Ariana Grande has appeared to subtly shade Carrie Underwood following the American Idol winner’s performance at Donald Trump’s 2025 inauguration.
The singer, 41, was hit by shock technical difficulties on Monday before she took to the stage to sing America The Beautiful after the performance was moved indoors at the U.S. Capitol due to frigid outdoor temperatures.
Both Underwood and President Trump appeared to grimace as the track failed to play, leaving an unsettling silence over the crowd and a baffled Underwood clutching onto her microphone.
As a result of the technical difficulties, the Before He Cheats musician decided to perform A capella, pleading with the crowd before singing the song: ‘If you know the words, help me out here.’
Ahead of her inauguration appearance, Underwood faced backlash for agreeing to perform at the ceremony, and now, it seems that fellow singer Grande has joined in on the criticism.
Taking to social media on Monday, the Wicked star pressed the like button on an Instagram post from internet personality Evan Ross Katz that poked fun at Underwood.
The image that she liked featured a snapshot of Underwood singing America The Beautiful into the microphone, with Vice President Kamala Harris seen standing behind her with a less-than-impressed expression.
‘Kamala Harris evoking Coco Montrese (“Girl, find the note”) watching Carrie Underwood at today’s chilling Inauguration,’ Katz captioned the post, referencing a quote from RuPaul’s Drag Race.
Ariana Grande, 31, appeared to ‘like’ an Instagram post criticizing Carrie Underwood’s performance at President Donald Trump’s inauguration
The Wicked star received both praise from fans and pushback from Underwood supporters in response to her Instagram like
The Golden Globe nominee seemingly agreed with Katz’s assessment of Underwood’s performance by double-tapping the Instagram post.
‘I’m standing with Ariana,’ one fan wrote on X, after a screenshot of Grande’s Instagram activity was posted to the platform.
‘And that’s why Ari is queen,’ another fan said.
One supporter of Underwood replied, ‘Already trying to cancel Carrie Underwood for supporting Trump. We WON’T allow her to be canceled.’
Someone else wrote back: ‘We won’t allow people who support Trump to be canceled. It won’t happen.’
DailyMail.com has contacted Grande’s representatives for comment.
Despite the backlash Underwood faced for agreeing to perform at the ceremony, the singer has maintained that she decided to sing at Trump’s inauguration simply out of pride for her country.
‘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,’ she said in a previous statement.
The American Idol winner decided to perform A capella following the technical difficulties, pleading with the crowd before singing the song: ‘If you know the words, help me out here’
Sources revealed Underwood was left feeling like she had not been ‘afforded the same level of respect’ as previous inauguration performers like Beyoncé and Lady Gaga
‘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.’
However, sources revealed to DailyMail.com that Underwood was left feeling like she had not been ‘afforded the same level of respect’ as the likes of Beyoncé and Lady Gaga for her performance on Monday.
An insider said she was furious over the fact she wasn’t given a ‘stage or platform even’ like previous performers, and explained how the indoor conditions had a large impact on Underwood’s performance.
‘Carrie was dissatisfied with her performance at the event, primarily due to the limited space she was given, which left her feeling cramped and uncomfortable,’ they said.
‘Her anxiety was high throughout the performance, and she felt that she was not afforded the same level of respect or admiration that previous performers, such as Beyoncé and Lady Gaga, had received.
‘She felt as if she was ushered in and out and had a mini hissy fit afterwards,’ they added.
‘She is used to playing at massive venues with a stage to herself. She was not given a stage or a platform even.
‘She felt like she was literally just in a room with people all around her and a microphone. This threw off the acoustics.’
A insider source clarified that although Underwood’s performance ‘wasn’t ideal,’ she is still ‘proud of herself’ that she was ‘able to save it from being a total disaster.’
Underwood was among the number of artists slated to perform during inauguration weekend as Trump began his second term.
On Sunday evening, Trump danced on stage with Y.M.C.A hitmakers Village People in Washington, D.C., prior to his inauguration.
Meanwhile, Rascal Flatts, Jason Aldean, Kid Rock, Parker McCollum, Billy Ray Cyrus, Gavin DeGraw and Liberty University’s Praise Choir are also set to perform.
