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Carrie Underwood has “American Idol” on her side.
After collecting backlash for performing at Donald Trump’s second inauguration, which resulted in the star belting out “America the Beautiful” a cappella due to a technical difficulty, the current showrunner for the competition series is coming to Underwood’s defense.
The country superstar, 41, recently replaced Katy Perry as a judge on “American Idol,” stepping into the “Firework” singer’s role for Season 23.
“That was her decision,” Wolflick told The Wrap in an interview published Sunday, March 9. “Katy Perry, who was a judge on our show, sang at the last inauguration as well, so isn’t that great that two American Idol judges sang at the last two inaugurations?”
Perry performed at former President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris’ inauguration in 2021.
Wolflick continued to praise Underwood, noting, “She held her own, and she remained cool, calm and collected” during the technical mishap.
“I think a lot of that has to do with Idol and all of her live experience, starting at a young age, being on live television for Idol,” she shared of the singer, who won Season 4 of “American Idol” in 2005.
The showrunner also shared her hopes for Underwood’s return to the signing series, promising the public will warm up to the star.
“It’s going to be an amazing discovery for people when they watch Carrie and see how warm and kind and funny she is,” she added. “People might have an opinion about her, of what kind of personality that she is and what her interests are, and it’s like an onion — you discover so many layers throughout the season.”
During her inauguration performance in January, Underwood begged the crowd to “help me out here” after appearing to be told about the technical issue by a man with a headset. “Just sing?” she seemingly asked. “I can just sing it.”
The Grammy winner was joined by the Armed Forces Chorus and the United States Naval Academy Glee Club. The audience also sang along.
As Underwood exited, she shook hands with Vice President JD Vance, 40, and President Trump, 78.
Underwood previously told The Post, “I love our country and am honored to have been asked to sing at the Inauguration and to be a small part of this historic event. I am humbled to answer the call at a time when we must all come together in the spirit of unity and looking to the future.”
Some fans initially criticized Underwood’s choice to perform. Whoopi Goldberg, meanwhile, publicly defended the “American Idol” alum.
“I stand behind her,” she said on “The View.”
“If I believe I have the right to make up my mind to go perform someplace, I believe they have the same right. So I have to support [her],” she continued. “It doesn’t mean I’m particularly interested in watching. I won’t be watching. But that’s me.”
However, not all of Goldberg’s co-hosts agreed with the 69-year-old’s sentiments. Joy Behar said that she would “not normalize” Trump by singing at his inauguration.
Chastising Underwood’s statement, Behar, 82 added: “How do you love your country and support and normalize somebody who was a convicted felon, who really wants to destroy the country, in my opinion?”
The long-standing host later clarified her thoughts, explaining that she would “not be the person” to tell someone not to perform at the inauguration because she believes “in free speech.”
Before welcoming her second child, the reality star vet got candid on navigating her work/life balance.
“I remember when we first found out we were gonna have him [Isaiah], it [was] like, ‘How are we gonna do this? Our lives are so crazy as it is,’” she recounted to People in 2017. “But you just make room, and you learn how important that family time is, and to be able to spend time and carve out some of that and maybe get to go on vacation and maybe get to go on a cruise — that stuff is so important to, like I said, make time for family. That’s what it’s all about.”
Three years later, Underwood basked in spending quality time with her sons during the COVID-19 pandemic. (The singer shares sons Isaiah, 9, and Jacob, 5, with husband Mike Fisher.)
“I’ve never been in one place for this long in the past 15-plus years of my career,” she told “Today” at the time. “So it’s been really great to just really get to know them and watch them grow — especially Jake. It’s such a critical time in his life and I’m never gonna get it back. So we’re just trying to enjoy it.”