Country music star Carrie Underwood to perform at Donald Trump’s inauguration

Carrie Underwood will perform America The Beautiful at the inauguration of Donald Trump.

The country music star, who launched her career on American Idol and now serves as a judge on the talent show, will take to the stage shortly before the president-elect takes the oath of office at the US Capitol on January 20.

Underwood will perform the song alongside the Armed Forces Choir and the US Naval Academy Glee Club, according to a copy of the inaugural programme given to the PA news agency.

Other performers include classical singer Christopher Macchio, who will sing Oh, America! before the vice presidential oath of office with JD Vance, and will close the ceremony with a rendition of the American National Anthem.

Meanwhile Victor Willis, frontman of the Village People, announced that the musical group had also accepted an invitation “to participate in inaugural activities, including at least one event with President Elect Trump”.

In a statement posted on Facebook, Willis said: “We know this won’t make some of you happy to hear, however we believe that music is to be performed without regard to politics.

“Our song Y.M.C.A. is a global anthem that hopefully helps bring the country together after a tumultuous and divided campaign where our preferred candidate lost.

“Therefore, we believe it’s now time to bring the country together with music which is why Village People will be performing at various events as part of the 2025 Inauguration of Donald J Trump.”

Mr Trump’s first inauguration in 2017 featured performances from the Rockettes, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and America’s Got Talent singer Jackie Evancho.

The history of celebrities performing at inaugurations has increased over time, with John F Kennedy’s one of the starriest in 1961.

That celebration, produced by Frank Sinatra, saw Harry Belafonte, Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Gene Kelly, Laurence Olivier and Sidney Poitier among those in attendance.

Meanwhile the first inauguration of Barack Obama in 2009 saw Aretha Franklin perform My Country Tis Of Thee at the swearing-in, while the new president and his wife Michelle were serenaded by Beyonce singing At Last at an inaugural ball.