Whoopi Goldberg defended Carrie Underwood’s right to choose to perform at Donald Trump’s inauguration, while making clear she would not watch the ceremony herself. Goldberg made the distinction during the January 14, 2025, episode of The View, after Underwood’s planned performance was announced.
What Whoopi Goldberg said
“I stand behind her,” Goldberg said of Underwood, according to The Independent’s January 15, 2025, recap of the discussion. Goldberg explained that if she believed she had the right to decide where to perform, Underwood had the same right. She added: “It doesn’t mean I’m particularly interested. I won’t be watching, but that’s just me.”
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Salon’s account, also published January 15, quoted Goldberg saying: “People do what they do for whatever reasons. I stand behind her.” The distinction was between defending Underwood’s choice and endorsing or supporting the inauguration itself: Goldberg said she would not watch.
Why Underwood said she accepted the invitation
The Associated Press reported on January 13, 2025, that Underwood was scheduled to sing “America the Beautiful” shortly before Trump took the oath of office at the U.S. Capitol on January 20. The AP said the schedule was based on a copy of the inaugural program provided to it; that report described the announced plan, not independent confirmation of the ceremony’s final sequence.
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In a statement reported by the AP, Underwood said she loved the country and was honored to be asked to take part in the historic event. She said she hoped people could come together “in the spirit of unity and looking to the future.” Her public explanation emphasized patriotism, the honor of the invitation and unity.
The View co-hosts did not share one position
The discussion included different reactions to the performance and its political symbolism. The Independent’s recap reported that Joy Behar criticized the choice as normalizing Trump. Alyssa Farah Griffin suggested listeners and concertgoers could register disapproval by not downloading Underwood’s music or attending her shows. Sunny Hostin said artists had the right to perform where they chose, while adding that she would decline an invitation herself.
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Those comments reflect separate positions: Goldberg defended Underwood’s freedom to decide; some co-hosts criticized the decision or the symbolism they associated with it; and Griffin pointed to audience members’ freedom to respond through their own choices. The panel was not unanimously endorsing Underwood’s performance.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the exchange did—and did not—establish
Goldberg’s comments were a defense of Underwood’s right to make a personal decision, not a claim that everyone should approve of it. Underwood’s statement explained her own stated reasons, but it did not settle how viewers would interpret the performance politically.
The quotations here are reproduced as reported by The Independent and Salon; an official transcript was not independently verified. The performance details refer to the plan reported before the January 20 ceremony, rather than an independently verified account of what took place during the event.
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