Political commentator Candace Owens has weighed in on Carrie Underwood’s political views, saying that any notion the singer “was a liberal” is “the craziest thing I’ve ever heard.”
Underwood’s political views became a talking point in recent days, when it was announced that the musician had agreed to perform at President Donald Trump‘s inauguration on Monday, January 20.
The American Idol alum performed “America the Beautiful” acapella at the U.S. Capitol Rotunda, shortly after Trump was officially sworn in as the 47th president of the United States.
Ahead of the ceremony, Underwood told Newsweek in a statement: “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.”
From left: Candace Owens is pictured on February 28, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee; Carrie Underwood is seen on August 2, 2024 in New York City.
Jason Davis/Getty Images;/John Nacion/FilmMagic/Getty Images
Underwood’s decision to perform for Trump has sparked debate on both sides of the political aisle, with some criticizing her move and others defending her.
Owens, who is a vocal supporter of Trump, weighed into the conversation around Underwood’s political leanings when she hosted a livestreamed special on the inauguration.
As Underwood came into view during the livestream, Tennessee-based Owens said: “Oh is that Carrie Underwood? Looking fantastic. I love her so much. Neighbor of mine, by the way. Fantastic human being, she really is.”
“I have no idea why liberals thought that Carrie Underwood was a liberal,” Owens continued. “That’s just the craziest thing I’ve ever heard.”
Owens went on to describe herself as a “Carrie Underwood stan” as she paused briefly in anticipation for the performance.
“You can tell she’s nervous,” Owens added. “She’s a very shy person. So for her to do this and to take all the mudslinging that she’s endured, I’ll tell you that probably… it was not easy for her.”
Newsweek has contacted a representative of Underwood via email for comment.
What Are Carrie Underwood’s Political Views?
Underwood has largely shied away from publicly discussing her political views over the course of her career. In 2019, she told U.K. newspaper The Guardian: “I try to stay far out of politics if possible, at least in public, because nobody wins. It’s crazy.
“Everybody tries to sum everything up and put a bow on it like it’s black and white. And it’s not like that.”
According to Parade, Underwood was registered as Republican in 2012. It is unclear if Underwood voted for Trump in the 2016, 2020 or 2024 election cycles.
In 2012, Underwood spoke out in support of gay marriage in an interview with U.K. newspaper The Independent.
“As a married person myself, I don’t know what it’s like to be told I can’t marry somebody I love, and want to marry,” she said. “I can’t imagine how that must feel. I definitely think we should all have the right to love, and love publicly, the people that we want to love.”
Underwood further told the publication that “God wanted us to love others.”
While hosting the 2017 Country Music Awards, Underwood and fellow country music singer Brad Paisley poked fun at Trump’s social media etiquette with a song called “Before He Tweets,” a parody of her smash hit “Before He Cheats.”
“And it’s fun to watch, yeah, that’s for sure / ‘Til little Rocket Man starts a nuclear war,” the two sang. “Maybe next time, he’ll think before he tweets.”
In 2018, Underwood’s song “The Bullet” was deemed to be about gun control. The song includes lyrics like, “You can blame it on hate or blame it on guns / But mamas ain’t supposed to bury their sons,” as well as, “The grass grows back around the stone / And friends stop checkin’ in on the phone / The camera crews have all moved on / But the wound’s still open.”
However, Underwood appeared to refute those claims in a 2019 interview with The Guardian, telling the publication: “Immediately people said, ‘Oh you have a song about gun control!’ It was more about the lives that were changed by something terrible happening.
“And it does kind of bug me when people take a song, or take something I said and try to pigeonhole or force me to pick a side or something. It’s a discussion—a long discussion.”
This post was originally published on here
