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Her decision to perform at President Donald Trump's inauguration left many of Carrie Underwood's devoted fans reeling and questioning her political stance.
Now, a year later, and Underwood is still feeling the fiery backlash. But having weathered months of fury over her decision to sing the patriotic song America the Beautiful, she is refusing to address the attacks against her, including Nancy Lee Grahn's blistering putdown over her supposed 'MAGA' stance.
The feud kicked off when Underwood, 42, and her fellow American Idol judges Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live to promote season 24.
General Hospital star Nancy Lee Grahn, 69, who boasts more than half a million followers on social media, posted on Threads: 'I refuse to even look at @carrieunderwood.'
The outspoken Democrat quickly started getting press for her boycott and clarified: 'I simply said I would watch [Kimmel] next week because I didn't want to look at Carrie Underwood (for obvious reasons) who was his guest that night.'
Despite the very public takedown, an insider has now told the Daily Mail that Underwood will not be hitting back 'because she knows it would turn against her fast.'
Carrie Underwood came under fire when she performed at President Donald Trump's inauguration last January, which left many of her devoted fans reeling
General Hospital star Nancy Lee Grahn, 69, recently renewed attacks, posting on Threads: 'I refuse to even look at @carrieunderwood'
The outspoken Democrat clarified: 'I simply said I would watch him next week because I didn't want to look at Carrie Underwood (for obvious reasons) who was his guest that night.'
Underwood is famously tight-lipped about politics, despite performing at the inauguration.
At the time, the Before He Cheats singer told People she was 'honored' to 'be a small part' of the event and said 'we must all come together in the spirit of unity.'
'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,' she said in a media statement at the time.
'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.'
She shook hands with President Trump and newly sworn-in Vice President JD Vance, with people on social media accusing her of snubbing now-former Vice President Kamala Harris, who was stood behind her during the performance.
Underwood plans on staying out of the political fray because she feels there is no winning, according to our insider. Instead, she is focusing on filming and judging the reality show American Idol, which she won in 2005.
The country songstress is worried that her fanbase could turn on her again, despite consisting of many Trump supporters.
'Carrie has American Idol to worry about, and being the voice of the NFL on Sunday Night and she also worries about losing her fan base, some of whom are very pro MAGA,' our insider said.
'She received a huge backlash over the Trump inauguration,' they continued, adding that 'she weathered that storm and was able to get through it relatively unscathed.'
The Cowboy Casanova singer is now steadfastly avoiding party politics as 'a mixture of both being busy and not wanting to poke any bears,' an insider has told the Daily Mail
Underwood is busy filming American Idol with her fellow judges, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan, where she is reportedly treated like 'royalty' regardless of her views
The fallout was severe and former fans called for her cancellation, slamming her performance. Many American Idol viewers said they planned on boycotting the show.
Others claimed the performance resulted in a failed attempt at trying to one up Taylor Swift, with a source telling the Daily Mail at the time that Underwood was 'marking her territory as "Miss Americana".' The alleged rivalry is said to stem from Underwood's belief that Swift abandoned the country genre for a more lucrative career in pop.
It wasn't just fans who were appalled by Underwood's inauguration performance. Some Hollywood stars also appeared to be up in arms, including Mandy Moore, who seemingly shaded her on social media following the performance, which saw Underwood dealing with a technical glitch and forced to sing a cappella.
'If anyone has distanced themselves from her, she hasn't let it affect her,' the source confirmed about the mother-of-two, whose husband, retired Nashville Predators hockey player Mike Fisher's social media likes suggest he holds conservative views.
In the past, Underwood has shut down talk about her political beliefs. In 2019, the eight-time Grammy winner told the Guardian: 'I try to stay far out of politics if possible, at least in public, because nobody wins.'
When it comes to American Idol, Underwood has nothing to worry about. She is 'royalty', so 'nobody has given her any issues there,' our source said.
Now, the Oklahoma native is gearing up for her upcoming tour dates in Tennessee and Iowa. She is desperately trying to stay out of the political fray because she 'now knows that it only gives her trouble.'
The insider summed up the Cowboy Casanova singer's desire to steadfastly avoid party politics as 'a mixture of both being busy and not wanting to poke any bears.'
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