saw fear. They cannot be expected to wear the same rose-colored glasses.
"I don't want people to vote for someone because I told them to," Underwood told rolling stones 2016. "I want them to find out what they're passionate about and what's important to them and look at different candidates and policies. And try to make their own decisions about that. That's where I stand and I'm going to do it like everybody else Vote." In addition to joining the inaugural lineup, she has yet to speak publicly in the 2024 presidential election.
Underwood's fan accounts continued to express disappointment with her decision. “While I will always love and support @carrieunderwood, this account will not be reporting on her upcoming appearance at Donald Trump’s inauguration or any other comments she has made in support of the convicted felon/ Show up,” the Carrie Underwood UK account shared on X with its 14,000 followers.
Other social media users encouraged listeners who removed Underwood from their playlists to instead listen to other artists with more outspoken discographies. "If you need another female country artist who truly cares about society and women, I introduce you to Kacey Musgraves and Maren Morris," one X post read. “Time and time again they have clearly stood up for what is right and publicly rejected racist, homophobic bullshit.”
In September 2023, Morris, who had been an Underwood fan for years, announced plans to exit the country music business. "After the Trump era, people's prejudices are on full display," she told reporters Los Angeles Times. "It just reveals who people really are and how proud they are of being misogynistic and racist and homophobic and transphobic. All of those things are celebrated, and it oddly aligns with the hypermasculine branch of country music."
Morris did not consider himself a political artist. Neither did Underwood. In 2019, she told guardian She tries to "stay as far away from politics as possible, at least in public, because no one wins." Needless to say, the presidential inauguration is not far from politics. This is where the real divisions occur: in this space, real-life people are divided into winners and losers in the political game, while others pretend not to be involved for the sake of self-preservation.
"I don't think biting the hand that feeds you is true. It's a bit of a fallacy at this point, all this fear mongering about 'Dixie Chicks' and stuff like that," Morris added. "Country music is a business, but it's going to be sold, especially to the young writers and artists who are coming up in country music, they're almost treated like gods. It's kind of like an instilled feeling. If you really like this type of music, and problems are starting to arise, then it needs to be criticized if we want to see progress, anything that is so popular should be scrutinized."