Staff Reports
In a recent event that left many feeling both nostalgic and perplexed, a heartfelt rendition of “America the Beautiful” was performed by Carrie Underwood at Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20, 2025. You’d think it was the Fourth of July judging by the reactions. The performance was filled with all the charisma and charm you’d expect when people come together to celebrate the spirit of America. But no, this wasn’t your typical summer holiday shindig; this was an entirely different stage, showing how America can still unite—even if the politics sometimes tear it apart.
As Underwood belted out the beautiful notes, audiences couldn’t help but feel that twinge of pride. “Oh beautiful for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain”—these lyrics naturally stir something inside every red-blooded American. You’d say everyone was on the same page, swaying along, until one might wonder if those waves of grain were a metaphor for current farm policies. But let’s not get too bogged down by pesky details when the music lifts the spirit, right?
Yet, just when you thought this moment of unity couldn’t get more ironic, the media swooped in like a hungry seagull at a picnic. Instead of celebrating Underwood or the song’s legacy, they started dissecting how the performance was “political” in nature. Isn’t it amusing how any display of patriotism gets scrutinized through some blurry progressive lenses? If a performance happens and someone in a newsroom sees it, you better believe they’ll claim it’s a direct attack on whatever they’re currently agitated about—all for a little bit of music!
As if that wasn’t enough, critics busied themselves scoffing at the notion of patriotism, suggesting that it’s a relic best left in the past. Singing about the beauty of America in front of an audience crossed the line into “dangerous territory.” To those who may be keeping score, that’s right: appreciating one’s country in song equals a radical act these days. Just imagine the audacity of finding joy in the nation’s beauty while sipping a pumpkin spice latte! The horror!
In the end, Underwood’s performance proved that a simple act can unravel complex political tensions, even if just for a moment. America thrives in its ability to express itself through art, which strangely enough is sometimes seen as a partisan statement. It leads one to think: could it be that the true performance is how divided the country has become over something as innocuous as a song? With perspectives diverging in every direction, the stage is set for a show that folks didn’t sign up for—far from a melody, more like a cacophony! But if nothing else, at least it provided one key takeaway: patriotism still has a place in the heart of America, no matter how many critics try to drown it out.
