A Mixed Bag of Reactions and Declining Listenership

Carrie Underwood's performance of "America the Beautiful" at President Donald Trump's 2025 inauguration went viral, but not for the reasons she might have hoped. Technical difficulties plagued her performance, and while the incident garnered significant attention, it did not translate into increased listenership for the singer.

In fact, Underwood's streaming numbers actually fell on Inauguration Day. According to Luminate, her music was streamed 1.46 million times on Monday, January 20, down six percent from the previous Monday when it was streamed 1.55 million times.

Rapper Nelly, who performed at President Trump's inaugural Liberty Ball, also saw a decline in listenership. His songs were streamed 1.54 million times on inauguration day, down from 1.63 million a week earlier.

Both artists did see a small increase in digital download sales, although neither managed to top the 1,000 downloads mark that day.

Underwood's decision to perform at the inauguration was met with backlash on social media. Many fans expressed their disappointment and vowed to boycott her music. In a statement to The Independent, Underwood said she was "honored" to have been asked to sing at the event and that she hoped to "bring people together in the spirit of unity."

Nelly also faced criticism for his decision to perform at one of Trump's inaugural balls. He defended his decision, saying that he respects the office of the presidency and that he believes it is an honor to perform for the president of the United States, regardless of who is in office.