Current pop hitmakers won’t be performing at the inauguration ceremony. Instead, the program will feature two country singers — Carrie Underwood and Lee Greenwood — and an opera singer, Christopher Macchio.
Here is more about them:
Carrie Underwood
Ms. Underwood, 41, is scheduled to sing “America the Beautiful” at the swearing-in. She has been a country mainstay since 2005, when her dynamic voice made her the winner on the fourth season of “American Idol.” She quickly followed up with her debut album, “Some Hearts,” which won her first three Grammy Awards (she has eight). Its hits included the devout “Jesus, Take the Wheel” and the best-selling single of her career, “Before He Cheats,” about vandalizing the car of an unfaithful partner.
Ms. Underwood has been a consistent presence on the country charts ever since, with hits including “Country Casanova,” “Blown Away” and “All-American Girl”; she has recorded duets with Brad Paisley, Miranda Lambert, Randy Travis and others. In 2021 she released an album of Christian songs, “My Savior,” then returned to mainstream country in 2022 with “Denim and Rhinestones.” A statement said she’s performing at the inauguration “in the spirit of unity and looking to the future.”
Lee Greenwood
Mr. Greenwood, 82, announced his retirement in 2023 but will perform his signature song, “God Bless the U.S.A.,” at the ceremony. He wrote the song in 1983; it declares, “I’m proud to be an American, where at least I know I’m free.” Although Mr. Greenwood had other country hits in the 1980s, “God Bless the U.S.A.” had staying power. It was heard at the closing ceremony of the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles and it was the Country Music Association’s song of the year in 1985.
“God Bless the U.S.A.” has been a Republican campaign staple since 1984, when Ronald Reagan used it at the Republican convention and rallies. Candidates have relied on it ever since, and President-elect Trump regularly used it as entrance music at his rallies. Mr. Greenwood has said he will perform it at the inauguration with the United States Marine Corps band.
Christopher Macchio
To reach the treacherous high notes of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” the inauguration has engaged an operatic tenor: Mr. Macchio, 46, who studied at the Manhattan School of Music. He has not appeared at major opera houses, but he was seen in a 2011 PBS special — “BellAria: Live from Las Vegas” — and has performed at Carnegie Hall as a member of the New York Tenors, a classical crossover trio. He performed at both the 2020 and 2024 Republican conventions and made frequent appearances at Trump rallies in 2024, singing “New York, New York” at Madison Square Garden in October.
