The pop star was apparently not impressed with Underwood’s ability to “find the note” during her a cappella performance.
Ariana Grande didn’t hide her amusement at an Instagram post mocking Carrie Underwood’s performance at Donald Trump’s inauguration, liking a post that said Underwood struggled to “find the note” during her rendition of “America the Beautiful.”
The caption of the post, alongside a zoomed-in photo of Underwood singing at the inauguration as former Vice President Kamala Harris watches from directly behind, reads “Kamala Harris evoking Coco Montrese (“Girl, find the note”) watching Carrie Underwood at today’s chilling Inauguration.”
After an awkward tech snafu, Underwood was forced to perform the song cappella, prompting the crowd of politicians and tech oligarchs to sing along.
Grande hasn’t publicly commented on Underwood’s performance, but the “like” suggests the pop star is not gung-ho about the country singer’s choice to perform. Neither was singer-actress Mandy Moore, who also hit “like” on the post.
Grande has never been shy about her political leanings. When it became clear Trump had won the election in November, Grande posted to her Instagram Stories, “Holding the hand of every person who is feeling the immeasurable heaviness of this outcome today.”
And on Monday, as Trump signed an executive order declaring the country would only recognize two genders, male and female, Grande reposted a statement from Advocates for Trans Equality calling Trump’s administration “extremists” and declaring that “No matter what comes, we will protect each other.”
Grande is far from the only voice on social media and beyond to criticize the inauguration’s more well-known performers, including Nelly and Snoop Dogg, for “co-signing” the president, who campaigned on anti-LGBTQ+ talking points and has emboldened hate groups with his incendiary rhetoric throughout his years in politics.
The Wicked star has long been vocal about her support for the LGBTQ+ community. Another of Grande’s Instagram reposts in response to Trump’s inaugural address declaration that there are “only two genders,” reads, “Queer and trans people were here before Donald Trump and will continue to be here after he’s dead… The sun does not care if you sign an executive order telling it to stop rising each morning. It just continues to rise.”