Carrie Underwood’s performance at Donald Trump’s inauguration hasn’t impacted her role as a judge on American Idol. Showrunner Megan Michaels Wolflick defended Underwood’s decision to perform at the inauguration, noting that Katy Perry, a former Idol judge, also performed at a previous inauguration. Underwood sang “America the Beautiful” at Trump’s ceremony, while Perry performed at Joe Biden’s inauguration. Even after facing technical difficulties during her performance, Underwood handled the situation with grace and professionalism, encouraging the audience to join in. Michaels Wolflick praised Underwood’s composure, attributing it to her experience on live television from her early days on Idol. Underwood’s return to Idol as a judge was described as a full-circle moment, as she brings a new perspective to the judging panel. American Idol airs on ABC on Sundays at 8 p.m. ET.
