American Idol bosses are well aware of the impact Carrie Underwood's inauguration performance could have on the show, and fear it could unravel hard-fought efforts to improve LGBTQ representation.
The country star, 41, was invited to sing America The Beautiful when President Donald Trump, 78, was sworn in for a second term on Monday.
Her decision to run for Republican was polarizing and led to calls to boycott her upcoming debut as a judge on the hit ABC show.
Now insiders claim there are concerns about contestants feeling 'uncomfortable' which could be problematic for the show's 'values' and ratings.
“Idol contestants come from a wide range of different backgrounds, and that includes the people who work on the show,” a source told DailyMail.com exclusively.
“There are concerns that her apparent political stance may make some participants feel uncomfortable.”
American Idol executives are aware of the impact Carrie Underwood's inauguration performance could have, and fear it could unravel efforts to improve LGBTQ representation
The country star, 41, was invited to sing America The Beautiful when President Donald Trump, 78, was sworn in for a second term on Monday.
Her decision to perform for Trump was polarizing and led to calls to boycott her upcoming debut as a judge (pictured with fellow judges Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie and host Ryan Seacrest)
They continued, “There are also concerns that the backlash could impact viewership. Her apparent support for Trump does not align with the show's values of inclusivity and diversity.”
After years of criticism, Idol has received increased praise since switching from FOX for an ABC reboot in 2018, providing a more inclusive space for minorities and members of the LGBTQ community.
Although memorable contestants like Adam Lambert, Clay Aiken, and David Archuleta eventually came out after their time on the show, it took thirteen seasons for a contestant to be open about their sexuality, something that is now more common in the early audition stages.
“Lionel Richie, who is very liberal, may not agree with Carrie's views, which could cause some tension,” the source continued. “He has never supported Trump and never will.”
They noted that due to the changes since season 16 in 2018, judges are “typically advised to avoid becoming political figures,” but do not always restrain themselves from expressing their opinions.
Luke Bryan made headlines when he invited Republican politician Ron DeSantis to join him on stage during a 2022 performance in Florida.
He defended his decision in a statement, writing: “Governor Desantis is a very polarizing figure. But I grew up in a country where a governor asks you if he or she can come and raise awareness to help the victims of a natural disaster.
'I have generally stayed out of politics my entire career. I knew people would talk about this, but what was more important to me was whether I would get back there a few weeks after a natural disaster had affected a large portion of the people in a state where people have been good to me. felt good.'
Insiders have claimed there are concerns about contestants feeling 'uncomfortable', which could be problematic for the show's 'values' and ratings.
The country star concluded his statement by writing, “This is all I'm saying on this.”
The insider wondered if Carrie had considered her role on Idol and how performing for one of America's most divisive presidents could impact the show.
“The general view is that Carrie should have considered the culture and network values of the show before taking on such an important role during her contract,” they said.
Carrie told fans she was “honored” to have been asked to sing and 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 look to the future,” she said.
It comes six years after she told The Guardian that she “stays far out of politics if possible, at least in public, because no one wins.”
“It's crazy,” she said. 'Everyone tries to summarize everything and put a bow on it, as if it were black and white. And that's not how it is.'
Carrie has replaced Katy Perry as a judge alongside Luke and Lionel on the hit show hosted by Ryan
The singer's jury debut was meant to be a triumphant moment, marking 20 years since she first auditioned for the show in 2005.
A separate source previously told DailyMail.com that Carrie wanted to start “a big year” for herself professionally by performing at the presidential inauguration.
“This is something she's very proud of, and the twist she's putting on it is that she's doing it for America, and not specifically for Trump,” an insider explained.
The source added that Carrie was never focused on the politics of the situation, but wanted to embrace the big platform.
“She does her music for everyone, and she also knows that many of her fans will be watching the inauguration,” the source said. “So this was a no-brainer because she thinks more good will come from it than the things that will bash her for how they seem to support Trump.”
The insider concluded that Carrie “is a former American Idol contestant and America has made her dreams come true, so this is her giving back to the country she loves and that has supported her forever.”
Season 23, hosted by Ryan Seacrest, will debut in March.
