Importance Score: 60 / 100 🔵
The announcement of Carrie Underwood’s performance at President Donald Trump’s inauguration sparked surprise among her dedicated fans.
Fan Reaction and Initial Speculation
Following the declaration, questions arose about whether the acclaimed 42-year-old country music icon was publicly endorsing Trump’s political movement. Some speculated if this appearance was a maneuver to regain prominence after a perceived decrease in her career momentum.
Feud with Taylor Swift as Potential Motive
However, sources suggest a less overt motivation for Underwood’s rendition of ‘America the Beautiful’ on January 20th. Insiders claim the performance was potentially linked to a long-simmering rivalry with fellow country-turned-pop superstar Taylor Swift.
Sources Indicate Underlying Tension
‘Certain individuals close to Taylor believe Carrie accepted the Trump inauguration performance to antagonize Taylor,’ a source connected to Swift reportedly disclosed to the Daily Mail. ‘They have a history of friction, and Taylor famously supported Kamala Harris.’
The source continued, ‘Some within the industry speculate this was Carrie’s way of asserting her position as ‘Miss Americana’ from a different political perspective, especially after her preferred political side secured the election.’
For those familiar with the nuances of their relationship, this interpretation is not entirely implausible.
Long-Standing Rivalry and Public Comments
Indeed, Underwood appears to have held animosity towards her 35-year-old counterpart for an extended period.
Recently, Underwood seemed to target Swift on ‘American Idol,’ the televised talent competition she won in 2005 and where she now serves as a judge. She described a contestant with a ‘Taylor Swift-esque quality,’ noting, ‘She doesn’t possess a powerful vibrato or belting voice, but there’s something present.’
Sources indicate this critical remark was acknowledged by Swift’s camp.
‘Carrie has been anticipating an opportunity to subtly criticize Taylor, but this was quite overt,’ the insider stated. ‘There was no justifiable reason to draw a comparison between this contestant and Taylor.’
Genre Shift and Perceived ‘Selling Out’
Conversely, a source within Underwood’s circle suggests the discord stems from Underwood’s conviction that Swift abandoned country music for a more commercially successful pop trajectory.
‘Carrie believes Taylor genuinely compromised her artistic integrity by transitioning from country to pop,’ the insider asserted.
Early Comparisons and Public Sniping
In 2006, following Underwood’s ‘American Idol’ victory, Swift released her inaugural album. Initially, they were perceived as allied figures in the country music scene. Inevitably, comparisons between the two artists arose.
Country radio frequently labeled Swift as the ‘next Carrie Underwood.’
These comparisons may have resonated negatively with Underwood, as she began making veiled criticisms of Swift publicly within a few years.
Political Undertones Emerge
In 2010, Underwood hinted at her Republican leanings while hosting the Country Music Awards. She and Brad Paisley performed a skit satirizing the Affordable Care Act, enacted by then-President Barack Obama to expand access to affordable health insurance. Their performance humorously depicted lengthy waiting times for enrollment.
Cameras captured Swift looking visibly uncomfortable in the audience during this segment.
Parody Songs and Relationship Jokes
In 2011, at another Country Music Awards ceremony, Underwood and collaborators poked fun at Swift’s reputation for brief romantic relationships. During a parody song, Paisley sang, ‘I’m going to love you forever,’ to which Eric Stonestreet added, ‘Or 72 days… as long as Taylor Swift’s current relationship lasts.’
Underwood, present on stage and participating in the performance, appeared amused.
The subsequent year, Underwood and Paisley revisited the topic, this time joking, ‘The biggest trade of the year had to be the Kennedy family. They somehow traded Arnold Schwarzenegger for Taylor Swift.’
This was a veiled reference to Swift’s reported recent breakup with Conor Kennedy, son of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
When Paisley inquired, ‘Will they ever reconcile?’ Underwood responded, ‘Never, never, never. Never ever,’ referencing Swift’s hit song ‘We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together.’
Radio Interview and Differing Musical Styles
Later in 2012, Underwood addressed rivalry rumors in a radio interview.
‘I am slightly older than she is, and I perceive our musical styles as distinctly different. If anyone attempts to draw comparisons, they haven’t truly listened to either of us,’ she stated. ‘Her vocal style is sometimes lighter, and there’s a clear distinction in our country music styles.’
Swift’s Retort and Red Carpet Avoidance
Subsequently, in a November 2012 interview with The New York Times Magazine, Swift responded to Underwood’s remarks.
When asked why her reaction to Underwood’s on-stage joke about Conor Kennedy wasn’t shown to CMA viewers, Swift retorted: ‘[the cameras] don’t focus on you if you’re not laughing.’
Escalation and Grammy Awards Distance
Rumors circulated that tensions escalated to a point where both artists requested to be seated far apart at the 2013 Grammy Awards.
Following this event, both Underwood and Swift largely remained silent on the issue, and the feud seemed to subside. However, in 2015, Underwood seemingly reignited the conflict.
‘Squad’ Comments and Societal Circles
In a cover interview for People magazine, when questioned about forming a female ‘squad’ similar to Swift’s well-known circle of celebrity friends, Underwood responded: ‘I am unfamiliar with ‘squad.’ Like a posse? I have individuals I socialize with. My friends are ordinary people – one is a baker, and another is a stay-at-home mother.’
Political Divide and Public Stances
Perhaps, as is often the case, differing political viewpoints contribute to their strained relationship.
Swift’s Democratic Party affiliations are well-documented; she publicly endorsed Harris last year and President Joe Biden prior to that.
While Underwood claimed in a 2019 Guardian interview to ‘avoid politics if possible’, the openly Christian singer from the South has never denied her more conservative political leanings.
Husband’s Anti-Vaccine Stance and Underwood’s Support
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Underwood’s husband, Mike Fisher, a Canadian hockey player, voiced support for football player Aaron Rodgers’s apparent anti-vaccine stance. Fisher shared a message on social media stating: ‘I believe in the freedom to choose what we introduce into our bodies and freedom of conscience. I concur with [Rodgers] that scientific evidence indicates vaccinated individuals transmit COVID at essentially the same rate as unvaccinated individuals.’
Underwood appeared to signal her agreement with her husband, and potentially his anti-vaccine views, by ‘liking’ the post.
Inauguration Performance and Differing Receptions
Subsequently, her performance at Trump’s inauguration occurred in January of this year. Despite a technical issue with the backing music, Underwood delivered an acapella rendition, which was lauded as a display of professionalism by the president’s supporters.
Despite the enthusiastic reception from the MAGA movement, Underwood was reportedly frustrated by not receiving the same level of admiration that Swift garnered from liberal fans after endorsing Harris – even though Harris did not win the presidency.
Fame and Financial Disparity
Insiders are quick to point out that notwithstanding the decade-long feud, Underwood’s prominence pales in comparison to Swift’s sustained chart-topping success and dedicated global fanbase.
Underwood has achieved over 85 million record sales globally throughout her career, but one insider noted Swift amasses a comparable number (approximately 81 million) of listeners on Spotify monthly.
Net Worth Comparison
In terms of financial standing, Swift undeniably dominates. She recently surpassed Rihanna as the wealthiest female musician globally, with an estimated net worth of $1.6 billion. Underwood’s financial status is considerably more modest, estimated at $120 million.